Review: Chocoholic's Afternoon Tea at Flemings, Mayfair

This was an Afternoon Tea experience that I was particularly looking forward to as not only am I a self-confessed Chocoholic, but the photos and menu looked utterly delicious.

After a nightmarish train journey we arrived an hour later than scheduled, but the staff were highly accommodating and agreed to push back our reservation. I admit I was quite surprised that they were able to do so on a Sunday, which is usually a prime day for Afternoon Tea reservations, but as soon as I arrived I saw why this wasn't a problem as, to put it politely, they were not short on table space.

I'm going to try and be as positive as I can about this Afternoon Tea experience and not let it be affected by the initial Hotel impression, which was tainted by the fact that the receptionist didn't acknowledge me when I walked in or that I had to basically beg someone to show me down to the basement. 

Given that there was also a freak heat-wave (ok, ray of sunshine) on the Sunday that I visited, I definitely did not appreciate the waiter's first remark of 'isn't it a beautiful day outside' when he sat us at our table in the basement room. Again though, I'll try and put these annoyances to one side for the purposes of impartiality!

So to the tea itself... 

The menu we were given was actually completely different to the one that we were expecting from the website and I was particularly disappointed to miss out on the chocolate churros listed online. After choosing our teas and being served a glass of champagne we soon resumed conversation and forgot all about the churros as we struggled to decide whether to drink the tea or champagne first. Unfortunately for us though, it seemed that the staff had also forgotten about our churros and indeed the rest of the service as after 40 minutes we realised that no tea stand had yet materialised.

Chocolate chip scones with jam, cream and lemon curd - delicious!

Eventually the three tiered stand arrived, bringing with it some dry sandwiches with uninspiring fillings such as ham, cucumber and smoked salmon. Luckily it also brought some chocolate scones which were delicious, but unfortunately they didn't come with enough jam or cream and since no one came to check on how we were doing, we couldn't ask for any more.

On the top layer of the stand were the 'chocoholic' treats. I love chocolate in all its forms and I'm fully aware of how many forms there are because I've eaten most of them, which is unfortunate for my waistline! The selection that was presented to me though was fairly uninspiring and included a mini chocolate cupcake, some kind of chocolate thing with a raspberry in it, a rosewater macaroon and a chocolate brownie. The brownie was truly scrumptious, but you can't really get a brownie that wrong, can you?

So I'm sorry that this write up isn't the best ever, but I really was disappointed with my experience and that's probably because my expectations were so high. I will give them credit for the scones because they were delicious and although our waiters were somewhat neglectful they were friendly and full of smiles, which does go a long way. At the end of it all though I don't think I'd give this Afternoon Tea more than a 2.5 out of 5 because of the overall poor service, the lack of originality and the setting of the room itself. Sorry Flemings - I wanted you to be the best!

Flemings Mayfair Chocoholics Afternoon Tea is priced at £39.00 per person and includes a glass of champagne

Review: A Spa Day at Limewood Hotel...

Relaxing in the New Forest...

I was one lucky lady last month, when my loving Mother agreed to whisk me off to Limewood for a Spa Day in honour of me turning the grand old age of 23.

I've wanted to visit the infamous Limewood for some time now, having heard rave reviews about its food offerings as well as its spa, Herb House. It certainly did not disappoint! From the moment we drove up the sweeping drive and entered the tardis that is the Herb House I felt instantly relaxed and as though I'd stepped into luxury.

We'd booked a Spa Day that included a one hour Bamford Rose Relaxing Upper Body and Facial Massage as well as lunch in Raw and Cured and full use of the spa facilities. Our treatment was at 1pm so we arrived around 11.30 so that we could have a quick go in the gym and check out the pool before being thoroughly pampered.

The gym itself is very well equipped and inspires a full on workout with the marvelous views provided by full length windows and the high, beamed ceiling. Cold towels and bottles of water are also kept in the fridge which is a completely genius idea and much needed after even the shortest of workouts!

Needless to say, our 'workout' was short and sweet as we couldn't wait to get into the pool and sauna! We donned our extremely comfortable robes and flip flops, provided in each locker, and headed off for some hydrotherapy! 



The hydrotherapy pool looks out over dense woodland and the fact that it was raining outside made the experience extra special. The pool has several massage jets including some underwater seating and all over body massagers. We could have stayed in there all day had we not been drawn to the huge woodland sauna just next door. This was perfectly hot and again blessed with that full length window that made you feel like you were sweating it out in a beautiful, rainy forest!



Our treatment was similarly sublime. I was whisked away into a cosy treatment room complete with a heated bed and incredibly soft towels. My back was scrubbed with Bamford products which smelled amazing and my arms and face were massaged into oblivion. I barely woke up once the treatment had finished, but once I'd remembered that the next stop was Raw and Cured I soon leapt up!

Raw and Cured is a delicious concept. The Spa's restaurant come cafe looks out over the garden and on the other side the swimming pool and provides a perfectly relaxing and authentic dining experience. The friendly staff are on hand to put together some delicious, natural treats and serve up a smoothie or two upon request. Our package included two of the 'mini' options or one, larger board. I opted for a delicious board of breads, cured meats and cheeses whilst my Mum went for a bright, flavourful Mexican salad and a mini ploughman's. We of course shared and dipped into each other's lunches so we got to try a couple of dishes, but I could have gladly tried every single one, much like our next door diners did!!



After satisfying our cravings we headed back for some more hydro action. We relaxed all day long whilst it poured down with rain outside. Whilst this made the experience even more magical, it did have a slight downside in that the outdoor heated pool was temporarily closed until the rain subsided. This also unfortunately happened to clash with the short period of time in which children are allowed in the pool so we didn't spend too long in there!



Once we had been thoroughly spoilt and pampered we headed off, but only after we were treated to a final farewell gift of a couple of Bamford products which was a nice touch!Hopefully one day I'll get to return and try out another of their tempting treatments, but even without trying everything I'd still thoroughly recommend this spa - it does exactly what it says on the tin, only much much better!

Review: The Chuan Spa, London

It's all been getting rather stressful lately, what with arranging dates for Afternoon Teas and travelling to Prague and Paris. It was high time I had a chance to relax and unwind and I was definitely in need of a Spa day!

Where better then, than Europe's first Chuan Spa, nestled at the heart of London in The Langham Hotel? After some careful research, this place came out on top as the treatment that we wanted was within our budget and the facilities were open to us for a nice amount of time. This sounds like a silly reason, given that we were going for a spa day and not just a treatment, but many of the other places I looked at only gave access to the facilities for a couple of hours. In my mind that definitely doesn't constitute a day!

Entrance and relaxation area

So after we'd stuffed ourselves suitably silly with Afternoon Tea, we headed over to Oxford Street and found the sanctuary of the Chuan Spa. Set across three levels, the spa was quiet, serene and everything you'd expect it to be. The Chinese decor was subtle and contemporary and really complimented the more modern glass staircase and contrasting, traditional high ceilings. 

Our therapists were lovely, but unfortunately I can't remember their names. They were professional, friendly and completely put me at ease right from the word go. We had a double treatment room as we'd booked the Chuan Body Detox for two, which was still a really nice touch. Even though in the same room, our therapists concentrated on us as individuals and really made sure that they connected with us personally, rather than as a pair.

First of all we were asked to choose whether we wanted a relaxing or rejuvenating massage. I instantly said relaxing whilst my friend chose rejuvenating. The therapist then brought over two pots of oil for me to smell and told me to choose which one I preferred. Again, the choice was instant and choosing the 'Earth' element meant that I was apparently a very busy person who was prone to worry and overthinking. Probably spot on to be honest!

I instantly liked that my treatment was personalised and felt somewhat prescriptive. Everyone likes to feel like an individual and as though they have a very special type of complaint that needs personally addressing. This doesn't change when you visit a spa!

Tea service for after your treatment

The hour and a half massage was heavenly, although the back, neck and shoulder part was sore in parts as the therapist skilfully worked out lots of knots and tension. Afterwards she explained what she had done and how I could avoid getting so tense in the future, which was another brilliant touch.

Once the treatment was over we were ushered into the relaxation area where a bespoke tea was waiting for each of us that complimented our treatments and was based on which element we'd originally chosen. There was also a card explaining the method behind the madness as well as a selection of fruit, but the best bit was that our therapists were also waiting to give us a little 'debrief', recommending products and techniques that were best for our skin types. 



We didn't manage to have a swim in the pool unfortunately as there were too many children in there for our liking, but we enjoyed the vitality pool and sauna no end.

Vitality Pool

Sauna

The changing room facilities were also good, with proper hairdryers and nice showers so that we could get ready to go out that evening!

Pool

I'd definitely return to this little corner of heaven. As soon as you walk in off of the busy street you instantly feel calm, which is what you need after any day in London. Overall, highly recommended and I'd love to return to try some of the more Chinese style treatments, although next time with a stay at The Langham too!

My friend and I enjoyed the Chuan Body Detox package which was £220 per couple and included a 1hr30min treatment as well as full use of the spa facilities.

Review: Science Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel, London

Last week I was lucky enough to experience a very special Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel. Their Science Afternoon Tea is running for a short period of time, but the Hotel offers a delightful selection of fresh cakes and a superb traditional afternoon tea all year round.

Upon entering The Ampersand I was immediately struck by the contemporary, boutique interiors and the warm welcome offered by the staff. Sat at a nice table by the window I was able to appreciate fully the delightful concoctions and visual effects of the Science afternoon tea as it oozed with dry ice and stood out vividly with its array of shapes and colours.

Starting at the bottom, we enjoyed sandwiches made in savoury choux pastry buns, filled with a selection of delicious delights. Smoked salmon, coronation chicken and cheese and chutney were among my favourite fillings, but to be honest none of them were particularly disappointing and all were finished before moving up to the next level on the tea stand.

The scones were equally delicious and consisted of one plain and one white chocolate scone each, served with clotted cream and jam. There could have been a little more jam to accompany these and although no one offered us any more, this did actually save us from finishing off both of the scones which left room for the top level of tasty treats!

And so to the pièce de résistance...

The 'science' layer that stood proudly at the top of the tea stand was a visual delight and was equally pleasing to the tastebuds. I particularly enjoyed the little 'planets' which were surprisingly delicious. The macaroons were also rather tasty, and the raspberry coulis found in the pipettes really complimented the whole thing. I'm not sure exactly what the little drink inside the test tube was, but it was far too sweet for my liking. I loved the glass containers that it came in and it certainly added to the visual aspect of the tea, but it perhaps could have done with being a little less sugary!

You can see that this Afternoon Tea looks fun, interesting and that it ticks all the boxes for a tasty afternoon treat. Although I usually hate to see pre-made items (such as the chocolate dinosaurs), they actually didn't do too badly in this combination as they were a nice, lighter option to round off the selection. I was so completely full by the end of the tea that I couldn't actually finish it, but that was definitely not a reflection on the taste as it was all rather lovely.

I am now very much looking forward to what they think of next as the expectations are rather high from this quirky, boutique Hotel!

The Ampersand Hotel serves Afternoon Tea every day from 2.30pm until 5.20pm. The Science Afternoon Tea is available until 21st March and is priced at £32.50 per person or £44.50 per person with a glass of Champagne