Warm scones, sweet treats, fresh sandwiches and a glass of Champagne – I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon!
The AA four star Norfolk Royale Hotel is situated just minutes from Bournemouth town centre and is a lovely place for locals and tourists to enjoy an afternoon tea. You certainly can’t miss the hotel with its bright pink exterior!
I was lucky enough to enjoy their Champagne Afternoon Tea (£23.50 per person) with some of the Bournemouth Bloggers network – a lovely way to spend an afternoon! And baby free too, thanks to my parents-in-law, who kindly watched Jack for me!
We kicked things off with a nice glass of Champagne, which I enjoyed a little too quickly!
Then came the main event, an afternoon tea stand with a selection of freshly made finger sandwiches on white and brown bread, fruit scones and sweet treats including macarons, Victoria Sponge Cake and a Cherry Bakewell. The sandwiches were lovely and fresh but I was a little underwhelmed by the cucumber and plain ham sandwiches. I think they could have been a little more creative to stand out a little. However, the egg mayonnaise were delicious and I could have eaten more!
Most places I have visited for afternoon tea give you two scones per person and this time I only had one. Call me greedy, but I do love a scone and so two would have made me a little happier! They were served warm and with the jam and cream (always jam first then cream), were very tasty!
Afternoon Tea is served 2pm-5pm 
Champagne Afternoon Tea £23.50pp
We opted for teas and coffees half way through as the Champagne was going down nicely and I chose a decaf cappuccino which was very nice. As I’m still breastfeeding I try to monitor my caffeine intake and so two coffees a day is a real treat for me!
The hotel itself is very pleasant. Like many of the hotels in Bournemouth it’s quite old fashioned but it has a nice atmosphere. We sat in the hotel lounge but you can also choose to have afternoon tea in the veranda or private garden (weather permitting).
If you don’t fancy splashing out on Champagne Afternoon Tea, you can enjoy the hotel’s classic Afternoon Tea for £14.50 per person, or Prosecco Afternoon Tea for £19.50 per person. Or, if you only fancy scones, you can opt for their Dorset Cream Tea at £6.95, which is very good value.
I would definitely recommend the Norfolk Royale Hotel for afternoon tea with friends and family. Tourists may opt for another venue with a nicer view but if that doesn’t bother you then I would consider dining here. My only gripes were the solo scone and the uninspiring sandwich selection. However it was all very tasty and I left feeling very happy and full! A lovely baby-free treat!
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