Afternoon Tea Week runs from 10th to 16th August, and few traditions give us as good an excuse to sit down, take it easy, and eat cake!
The tradition of afternoon tea dates back to 1840 when Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, took to asking for a tray of tea, bread, butter, and cake to be brought to her room at around four o’clock, as she felt the long gap between lunch and the fashionably late eight o’clock dinner was excessive. Her friends agreed and came to join her in the ritual. What began as a private habit became a fashionable social occasion, and by the 1880s, upper-class women were changing into long gowns and gloves to take tea in the drawing room. Henry James once opined: “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Today, the tradition lives on, though with somewhat less formality.
Afternoon tea is typically an occasional indulgence – a treat, a celebration, or simply a good reason to spend time with people you like. The quintessential classic spread hasn’t changed much over the years – finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and a tier of small cakes and pastries, all served with a pot of tea. Try one of our local recs and enjoy it in style!
The Ivy | City Centre
Sitting beneath the spectacular stained-glass roof of the Victoria Quarter arcade, The Ivy serves afternoon tea daily from 3pm to 5pm. The setting boasts vibrant artwork, warm lighting, and the buzz of one of the city centre’s most glamorous interiors. The spread includes classic savouries alongside seasonal sweet treats, and champagne is available for those in celebratory mood.
Harewood House
For a more scenic excursion, Harewood House offers its quintessential afternoon tea in the south-facing Terrace Tearoom, with views across the estate’s gardens and parkland. Freshly made sandwiches, homemade scones, and seasonal patisserie are served alongside a selection of teas and admission to the gardens and grounds is included.
Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom | Grand Arcade
For a more idiosyncratic option, Just Grand! in the Grand Arcade is a small, cheerful space and a Leeds institution. The decor is 1940s and 50s nostalgia – floral tablecloths and vintage crockery with a soundtrack of period music – and the tea selection runs to more than 25 loose-leaf varieties. The traditional spread is properly done, and the Gents’ Afternoon Tea – with pork pies, cheese scones, and savoury bites in place of the sweet tier – is a nice twist for the less cake-inclined.
Bettys | Harrogate and Ilkley
No Yorkshire afternoon tea list is complete without Bettys. The Harrogate tearoom on Parliament Street is the original and grandest with art deco interiors, white-gloved service, and a spread that remains the high water mark. The Ilkley branch offers the same classic Bettys afternoon tea in a slightly more intimate setting. Both are exceptionally popular; booking ahead is strongly advised, particularly during Afternoon Tea Week.
