Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych

Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I always love Afternoon Teas which are visually exciting and certainly this culinary delight at One Aldwych did not disappoint!

The timing was apt as we sat down to tea just as I had found out that I would soon be moving to the Maldives, so our spirits were high and we were in the mood to celebrate! The setting is modern and airy with some beautiful sculptures bringing life to the space which sits in a prime Central London location. Staff welcomed us eagerly and showed us to a comfortable sofa table before presenting us with menus and serving us a delicious 'Champagne Charlie' cocktail.

Everything about the experience was wonderful and theatrical - exactly how you would expect something named 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' to be. The menu itself was beautiful with an illustration from the Roald Dhal story on the back, which you are able to take home with you. We dove straight in...

Sandwiches were delicious and unusual with the much welcomed addition of a savoury tart and a basket full of brioche. The tart was also served warm which was a great touch and best of all was that they actually refilled your sandwiches before you'd started on the pastries - perfect!

Sandwiches and warm tarts

And then to the main event which has been sitting in front of us the entire time, teasing with the mysterious elements that await our taste buds. The candy-floss glistens, the golden egg excites and the milkshakes beckon with retro straws. Everything looks and smells divine and we soon found out the the taste was perfection too!

Selection of pastries and yummy things...

This Afternoon Tea really is one that you have to see (and taste!) to believe. It is visually exciting and brings a burst of flavour to the room as well as to your palate. This is a tea to be excited by and proud of, which you can tell that the staff here also feel as they are as equally excited to serve it to you as you are to eat it!

All in all I was pleasantly surprised at just how good this Afternoon Tea was. Often these themed teas go too much for the gimmick and sacrifice the taste, but One Aldwych have really hit the nail on the head here, successfully combining an exciting concept with deliciously paired teas and cocktails, tying in perfectly too with the launch of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical. A fabulous day out and I am only sorry that I'm now too far away to return! Thank you team One Aldwych!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea is served daily at One Aldwych and is priced at £34.50 per person

£45.00 per person including a glass of Lallier Champagne or a Cocktail Charlie

- See more at: http://www.onealdwych.com/food-drink/afternoon-tea/afternoon-tea-menu/afternoon-tea-menu#sthash.7pDBRO0P.dpuf 

REVIEW: Sense Spa at Rosewood London

The Sense Spa at Rosewood London

A little while ago I was privileged enough to be invited to test-drive the new Sense Spa at Rosewood London. Granted, my post about this is a little late, but I've been a little busy moving to a desert island so I'm only just getting the opportunity to give this post all the time that it deserves.

Sense Spa Reception

Needless to say, I was pretty excited at the prospect of experiencing the highly anticipated Rosewood London, which had newly opened when I went there in April. The Hotel's exterior is impressive and decadent and stepping through those large golden gates feels magical and special. The Hotel itself is positioned around a large inner courtyard which gives the place its special, intimate and often secret feel, so that when walking inside you feel like you've just stepped out of Holborn and into another secret world.

Cute directions throughout Rosewood London

Finding the Sense Spa was actually a little challenging, but perhaps that was just me being overwhelmed by the beauty and intricacy of the building's twists and turns, forgetting to pay attention to where I was going. When I arrived to the Spa though I was pleasantly surprised and instantly felt calm as I entered the Sense Spa cocoon.

Sense Spa Reception

The design is sleek and contemporary yet traditional and welcoming, with sumptuous golds and wooden panels which curve intricately around themselves. After being welcomed by the receptionist, you are ushered through another secret-looking door and shown through the dark maze which weaves around a central relaxation area and diverts off into changing rooms and treatment rooms. The changing room is equally as delightful and has its own steam room and sauna as well as the usual bathrobes, slippers and amenities that you'd expect. That's actually one of my favourite parts of a Spa experience - getting changed and making use of those huge mirrors with all of the necessary hair products sat seductively in front of you!

Ladies Changing Room

The relaxation area is a welcome retreat from the changing rooms and is located at the heart of the spa in a golden circular room. It's sweet that they reserve a bed for you with your name on it before collecting you for your treatment and you are able to make use of the complimentary tea, water and newspapers before and after your treatments.

Name card placed on my own relaxation bed

I was to have a Swedish Massage, which suited me down to a tee. The Sense Spa has a beautiful range of Aromatherapy Oils which are tailored to suit your individual needs and preferences, but they also offer a range of Sodashi facials which is a brand that I adore. My Swedish massage though was carried out to perfection, with my therapist being finely tuned to my body's needs and offering the perfect levels of pressure and relaxation. She was hugely helpful afterwards too and suggested ways in which I could reduce my muscle tension in everyday life, even recommending some therapies that would benefit me on a regular basis.

After the treatment I returned to the relaxation room and fully enjoyed just sitting, drinking tea and reading a magazine. Inside this golden circle you feel as though you've stumbled upon a rare corner of London where time has stood still and where you can finally switch off your phone and escape from the world for an hour or so. Bliss!

Relaxation Room

My time at Rosewood London eventually had to come to an end and I was sorry that I wasn't able to spend more time there. Had I not just moved half way across the world I would definitely have come back to experience more of the Hotel, with the restaurant and bar looking particularly inviting. Thank you once again, Sense Spa, for providing me with a little slice of heaven in my everyday rush around the capital!

The Rosewood London opened its doors in Spring 2014, with the Sense Spa opening fully in April 2014. The Swedish Massage I had was priced at £100 for 60 minutes.