King Charles was later presented with a balloon arrangement and an Earl Grey flavoured birthday cake, which he warned should probably be kept in the fridge. Putting food at the heart of the celebrations But what are the molecules behind the taste of this beloved beverage? And does how you take your tea say something about who you are? John Azah, the chief executive of Kingston Race and Equalities Council, wished the King a happy birthday for next week. “How did you know?” King Charles replied. “I can’t escape.” The party, organised by the Prince’s Foundation, was inspired by the charity’s health and wellbeing programme, which runs monthly tea dances at its Dumfries House headquarters for those at risk of loneliness and social isolation.

If you fail to pay your deposit within the stated timeframe, then your Provisional Booking will be cancelled and the spaces then become available for others to book. Fox observes that in truth, alongside its chemical properties, tea is an infallible social space-filler. After having detailed the cultural meanings behind different methods of tea preparation, Fox writes, “Tea-making is the perfect displacement activity: whenever the English feel awkward or uncomfortable in a social situation (that is, almost all the time), they make tea.” Our flamboyant flamingo is here to change all that! A Tipsy teapot afternoon tea is most definitely something to celebrate! Finger sandwiches and savoury treats are served on 3, 4 or 5 armed chandeliers, candelabra hold sausage pinwheels and parmesan doily cups! For a really special occasion, take your afternoon tea picnic style on the hotel’s English Harbour Yacht and enjoy an afternoon of boating on the Norfolk Broads. Camellia Cottage, 1 Station Road, Sheringham– homemade cakes and savouries in a lovely modern environment in a traditional flint cottage.Afternoon tea is taken seriously here, with traditional locally sourced and made offerings, including their mouth-wateringly good strawberry jam and my all-time favourite lemon drizzle cake. If you have booked for Bottomless Tipsy Tapas, your table is allocated to you for 2 hours. If you would like to stay beyond this time, please speak with a team member who will do their best to accommodate you although this cannot be guaranteed. The restaurant area of Tipsy teapot has a range of fixed seating options to suit a varied range of group sizes. The largest single table seats 14. For bookings of 15 or more we allocate a ‘zone’ or collection of tables in a single area. It is not possible to re-arrange these tables to form a single table. You will be advised at the point of booking whether your group will be seated on a single table or have an ‘area’ of tables in a zone allocated to you.

Afternoon tea in the Assembly House Hotel in Norwich is a real treat and is considered the best afternoon tea in Norwich by many. Served in a beautifully decorated Georgian room, the classic tiered stands, fine white china and traditional offerings make this a perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion. Both King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit a surplus food distribution centre outside London on Tuesday, where they will meet staff and volunteers and hear about the ways food waste can be used for social good. Prima Rosa Tea Rooms & Crafts, 82 Lower Street, Salhouse – home-made cakes, crafts and gifts made by local artisans, in the heart of the Norfolk Broads.Old Town Beach Cafe, 50 Sea Lane, Old Hunstanton – coffee, tea and delicious cakes on the beach at sunny Hunny. Elmham Tea Post, 62 Holt Road, North Elmham – a lovely gem of a tea room with fantastic homemade offerings! The celebration will also mark the 75th anniversaries of the Windrush and NHS. A similar birthday party will be held for the local community at Dumfries House on the same day. A cancellation after the Cancellation Window stated above, or if you do not show for your booking, will result in your deposit being forfeited.

If you have booked a 2 or 3 course dining and dancing option, your dining table or reserved area will be allocated to your party for 1 hour and 30 minutes. You will then have a further table or reserved area allocated to you in the upstairs party bar for further drinking and dancing. The upstairs table or area will be reserved for you until you leave. Nestled in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, on the banks of the pretty River Bure, The Norfolk Mead Hotel is a haven of peace and relaxation, with a handful of culinary excellence awards, including being a finalist at the 2019 EAT Norfolk Food & Drink Awardsfor ‘Best Afternoon Tea’– expect your taste buds to be tempted! Given how much tea people drink, there's growing interest in understanding whether this habit has any medical benefits. It appears that molecules found in tea can protect cells in a dish from some kinds of damage, but despite copious research, there is conflicting evidence on whether tea-drinking provides benefits beyond warm hands and an alert mind. A mouth-watering menu includes all the afternoon tea favourites like delicate finger sandwiches, delicious savouries, fruit and plain scones with jam and cream, and a fantastic selection of cakes and sweet pastries. You can also enjoy a glass of fizz with your tea. Horsey Windpump Tearoom, Horsey, Near Great Yarmouth – National Trust run tea room next to Horsey windmill.

Festive Afternoon Tea

You don’t need to be staying at the hotel to enjoy all it has to offer. Afternoon tea guests can take afternoon tea on the terrace in the walled garden, or in one of the lounge areas where you’ll find candles and roaring log fires in winter. The ambitious new legacy project was the brainchild of the King, who, inspired by the cost of living crisis, wanted to use his birthday to “shine a light” on a cause close to his heart. You can also combine tea with a bespoke spa treatment, or go for a relaxing stroll through the eight acres of beautifully kept grounds right down to the banks of the River Bure.