The Intercontinental London Park Lane’s Wellington Lounge has launched a new “Guiltless” afternoon tea that’s free of refined sugar and chock-full of natural nutrient-filled ingredients instead. The idea behind the new menu, which can be adapted to suite any dietary requirements including gluten and dairy free, is to show that “guiltless should still be delicious.” Guess who paid a visit to Park Lane over the weekend to give this new offering a taste (and absolutely loved it)? Guilty!
Yes, the folks at the Park Lane Intercontinental have done it again: wowed my senses in one of London’s most elegantly comfortable public settings … and with gracious and polite service to boot! This new vegetarian (without ever stating so) afternoon tea was a delight and yet another point to be added to a now rather lengthy set of reasons to recommend the hotel as an ideal destination for making the most of your time in the West End.
A selection of sandwiches was presented on Colombian gluten-free bread. I really liked the thyme-roasted butternut with balsamic caviar and fresh dill. Wholemeal scones were yummy too and accompanied by red berries compote and crème fraîche. Cakes included red velvet, flourless chocolate and mint, polenta and almond, and an especially delicious blueberry and yoghurt chiffon.
As for the actual teas, I enjoyed a trio of exception sips. With my sandwiches, the Assam Mangalam (a black tea with golden tips and an oaky finish) proved a worthy match. Gyokuro (a rare Japanese greens tea grown under bamboo slats) was one of the most characterful and aromatic tea I’ve ever had – and did a bang up job alongside the scones. With my cakes, I enjoyed a smoky Lapsang Souchong (something I’d had before at the hotel and was very much keen to try again).
In addition to all these dainty delectables, service included a uplifting and lift Guiltless cocktail featuring 10 Cane rum, fresh fennel, lime juice and agave syrup.
The Guiltless Afternoon Tea costs £40 per person (minimum two persons), which I reckon is great value (and certainly in line with comparable teas in Central London).
The Wellington Lounge is located in the lobby of the Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1J 7QY. Reservations for the afternoon teas are recommended. Find out more at wellington-lounge.co.uk.
