Garden styling for Afternoon Tea Week!
We all love afternoon tea – a British delicacy dating back to the 17th century. We love it so much we have a national event dedicated to it – Afternoon Tea Week takes place every second full week in August and will be on August 7 to 13 this year.
To kickstart celebrations, we are sharing some suggestions on how to get your garden prepared and styled for the ultimate tea party.
You can have a tea party in any garden or terrace as long as you have enough table space. Your local British Garden Centres store offers both wooden and rattan furniture options for your tea party.
Once you have your social setting and furniture in place, design a tablescape with a set colour scheme to set the tone. Set the scene with crisp white linen tablecloths, doilies, placemats, and napkins to give it a quintessentially British and nostalgic feel. No afternoon tea is complete without its focal point, a tiered cake stand will be the centrepiece of the table and allows your guests easy access to the afternoon delights.
A nice touch is to add cut flowers for a true country cottage feel which adds to the atmosphere for your guests.
Some British Garden Centres stores have a selection of tasty treats available in store for your afternoon tea. (check store for details). Create a bit of theatre by serving the food on old-fashioned plates and vintage tea cups and saucers which can be picked up in charity shops – if they aren’t matching even better as it creates a sense of authenticity.
The traditional afternoon tea will see your cake stand piled high with a freshly prepared selection of hand-cut sandwiches, individual sweet treats and fluffy scones with clotted cream and jam.
Your local store will also offer a selection of English teas, fruit teas and iced teas to quench the thirst.
Whilst you are in the store, why not decorate the garden with our wide range of garden décor – also think birdcages, ditsy floral print bunting, and pearls for an elegant touch?
We also love the idea of old-fashioned silver candlestick holders for added glamour. Style your garden furniture with pastel colours and soft furnishings such as throws and cushions. If you have time, why not paint your fences and sheds in bright pastel colours to mark the occasion? And as the sun goes down, we also stock a wide range of solar lights and lanterns that can be hung in the trees for a magical setting.
Or if you want to treat your family and friends to an afternoon out, British Garden Centres delivers sweet and savoury treats with its Afternoon Teas in our restaurants, all served with tea from our amazing supplier Tea from The Manor.
If you are a Family Card member, you can treat yourself to an afternoon team with an exclusive discount, as well as access to offers, vouchers and invites to events throughout the year. British Garden Centres are also running a social media competition, especially for Afternoon Tea Week where a lucky person can win an afternoon tea for two. Check out your store’s Facebook page for a chance to take part!
