Coworth Park Afternoon Tea, Ascot, UK – Review

foodnerd4life

6 years ago

If you follow me on Instagram, you might think my main diet is miniature patisseries and cucumber sandwiches for my love an afternoon tea. Next on my list is the charming Coworth Park, Ascot. Coworth Park is a luxury country house hotel and spa in 240 acres of Berkshire parkland. Offering a fabulous range of services of delights for your stay, whether it’s for Ascot horseracing or a weekend getaway. Or in my case, a birthday surprise afternoon tea for my mum and auntie’s birthdays. And what a place to treat the birthday ladies.

This is one seriously impressive venue for an afternoon tea. We were a little early for the table so settled in the bar for a Hibiscus Mocktail, I was rightly the chauffeur for the day, refreshing and decorative, and as thoughtfully mixed as a normal boozy cocktail. With a side of moreish Black Truffle Popcorn and Chilli Caramel Popcorn to nibble on, whilst people watching and waiting for our table.

Making our way into the main afternoon tea room, we were greeted with a harpist and to my utter delight playing Disney songs. With both my cousin and I, total Disney fangirls, we had a great time trying to guess the tunes! With a mixture of musical theatre, Queen and modern songs in the mix, we had such fun singing along. Quietly, of course, we wouldn’t want to ruin the other diners experience!

With a champagne toast to the mum’s birthdays, we tuck into the savoury plate. And what a selection for us. Prawn Marie Rose with Lettuce on Wholemeal Bread, Pickled Cucumber with Cream Cheese and Dill on Caraway Bread, Roast Windsor Estate Beef with Mustard Mayonnaise on Onion Bread and Royal Legbar Egg Mayonnaise and Cress on Basil Bread. All fairly traditional selection but the quality of the ingredients shining through.

Once we had finished the savoury items, it was on to the sweet. Scones with Quince Compote, Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream. The quince compote was a nice twist from the usual, with a tartness to cut through the richness of the clotted cream and fluffy warm scones.

On to the important part of any afternoon tea. The cakes and patisseries! And what a stunning selection, it took all my will power to not rush straight to them! Blood Orange and Buttermilk Mousse, tart fresh blood orange compote in the centre of a light buttermilk mousse place of a short crisp biscuit, with the hint of the most vibrant fresh orange on the top with a little bit of sparkle of gold leaf. Coworth Park Black Forest Gateau was a shining beacon of the dessert plate. A cherry red glossy dome with a boozy cherry centre, with a rich buttery chocolate biscuit base. Rich fruity cherry throughout and so very moreish.

The delicate Yorkshire Rhubarb and Vanilla Baba, with a centre of tender blush rhubarb cubes, which it was lovely to have some body to the rhubarb than it stewed down, making a super fresh and light morsel of seasonal delights.

Of course, I didn’t save the light one to last but the most decadent and rich one. The Pecan Brownie, fudgy nutty brownie with the most lighter than air frosting on top, which I still daydream about. The most perfect little brownie and ending to a super afternoon tea.

We had such a wonderful time and even have our Christmas afternoon tea planned in eleven months in advance. Apparently, they have the most wonderful Christmas trees, I’ll report back after my visit!