Last month The Dorchester Hotel continued their ongoing partnership with the 200-year old family owned champagne house Laurent-Perrier by celebrating their magnificent show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015 with the return of the popular Laurent-Perrier Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea…
This year also saw Laurent-Perrier team up with Chatsworth, who were making their Chelsea Flower Show début, to create a garden reflecting both the lightness and delicacy of the famous champagne and the less explored part of the 105 acre Chatsworth Garden. Designed by Dan Pearson, who returned to the show after more than a decade, the garden beautifully captured Chatsworth’s ornamental Trout Stream and Joseph Paxton’s rockery and went on to win the prestigious ‘Best in Show’ award.
Simultaneously, The Dorchester delighted guests with the Laurent-Perrier Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea, served in The Promenade for the sixth year running and taking inspiration from the 2015 award-winning garden with a variety of exquisitely decorated cakes and accompanied by a glass of the Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé.
One of the most iconic places in London to take afternoon tea, The Promenade’s famous palms were replaced with native trees thanks to designer florist Philip Hammond mirroring Dan Pearson’s Chelsea garden design, along with spectacular woodland-inspired arrangements placed on the tables. Those partaking of this very special afternoon tea were also presented with a floral bouquet on departure, a nice touch and making the experience particularly memorable for those using the occasion to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries.
The Promenade is a unique space for people-watching and it’s always fascinating to gaze upon a stream of elegant guests from a comfy sofa (extra cushions available on request), making me feel, and possibly look, increasingly Budda-like by the time I had consumed my fill of precise, crust-less finger sandwiches made with artisan breads, plain and fruit scones accompanied by clotted cream and home-made preserves.
This was followed with a whimsical finale of floral-themed French pastries which it simply wouldn’t be possible for most of us to recreate at home; a flower basket hazelnut sponge with praline chocolate cream and chocolate mousse soil; a chocolate sweet tart beehive with a caramel lemon and honey cremeux, and a flower pot almond financier with a blackberry and currant mousse.
Whilst designed to be combined with a visit to RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this is far from a prerequisite. The Dorchester’s themed afternoon teas (priced from £59) are the perfect way to celebrate a great British event without having to budge from your armchair. Next up is the Wimbledon Afternoon Tea taking place in The Promenade from 29th June to 12th July, so you don’t have to feel too disappointed if you don’t have tickets to Centre Court this year.
For menus and further information about afternoon tea at The Dorchester Hotel’s Promenade please visit the website.
