Tea timed to perfection at the farnham estate

There probably isn’t a better date to sample the new afternoon tea offering at the Farnham Estate Hotel than St Valentine’s Day. So, The Anglo-Celt arrived at 2.30pm on February 14, and we were not to be disappointed.

We met our host at reception and were led to our table in the plush music room. The drawing room, which is newly-refurbished, is beautiful and immediately sent out a relaxing vibe.

As we plonked down on the plush armchairs, to our right was a window with a view over a carefully-manicured lawn.

On our left was a huge ornate fireplace, with an ornamental mirror. The room was bright, warm and welcoming – a great start.

Our waiter, Conor, arrived with menus and talked us through the various options. His knowledge of the teas and food on offer was impeccable, and he talked us through them with a smile.

There were teas, too numerous to mention, which took nine minutes to set – others took three minutes and another was laced with a shot of whiskey for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

We played it safe and stuck to the soft stuff. The tea arrived in matching ceramic pots with an egg-timer which we were instructed by Conor to keep an eye on to make sure we were enjoying the tea at the perfect moment.

There are no teabags in sight, connoisseurs will be glad to hear – we each had a little straining device and we were given detailed instructions on how best to savour the flavour.

The food was delicious. It arrived on a three-tier platform-type stand, with petite sandwiches, pastries and various other delights. While the portions were not massive – this was tea and not a full lunch – they were succinct and filling.

When we were done, we stayed on for a while, poring over the free newspapers provided and generally soaking in the ambience. At €25, this was not inexpensive but the level of luxury made it well worth the fee.

The Celt could not recommend the experience enough for couples, old friends or just those looking to chill out after the stresses of the working week. We will certainly go back.​

Thanks in particular to the highly-professional and courteous staff who made the visit so enjoyable. We will see you soon!

To book your Afternoon Tea at The Farnham Estate, simply call to reserve your table on 049-4377700or email info.farnham@radissonblu.com