Cost – £17.95 (Oct 2017)
Background – This was the second time we had visited Frosts Garden Centre for a themed Afternoon Tea. The last time was in July 2015 for their Wimbledon themed Tea (see review). The restaurant area has changed somewhat during this period and has been enlarged. As before, a separate area had been set aside for the Afternoon Teas in a room adjacent to the main restaurant. There is also a large, attractive looking outside area for warmer days.
The garden centre in Woburn Sands is the main centre of a small local chain owned by the Frost family. It is a typical huge garden centre selling much more than just gardening items. On this occasion it was all set up and decorated ready for Christmas!
Contents – Five sandwiches each (two triangles each of cheese and tomato, and shrimp with Marie Rose sauce plus one finger filled with ham with mango chutney), and a small piece of chicken Caesar wrap. A medium sized cheese scone pre-loaded with pear chutney (served with the sandwiches), two medium sized fruit scones, a pot of strawberry jam and a pot of clotted cream. A mini Victoria sponge, a mini caramelised apple tartlette, a piece of chocolate and pecan brownie, a chocolate dipped strawberry and a mini black forest dessert in a shot glass. The tea was made with tea bags.
Comments – Our Afternoon Tea was served in a separate area off the main restaurant at the garden centre.
The room was nicely decorated for Christmas in pretty silver and blue colours – my favourite Christmas colours. However, this was the middle of October!! Too early!! There were four of us eating Afternoon Tea on this occasion.
We were shown to a table reserved for us in the centre of the room when we arrived. The table was nicely laid with pretty blue and white china and linen napkins.
We were then asked what we wanted to drink. We chose our usual tea abut also asked for a jug of water to be provided. Both arrived quickly. The tea was in a pretty blue and white teapot which matched the plates etc., with a matching milk jug.
The rest of the Afternoon Tea arrived soon after. The savoury part was served on individual plates whilst the rest was served on a three-tier cake stand.
The triangular sandwiches were made with brown bread, whilst the finger sandwich was made with white bread. The sandwiches were all well filled, freshly made and tasty. I particularly liked the chutney with the ham rather than the usual mustard (which I don’t like). The piece of wrap was tasty but was far too small! The cheese scone, which was served with the sandwiches, was very good with a very tasty chutney spread on it.
The fruit scones were a good size, very tasty, and were obviously homemade. There was not enough of either jam or cream but extra of both was provided when requested. Butter was also provided on request for the member of our party who doesn’t eat cream.
All of the cakes were very fresh and very tasty but the Victoria sponge, the apple tartlette and the mini dessert were very small. The chocolate and pecan brownie was particularly good. The teaspoons provided were too big to reach the bottom of the shot glasses so we had to use the end of the handle instead!
The tea was rather strong again, for all of us. We received a refill when requested.
The service was pretty good and quite attentive.
| Sandwiches | 2.0 |
| Scone | 2.0 |
| Jam | 1.0 |
| Cream | 1.5 |
| Cake (variety) | 2.0 |
| Cake (quality) | 1.5 |
| Tea | 1.5 |
| Presentation | 1.5 |
| Service | 1.5 |
| Value | 1.5 |
| Total | 16.0 |
Sarnies Scones and Cakes 