Celtic Manor, Newport

CELTIC MANOR

Afternoon Tea

 

Set in the plush surroundings of the Olive Tree restaurant of the Celtic Manor, we sat down to a very impressive afternoon tea on Friday. The menu of teas was not exhaustive but we were served a light and fruity blackcurrant tea and a classic Assam. The pot was plentiful and the very attentive staff offered timely top-ups when required.

 

In addition to the traditional sandwich, cake and scone selection there was a fourth in the form of a savoury selection to start - a most welcome addition!

The savoury selection included roasted carrot soup with paprika; a tasting spoon with beetroot, goat's cheese and pear chutney; a crab brioche roll; and, a kati roll with spiced chicken. The standout was the carrot soup but the whole selection was light with some great spiced flavours.

Following our amuse bouche was the traditional tower of finger sandwiches and dainty cakes.

 I'd say the finger sandwiches were as classic as you would expect: Smoked salmon, Cheese and chutney; Pastrami with mustard; and, egg mayo. However, I cannot stand egg mayo sandwiches and yet for the first time in my life I managed to eat one! It must have been the addition of spring onion and chive but it was genuinely enjoyable.

The cakes were very good with an impressive lemon and poppy seed cornet as the star of the show ( a full list of the cakes can be found on the Celtic Manor website). By this point we were stuffed but fought admirably on through to the scone course. Thankfully (although the more gluttonous may be disappointed) there was just the one scone each, along with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Having had numerous afternoon teas, I was pleased that rather than stuff you full of scones, the Celtic Manor offer a far more varied menu. I for one welcome this invention as too often I feel there's a laziness to thinking out an afternoon tea.

 

 

The total cost was £24 pp (Monday – Friday) which I think is a very fair reflection on what you get for your money. Although if you get in there quick, they're running an offer until the 27th February where it's £18 pp for a midweek afternoon tea.

http://www.celtic-manor.com/resort-afternoon-teas