De Vere Tortworth Court Afternoon Tea Review

Is it even a posh little getaway if you haven’t booked an afternoon tea? I’ve always enjoyed them, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate them even more. I just love the creative, artistic work that goes into an afternoon tea, it’s not just food; it’s a beautiful piece of art created through flavours, colours, designs, and aromas. It’s what I’d call an art exhibition for all your senses.

This was another fantastic afternoon tea experience that Elliott and I shared during our visit to De Vere Tortworth Court Hotel and Spa.

So, let’s get into it!

First up came the sandwiches, which I was especially excited about since they included all my favourite fillings — an easy five stars across the board for me! However if I had to choose a favourite, it would be the cheese and sweet onion chutney, as I adore the sweet-and-cheesy flavour combo. That said, I also love a classic soft cheese and cucumber, which is my dad’s favourite too, we’ve shared so many great memories, conversations, and laughs over that simple little sandwich.

The presentation was pretty simple, but let’s be honest, there’s only so much you can do with a finger sandwich! However, I liked how they added a savoury, non-sandwich option: pea, spinach, and ricotta arancini. It was a breadcrumbed ball of rice, pea, and spinach — and it was delish!

Vegetarian Option:

Pea, spinach and ricotta arancini: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cucumber and soft cheese finger sandwich: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Truffled egg mayonnaise and rocket finger sandwich: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cheese and tomato finger sandwich: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cheese and sweet onion chutney finger sandwich: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meat Option (Elliott’s):

Elliott went for the regular option, and even though he’s not really a sandwich person, he was intrigued by the combinations. They weren’t the most exciting part of the afternoon tea for him; nevertheless, he appreciated the flavours.

Pastrami, gherkin and grain mustard ciabatta: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chicken and pesto mayonnaise wrap: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Smoked salmon, chive and lemon crème fraîche finger sandwich: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Truffled egg mayonnaise and rocket finger sandwich: Didn’t eat

Next up, the most important plate of any afternoon tea… Scones!

We each indulged in a sultana scone with clotted cream and fruit jam. They were lovely, soft yet slightly crumbly. The jam was sweet and flavourful, and the clotted cream was smooth and creamy, pairing perfectly with the scones. The presentation was simple (again, there’s only so much you can do here), but the taste more than made up for it. After trying sultana scones for the second time now, I can happily say they’re growing on me!

Now, this is where I believe presentation really matters, the cake plate!

In my opinion, this is the showstopper, the wow factor that ties the entire afternoon tea together. And it’s clear that the chefs at Tortworth Court didn’t hold back on creativity or flair. I was so excited for the cakes, and WOW!, they didn’t disappoint! The flavours were delightful, the presentation was stunning, and there was a brilliant variety of options.

I loved each one for a different reason:

Best Tasting: Honeybee cake — so sweet and delicious!

Best Design: Mini apple tart — beautifully crafted and so satisfying to cut into

Most Moreish: Strawberry fraisier — light, creamy, and soft

Classic Favourite: Macaron — because you simply can’t go wrong with one!

Ratings are an easy five stars for all!

Elliott and I also enjoyed our continuous cups of coffee and English tea, the perfect hot drinks to wash down a delicious choice of treats.

An unexpected highlight of our visit was meeting Ana, a lovely woman enjoying a solo getaway. She was seated near us, also having afternoon tea, and we all ended up chatting the whole time as if we’d been friends for years! It was such a nice surprise and Elliott and I always seem to meet new people wherever we go.

Just like everything else, the customer service was wonderful. The staff were super friendly, helpful, and cheerful throughout our visit. They were all well-presented and chatty which we loved, as both Elliott and I are very talkative people (we get it from our mums, haha!).

This was a lovely addition to our stay at De Vere Tortworth Court, and I’d highly recommend booking it. We actually got ours as part of a package deal with a spa treatment, which made it even better value, so why not treat yourself to both? The spa was just as relaxing and enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a couple’s escape, solo retreat, or even a girl’s weekend away, you should definitely book this beautiful place. I promise you won’t be disappointed with everything it has to offer!

Click Here for the full hotel review.