Review: Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff

We were looking for a luxury treat to celebrate a family birthday, and choosing The Parkgate Hotel for their Champagne Afternoon Tea was definitely a great decision!  It was my first experience of The Parkgate, and when you step through the doors you’re welcomed by soft golden light, impressive high ceilings, and luxurious calm right in the heart of Cardiff. Nestled in the Cardiff’s vibrant city centre, just a stone’s throw from the Principality Stadium, this boutique luxury hotel is the former Post Office, opened in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Tea & Champagne

Speaking of the stars of the show - there’s nothing quite like the sip of a fine tea paired with a chilled glass of Champagne. Giovanna presented us with a wooden board holding all 10 varieties of their tea selection so we could take in the aromas before choosing, which included classic choices like Earl Grey and their house blend breakfast tea Celtic #1 HQ, alongside more adventurous blends such as green tea with mongo & bergamot, as well as our favourite of strawberry & cream!

You can choose to have the afternoon tea with Champagne, like we did, or you can opt for Prosecco, or just the afternoon tea.  On it’s own would still be a luxury treat, but for a special occasion we felt that £12 extra for a glass of Lauren Perrier didn’t feel too bad, and really added the touch of decadence we were looking for.

Savoury Bites

To kick things off were two warm savouries, which really set the tone for the quality of the food. First was a quail scotch egg, delicate flavours in crispy breadcrumbs, contrasted with a Bloody Mary sauce which really set off the flavours.  Then to the Hafod Cheddar Cheese Tart, which was melt-in-the-mouth pastry, and a strong cheddar flavour with minted peas, an absolute delight.

Next we moved on to the finger sandwiches, which were very generously filled, with flavour combinations highlighting some of the best Welsh produce, such as salmon from the Wye Valley, Anglesey sea salt cured cucumber, and eggs from South Wales.

Sweet Treats & Scones

For me anyway, the most exciting part of any afternoon tea is moving on to the sweet treats, and here they most certainly looked the part.  I started with the Fresh Fruit Tart, however this wasn’t my favourite, as I think the selection of fruits and mint didn’t work as well as it could have. However moving on to the Cherry & Almond Cake I was back to being impressed, taking a bite and finding the hidden cherry, following by the Lemon Sphere which was zingy and refreshing, and I wished it would have been twice the size!  My favourite though was the Hazelnut Praline Delice, delicate layers of sponge with a delightfully light chocolate and nutty filling.

To round things off it was freshly baked Vanilla Scones, so the only question left was should it be jam first, or cream!  Perfectly sized, delicious jam, and plentiful clotted cream meant that everyone was suitably satisfied.

Beyond Afternoon Tea

Once we’d managed to work our way through all the delicious options we felt in the mood for a cocktail, so we made our way to the Cwrt Terrace, an intimate openair space in the centre of the hotel but open enough to catch a few rays of sunshine.  Ordering the cocktails wasn’t as easy as you’d imagine, having to head back to reception to find any staff, but the selection available was impressive, with plenty of local ingredients such as Penderyn Whisky and Brecon Gin.  Many of the cocktails had a nod to the Post Office roots of the hotel, with names such as A Postcard From Wales, and Love Letter.

So if you have time to spare after your afternoon tea then I’d highly recommend a cocktail on the terrace if the weather allows, or you could head to the Sorting Room Bar, which is a particularly grand setting for evening drinks.

Value & Overall Experience

On a Saturday afternoon we paid £54 per person, however on weekdays this comes down a little to £48, so enjoying Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Parkgate Hotel sits firmly in the “special treat” category.  Yes it was expensive, however with excellent portions, attentive service, and the sparkling edge of Champagne, it had an elegant flair that felt worth every penny for a special occasion.

For couples seeking an intimate luxury date, friends in search of a refined catch-up, or solo travellers craving a bit of sparkle, this afternoon tea delivers.  Without Champagne, the afternoon tea is £36 Monday to Friday, or £42 at the weekend.