4 Ways to Elevate Your Afternoon Tea for the Jubilee

©Burleigh Pottery

If you’re in the midst of planning an afternoon tea event for the Jubilee, you’ll no doubt be looking for ways to make it extra special. In this article, Kate Cartwright from bespoke tableware retailer Burleigh Pottery shares her top tips for planning an afternoon tea to remember. 

With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee coming up, there’s no better time to start planning an afternoon tea event for your friends and family. Hosting an afternoon tea for your loved ones is one of the best ways to show them just how much you care. After all, so much effort goes into making these events perfect, from the elegant serving of delicious food and drink to the sophisticated table set up. But if you want to treat your loved ones to an elevated event, you’ll no doubt be on the lookout for ways to impress.

The good news is that there are a number of ways you can make your occasion stand out from the rest, and all they require is a bit of planning and imagination. To give you some inspiration, here are four ways to give your Jubilee afternoon tea that extra special touch. 

Work with your theme

A great way to make your afternoon tea event stand out from the rest is to incorporate a theme. And as afternoon tea is already a quintessentially British event, the Queen’s Jubilee is a fantastic theme to choose. Plus, there are so many different ways to incorporate the Jubilee into your afternoon tea. 

One way you can do so is by considering the colour scheme. Red, white, and blue would work well with this theme, so take this into account when choosing your tableware. You can also add Queen Victoria’s favourite sweet treat to the menu, Victoria sponge, as well as sandwiches with coronation chicken, which was created for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. And if you’re feeling creative, bake some crown-shaped biscuits for your guests to enjoy. 

Have fun with presentation

 

Create a beautiful display with your afternoon tea by experimenting with your presentation. When it comes to table presentation, consider going for something different to make your event stand out. One way to do this is by using your ceramics for more than just displaying food. For example, you could use a teapot to display a floral centrepiece. Not only does this add something unique, but it will fit well with the afternoon tea theme too! 

You can also experiment with food presentation to impress your guests. For example, consider creating an afternoon tea board, and display the food on a large platter instead of a cake stand. This is particularly beneficial for guests with mobility problems who may struggle to reach up easily. 

Pay attention to the finer details

When planning an afternoon tea that you want to be remembered, it’s important to carefully consider the finer details, as they really can make a world of difference. Adding small touches shows that you truly thought of everything to make the event one to remember.

There are a number of little touches you can incorporate that don’t just make the presentation look great, but add a personal touch to the setting too. For example, you could knit a personalised coaster for each guest which they can take home with them after the tea party is done. You could also add a number of other special touches, such as knitted tea cosies and handmade place cards with your guests’ names on.

Prepare fun activities for the event

Who says party games are just for the children to enjoy? To make sure that your guests have the best time possible, plan out some fun activities for you to do together. There are a number of great activities that everyone can enjoy, so you won’t be stuck when finding the perfect one for you. 

Shared hobbies are a great place to start. For example, if your friends love knitting as much as you do, get a variety of yarn, some knitting patterns, and all the equipment you need to host your own knitting session. This is a great option as not only is it a fun way to spend time together, but your guests will have a memento to take home with them too. 

You could also take some inspiration from the tea itself when planning activities. For example, you could do a tea bag toss to see who can get the tea bag in the cup from the furthest distance away. Or if you’re in a nostalgic mood, you could update a classic childhood game to make it perfect for an afternoon tea, and play pin the teacup on the saucer! 

Afternoon teas are always fun, but if you use the tips above, you should be able to make your Jubilee-themed event extra special. And if you want to incorporate knitting into your event, make sure to grab the latest copy of Let’s Knit magazine from your local supermarket for all the inspiration you could need!

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