(Complimentary visit for the purpose of review - see disclaimer)
If there is one thing I love to do, it's book afternoon tea with friends or family. It's such a wonderful way to spend time with the people you value the most and the perfect way to enjoy a sweet treat. There's a handful of places in Southampton that serve an indulgent afternoon tea but only a couple of them do it well, one of which is Gatehouse 1833 situated on the Royal Pier with beautiful views over Southampton water and the comings and goings of some of the world's largest cruise ships.
I think this also makes it a great spot for children because they can watch the Red Funnel ferry to the Isle of Wight come and go while spotting the smaller boats that frequent the water. The large and open terrace makes it a great sun trap and you'll catch some of the best sunsets in Southampton from where you're sat.
It's a pretty ideal location and that's before we've even got to the food.
It's a pretty ideal location and that's before we've even got to the food.
I took my grandmother for Afternoon Tea at Gatehouse 1833 and we had such an enjoyable experience that I'm already arranging another get-together with the blog girls as I think they'll love it too.
Walking into Gatehouse 1833, you're met with big smiles before being shown to your table. What I love most about Gatehouse is that the restaurant isn't overcrowded. Too many times you see tables squeezed in next to one another but here, you're given space and the chance to enjoy your meal without being sat upon one another. It makes your time there much more enjoyable and intimate.
After being seated, iced water was served and our tea order was taken. There aren't that many teas to choose from but as I always have an English Breakfast Tea it suited me perfectly. Sometimes a huge tea menu can be a little overwhelming and sometimes it's nice to just go with a classic served in beautiful china.
Each afternoon tea is freshly baked and prepared by their chefs on the morning of your visit so you really are getting the freshest of food during your visit. Our delicious helping of savoury treats and yummy bakes were brought out on a three-tier stand, much more modern than your usual stands and to be honest, I preferred it. It just looked really well presented and you almost didn't want to ruin the display... I say almost because of course we couldn't resist helping ourselves immediately.
The savoury tier consisted of four fillings on soft, baked bread and tasted incredible. I love a sweet treat but the savoury tier is definitely my favourite. There were freshly cut sandwiches of egg mayo & cress on white bread, cucumber and
cream cheese on brown, coronation chicken on white & Scottish smoked salmon
with crème fraiche on brown. The coronation chicken was my favourite which surprised me as I'm not usually a fan but the bite-size pieces of chicken paired with juicy sultanas really made it something special.
After working our way through the yummy sandwiches, it was time for a sweet hit. It's not an afternoon tea without scones and we enjoyed plain and sultana scones over tea. Each comes with clotted cream and jam preserves and you can taste the home baking as you bite into one. They really were mouthwatering, you just can't beat a homemade scone.
The big question is, do you put the cream first or the jam? I'm a cream first kinda gal personally!
If you still have room after the delectable scones then the top tier is full of mini cake treats and petits fours. Each is beautifully hand-finished and scrumptious. The little coffee and walnut number was a sure favourite and the chocolate eclair came a close second.
We had such an enjoyable time, the food really was to die for and as we were met with a beautifully sunny day, the views were as far as the eye can see.
If you're looking for somewhere different for afternoon tea then you really needn't look any further, Gatehouse 1833 really does have it all and for just £17.95 per person.
You can book online or call them on 023 8033 9211, you really won't regret it.
