We were invited to step back in time, for an unforgettable afternoon tea at The Alice, Oxford. Inspired by the cultural phenomenon, Bridgerton, the event was set in the beautiful Drawing and Lancaster Rooms, within The Randolph Hotel.

On arrival, we were welcomed with a glass of champagne and taken to our seats in the beautiful drawing room, a room oozing opulence with gorgeous chandeliers.

The first thing that struck us was the string quartet; the music filled the room and immediately made you feel like you could be on a film set! Classical renditions included modern hits like ‘Thank You, Next’ by Ariana Grande and ‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift.

Once seated, we were greeted by some characters enacting a scandalous role-play, others read poetry, and even performed magic!

After a while, the room emptied and two elegant ballerinas entered the room to perform, the rousing music along with the graceful dancing made for a great performance.

We were then asked for our tea order (tea leaves, of course!) and shortly after the decadent afternoon tea arrived. At this point, the entertainment was replaced with gentle background music.

The afternoon tea consisted of four finger sandwiches, each with delicious fillings like chicken and tarragon, as well as classics like salmon and cream cheese. The bread was soft, the brown bread seeded and really flavoursome.

The scones were on the middle layer, two plain and two fruit – wrapped in a napkin and still warm! They were really great scones, with a little crunch on top but moist in the middle.

On the top layer, there was a spiced pumpkin macaron, raspberry mousse cake, custard tart, and a dark chocolate slice. The dark chocolate slice had gold leaf on top and the mousse cake was covered in subtle sparkles – all of these delights were incredibly light.

After dinner, there was dancing for those feeling that way inclined. A full routine was taught by the actors/actresses.

The immersive side of the afternoon tea won’t be everyone’s cup of tea – I think personally I’d opt for the music afternoon tea rather than the full immersive experience; despite that, we had a very enjoyable afternoon, and both thought the quality of the event made this very good value for money at £44.50 p/p – suitable for all ages.

Keep your eye open on the website for more themed afternoon teas, and expect an experience unlike anything else.

The Alice Oxford
The Randolph Hotel, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LN
thealiceoxford.com