Week in Pictures - Sun, Swimming Pools and Cucumber Sandwiches

As always with my "week" in picture posts, these have come from the last few weeks, not just one. The weather has turned super drab, but I did manage to capture a few snaps as evidence that the sun can shine when it wants! I also ate lots of afternoon tea, went on a hen do in the Cotswolds, a trip to Liberty, a rainy Surrey County Show, witnessed someone special winning the Premiership Final and had a drunken (not me) trip to the Kensington Roof Gardens.

Afternoon Tea at The Goring Hotel

The Goring Hotel

The Goring Afternoon Tea

A Boozy little trifle

A trip across the road to Buckingham Palace

My eternally awesome husband treated me to afternoon tea at The Goring Hotel in Belgravia this week, which was gloriously resplendent in all it's Jubilee florals and bunting. The Goring is in fact the proud holder of the British Tea Guild Council Award of Excellence for 2008, 2009 and 2010, so expectations were high, this is after all my favourite meal of the day and The Goring certainly didn't disappoint. 
It was a hot hot day so people were having tea on the Terrace as well as the Lounge, overlooking the sun-dappled Goring Gardens. The Goring is smaller and more intimate than many of the afternoon teas other "big" London hotels have to offer, yet no less impressive. It was more intimate and the friendly and smiley staff didn't rush us or mind continually topping us up with oceans of Earl Grey tea. Being preggers our waitress asked numerous times if everything was ok and if I wanted different sandwiches to suit my annoying diet restrictions i.e. no smoked salmon (I declined knowing someone else would wolf them down instead.) 
We both opted for the Goring afternoon tea which started with a lobster and crab terrine with jelly, it was gorgeous. We then went straight into the main event, starting with tiers of sandwiches, my favourite being the guinea fowl and white mushroom which was like a roast dinner in a finger sandwich. The second tier was full of warm and delicious homemade scones, light as air, which we slathered in clotted cream and strawberry jam. The final tier was an array of homemade miniature desserts. Highly recommended was the tiny cheesecake and the warm custard tart with a sprinkling of nutmeg. 
We were about as stuffed as the pictures of Lord Goring looked, yet managed to squeeze down the final course, a boozy little trifle, full of smooth vanilla custard and fruity jelly, seriously yummy. I will definitely be back!


If you fancy a sumptuous summer treat and want an intimate, relaxed afternoon tea you must visit The Goring.