Miss Blair's Tea Room

03/09/2026

Good memories 🌷

My Daughter holding Miss Blair.

01/29/2026

My Daughter holding Miss Blair.

12/28/2025

05/13/2025

On The Shores Of Bognor Regis by Alexander Rossi, 1887

05/11/2025

In addressing this controversial question…

Afternoon tea is not the same as High tea.

High tea was what servants of a large house ate downstairs at around 6pm, after the aristocrats upstairs had been given their afternoon tea.

On the servants menu were things like large joints of meat (often a roasted ham), slices of thick bread, potted shrimps, a big cake to share, and ale. Tea replaced ale when it became affordable for ordinary people.

It was eaten at a proper table, rather than a lower, coffee table, and so it became known in the servants’ hall as ‘high tea.’

High tea is still observed in some institutions, more typically in nurseries, boarding schools, private nursing homes and gentleman’s clubs. It has otherwise lost the ‘High’ and ‘tea’ is widely used as a colloquial term for dinner.

Afternoon tea is typically served between 12 and 4pm. The upper class Victorians who invented the rules of this ceremony ate dinner after 8pm. Made up of several courses, it finished late into the night.

Afternoon tea consists of tea served with three courses, also eaten in the order of: i) sandwiches (which may include the addition of bite size savouries) ii) scones and iii) sweets (cakes and small individual desserts).

When served with champagne, it is called a Royal Afternoon tea.

Cream tea is tea served with scones only. Scones are traditionally offered as plain or fruit and served with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

However, having said all this, some hotels in London will capitalise on tourist trade. Serving Afternoon tea from as early as 10.30am until 7pm at night. Even adopting the name High tea in their promotions.

There is a foreign notion which assumes ‘High tea’ is synonymous with ‘High society.’

Whilst nothing to lose sleep about, I hope you agree that it’s helpful to explain the history behind traditional practises.

Sending hugs ❤️ Claire

04/05/2025

03/13/2025

Did you know..?

Tea Dances became popular at the beginning of the 20th Century, originally started by aristocratic families to entertain their friends and to chaperone young ladies in the company of eligible men.

Often taking place during the day, it included the serving of afternoon tea.

In 1910, the Argentine Tango arrived in London at the Gaiety Theatre and this new dance soon became the new rage.

It was The Waldorf which first offered Latin dance classes to the public served with tea, this trend was soon followed by other hotels and throughout the country.

When the Charleston dance arrived in 1920, cocktails replaced tea.

The custom is still carried out today in certain establishments including The Waldorf Hilton, London (formerly known as the Waldorf Hotel).

Image: The Palm Court at The Waldorf Hilton, London

03/07/2025

Tea time.

03/07/2025

Good memories🌷