8 Best Afternoon Teas in Brighton and Hove

Famous for The Royal Pavilion and for the historic Lanes, Brighton is an iconic British seaside destination.

Exploring the town can be hard work, and with energy flagging in the mid-afternoon, many visitors go in search of a traditional afternoon tea to boost their energy for more sightseeing.

Luckily, visitors in search of the best afternoon tea in Brighton and Hove are spoiled for choice - here's our selection:

The Grand

Beautifully situated on Brighton seafront, The Grand, with its impressive Victorian frontage has been hosting elegant afternoon teas since the 19th century.

If you would like to experience the atmosphere that attracted Brighton's most well-heeled visitors then the famous afternoon tea at The Grand is a must.

In fact, it's been voted Brighton's Best Afternoon Tea in the 2020 Brighton Restaurant Awards!

Served in the plush surroundings of the Victoria Terrace & Lounge, you can choose from more than 30 teas, as well as freshly made sandwiches, pastries and some surprising treats bespoke to The Grand.

You have a wide choice of tea, or you can choose to add a glass of Brighton Gin or even champagne.

Afternoon Tea by the Sea at The Grand Hotel Brighton starts from £27 per person.

https://www.grandbrighton.co.uk/dining-and-lounge/afternoon-tea

 

That Little Tea Shop in The Lanes

That Little Tea Shop in The Lanes prides itself on being a traditional English tea shop, serving a variety of tasty lunches, homemade cakes and even cucumber sandwiches.

As such, it's a great place to choose for a delicious but unpretentious English afternoon tea.

Enjoy a choice of sandwich, a pot of tea (or coffee) and a freshly-baked scone with Cornish clotted cream and jam.

Enjoy an excellent yet affordable afternoon tea at That Little Tea Shop in The Lanes from only £12.95 per person.

https://www.thatlittleteashop.com/

 

Browns Brighton

Today, there are Browns Restaurants in several towns and cities across the UK, but Browns Brighton was the first, opening in 1973.

Browns pride themselves on the training and apprenticeships that they give their employees, so that they, in turn, can offer the highest standards of service.

Afternoon tea is served between 3pm and 5pm, with a traditional selection of delicious savouries, warm scones and tempting mini cakes.

Choose from a range of hand-blended teas, a boutique G&T or a glass of bubbly.

Delicious Afternoon tea at Browns Brighton starts from £22 per person.

https://www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/southeast/brighton

 

The Claremont

What better way to enjoy afternoon tea in Brighton than to re-live the town's Victorian heyday?

Afternoon tea at the Claremont offers a deliciously traditional menu served in surroundings with a distinctly Victorian ambience.

Savour tea served in vintage bone china cups on an embroidered tablecloth.

Enjoy a selection of finger sandwiches, traditional cakes and mini scones all made with locally sourced ingredients.

Enjoy Vintage Afternoon Tea at The Claremont from £19.50 per person, or upgrade to a champagne afternoon tea for an additional £9 per person. 

https://www.theclaremont.eu/afternoon-tea

 

Terre à Terre

If you prefer a vegetarian afternoon tea then Terre à Terre has the perfect menu for you.

As one of Brighton's longest-established ethical restaurants, Terre à Terre has been committed to reducing food waste, recycling and engagement with the local community since they started trading in 1993.

Afternoon Tea at Terre à Terre consists of one savoury plate served first, followed by three tiers of tempting sweet choices.

Examples of the savoury treats on offer include tapioca seaweed cracker with pickled vegetables, or perhaps Kabocha Korokke - a pumpkin and preserved black bean bonbon croquette.  As you can see, Terre à Terre offers a delicious savoury experience you won't find in afternoon teas elsewhere.

The sweet tiers offer more temptations such as Chocolate hazelnut truffle cake and praline served with a whipped dark chocolate mousse.  Fans of scones won't be disappointed either, as the traditional tier offers tea-soaked sultana scones with vanilla strawberry jam and clotted cream.

Vegan afternoon tea is also available at Terre à Terre.

Terre à Tier Tea and Vegan Terre à Tier Tea cost from £29 per person. 

https://terreaterre.co.uk/menus/vegetarian-food/afternoon-tea-menu

 

The Ivy in The Lanes

The Ivy in The Lanes offers a unique experience with its glamorous art-deco decor and locally inspired artwork.  Where else can you relax on orange leather banquettes and admire an ornate onyx bar?

Wonderland Afternoon Tea offers savoury bites such as a pickled cucumber courgette and basil double-decker, or Ivy Cure smoked salmon and cream cheese finger sandwich.

At The Ivy, warm fruit scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve come with fresh strawberries.

Choose a Wonderland-themed sweet treat, such as Red velvet raspberry Queen cake or Two of Hearts chocolate shortbread slice.

An excellent selection of teas, coffees and infusions is included, or you can upgrade to a decadent champagne afternoon tea.

Wonderland Afternoon Tea at The Ivy in The Lanes starts from £29.95 per person.

https://theivybrighton.com/

 

Metrodeco

Just a stone's throw from Brighton beach, in the bohemian Kemp Town area, you'll find Metrodeco - a tearoom with a vintage twist.

Afternoon teas at Metrodeco use delicious local ingredients, and, if you let them know in advance, they're happy to prepare something that will fit your dietary requirements.

A traditional afternoon tea includes an assortment of seasonal savoury creations, scones with jam and clotted cream, a selection of cakes and sweets, and best of all, unlimited tea.

In fact, tea is something of a speciality at Metrodeco, with more than 30 blends to choose from including traditional and contemporary flavours, including Darjeeling, Genmaicha and Maca.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Afternoon tea at Metrodeco costs from £37 per person.

https://metro-deco.com/afternoon-tea

 

Brighton Regency Routemaster

And now for something completely different:

Afternoon tea - a great British tradition, served onboard a great British icon - the Routemaster bus!

First registered in 1965, Routemaster RML 2333 has had a long life as a London bus before being completely restored and converted to a dining bus in 2017.

An Afternoon Tea Tour onboard this beautiful classic bus lasts about an hour and a half, includes a traditional afternoon tea with both savoury and sweet choices and costs from £43 per person on the lower deck or £46 on the upper deck.

https://brightonregencyroutemaster.co.uk/

 

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