Cost – £14 (April 2018)
Parking and Access – There is a private car park next to the hotel with direct access into the hotel. This was nearly empty when we visited. However, if the car park is full there is plenty of on street parking in the vicinity. We were served in the lounge/bar area which was accessed directly from reception. Toilets were available nearby.
Background – I found the Virginia Court Hotel through a search of the internet. We were a little nervous as we have had some lovely Afternoon Teas in the area and hoped it would not be a disappointment. We needn’t have worried! The hotel was nicely decorated, the people were friendly and the Tea was very good!
The hotel is ideally placed just a short walk from the coast and is an easy walk to the centre of Cromer, yet is on a quite road just off the main roads.
The hotel was currently undergoing some refurbishment and there was a faint smell of fresh paint. The lounge bar had obviously been recently done up and was looking very good. There were some really stylish lights and lovely bright chairs and sofas around both low and high tables.
The chairs proved to be very comfortable.
Contents – Six triangular sandwiches each (two each of smoked salmon, turkey and cranberry and cheese and chutney). Two small/medium sized scones, one plain and one fruit, a dish of strawberry jam and a dish of clotted cream. Two macaroons each, a small square of Bakewell, a small square of chocolate brownie and a dessert in a mini Kilner type jar (lemon jelly with fruit in topped with lemon posset), some fresh berries.
Options Available – Can request Cromer crab sandwiches to be included.
Comments – The Afternoon Tea was served in the newly decorated and very stylish Lounge bar room at the front of the hotel.
On arrival we were asked what we would like to drink. We asked for standard tea. We were then shown to the lounge where we chose where we wanted to sit.
The tea arrived in a chunky white traditional style teapot along with a jug of milk. It was a good strength and we were offered refills of the teapot.
The rest of the Afternoon Tea arrived soon after the tea on a three-tier metal stand with a bird on the handle and pretty glass plates on each layer.
The sandwiches were very fresh and well filled. They were very tasty. The salmon and turkey sandwiches were on white bread with the cheese on brown. The turkey was carved roast meat (not packaged) and the cheese was very tasty. The chutney was really good and tasted homemade. A really good set of sandwiches!
The scones were good but may possibly have not been fresh that day. However, they were warmed and tasty. The fruit scone was really fruity. There was enough of both jam and clotted cream for two scones each. The jam had nice lumps of strawberries in and was very good.
Macaroons are not always my favourite on an Afternoon Tea as they are often bought in and not very fresh. However, the macaroons in this Tea were fresh and tasted good. They had a lemony filling in them which was really nice. The squares of Bakewell and of chocolate brownie were not big but, with six sandwiches and two scones, they didn’t need to be. Having said that, the brownie, in particular, was especially good with chunks of chocolate in it.
Finally, the dessert was really tasty and was a nice size. The only problem was getting it out of the little Kilner jars!!
The cake layer also contained some berries – strawberry, raspberry and blueberries.
Service was attentive and very friendly.
| Sandwiches | 2.0 |
| Scone | 1.5 |
| Jam | 2.0 |
| Cream | 2.0 |
| Cake (variety) | 1.0 |
| Cake (quality) | 2.0 |
| Tea | 2.0 |
| Presentation | 1.5 |
| Service | 2.0 |
| Value | 2.0 |
| Total | 18.0 |
Sarnies Scones and Cakes 