Experience The Savoy Afternoon Tea in Scotland
World famous hotel The Savoy is renowned for its traditional afternoon tea, sumptious food and surroundings. However, we all can't get to London to visit so easily. Fairmont St Andrews, also known as St Andrews Bay Hotel and, part of the same group are giving you a taste of London in St Andrews and Mrs Foodie was luckily invited along to see what it was all about.
The Hotel
The hotel is set amongst the golf courses of the game's ancestral home and looks out onto the sea and the town of St Andrews so it's not just for the golf fan. Coming into the hotel grounds, Mrs Foodie was very impressed. Hopefully, we'll be able to get another visit and stay over to see all which is on offer.
The Atrium
The Atrium area has been recently refurbished with the addition of a 60-metre lighting sculpture by artist George Singer named 'Zephyr'.
"Some of the elements I was inspired by in the creation of 'Zephyr' were the beautiful rolling hills, the crashing waves on the rugged coastal rocks, the long grasses blowing in the wind and the enormous dramatic skies. A sense of energy, dynamism and movement is captured by suspending twenty-thousand metal disks to create an enormous form full of twists and turns, like a shoal of fish or moving cloud dancing through the hotel's Atrium"
It certainly is impressive, each piece was hung by hand and thankfully, we learned, it doesn't need dusting!
The Atrium area had lots of places to sit with a cup of tea, book and indeed have afternoon tea in!
As you can see the area isn't a formal afternoon tea area, it's very casual and relaxed.
A good view as well, what a setting!
Savoy Afternoon Tea
Menu
There are two menus available, Savoy Afternoon Tea Experience and Traditional Afternoon Tea. Full menu PDF can be found here.
The Food
After a quick hello from the new Executive Chef Frank Trepesch, former executive sous chef at The Savoy, it was time to look at the menu and decide which teas to pick. There are seven pages of tea to choose from, so it's a hard decision. There are black, yellow, green and white teas, herbal infusions, flowering teas and a collection of rare teas. Thankfully, we were aided by staff who asked what our tastes were and guided us to an appropriate brew. Mrs Foodie picked a scented white tea of white peony and rose, which had white tea buds and whole rose buds.
Whilst waiting for our sandwiches, the General Manager explained that the staff visited The Savoy for training to enable a perfect experience. I'll need to speak nicely to Mr Foodie for a trip back to see! Guests will be able to choose from a selection of finger sandwiches, homemade scones with clotted cream & jam etc.
A selection of finger sandwiches filled with Ayrshire ham with wholegrain mustard & apple chutney on wholemeal bread, coronation chicken, brioche rolls, classic egg salad with water cress on white bread, Smoked Scottish salmon with herb cream cheese on malted brown bread, mozzarella, beef tomato, pesto and balsamic glaze on herb & spinach bread (this one was amazing).
Then some plain and fruit scones with clotted cream, jam and lemon curd!
As if this wasn't enough we were also served some delicate Afternoon Tea pastries, pistachio sponge, black cherry bavarois, citrus tart (lemon
curd), candied lemon sponge, Italian meringue, classic opera intense coffee butter cream, jaconde biscuit, dark chocolate, éclair lavender-infused vanilla cream, choux bun, strawberry sable with lightened vanilla custard, fresh strawberries, sweet tartlet...
...AND Atrium Lounge signature cakes, chocolate cake and Victoria sponge!
Phew! After that you will need a lie-down on the comfy chairs provided.
What an afternoon tea! A stunning setting, delicious food and I was surprised to find a relaxed atmosphere with no one pushing you to move along for the next afternoon tea. This was a relaxing afternoon to enjoy yourself. Well worth a voucher for treating a friend, mum or just yourself.
Without a car I travelled by train to Leuchars Railway Station and then took a local taxi.
Location: Fairmont St Andrews KY16 8PN
Hours: Monday to Sunday 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Telephone Booking: 01334 837000
