Having spent the last 11 years encouraging my kids to try new things and develop more sophisticated palates, I can hardly complain about the fact that their grown-up tastes come with a higher price tag. So it is that I find myself agreeing to afternoon tea at Aqua Shard, to soften the blow of going back to school. I have been pestered for a trip up the Shard, and this way we can avoid the crowds and enjoy a tasty treat in the process.
Seeing things through the kids’ eyes makes them even more special: the airport style security that usually feels tedious, today feels wickedly exciting, as does the lift that whisks us up to the 31st floor, making stomachs drop and ears pop. And when we step out of the lift and descend the steps to the restaurant, those views of London are utterly magical; from here we can see everything, and it is truly a sight to behold.
We are shown to a window table, where we continue to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ at the views, marvelling at familiar sights seen from new vantage points.
Because we are here for afternoon tea, there are few decisions to be made when it comes to the menu, but we excitedly devour the descriptions, looking around at neighbouring tables for a sneak peek of what is to come.
The tea has been inspired by J.M Barrie’s famous tale of Peter Pan’s adventures in Neverland, a theme that feels entirely fitting given that it is served up in the clouds above London’s rooftops. We begin with glasses of Veuve Clicquot for the grown-ups, and a mocktail for the kids – called the Never Grow Up, it is a colourful, fizzy confection of pineapple, pear puree, elderflower tonic and grenadine, and is met with enthusiastic thumbs up. Fizz finished we move on to tea, opting for the Darling Tea, a blend of black tea infused with rose petals and vanilla that is faintly sweet and decidedly delicious.
Savouries come served on a clock face platter, framed by a cut-out of the iconic London skyline. Highlights include a miniature salmon and cream cheese bagel topped with salmon roe, that is playfully named the Neverland Lagoon; and the Lost Boy finger sandwiches, filled to bursting with pastrami, mustard mayo, Emmental cheese, baby gem lettuce and pickled gherkins; but the stand-out is the melt in the mouth Baked Pig sausage roll with veal, beef and onion, that leaves us fighting over the last flaky crumbs and wishing for another. Of course, given that there is much more to come, it is probably a good thing that there is not another sausage roll!
The sweet course arrives, dramatically wreathed in dry ice on a custom-made ship shaped tea stand inspired by the Jolly Roger. There are, of course, gloriously warm scones, served with a selection of sweet apricot marmalade and raspberry jam, and a controversial sounding, but utterly moreish coconut clotted cream. A light as a feather lemon curd filled choux bun is shaped like Peter Pan’s hat and topped with a red icing feather; a Tinker Bell shaped cookie sprinkled in red ‘fairy dust’ perches on the edge of a shot glass of blood orange jelly topped with Chantilly and buttercream; and hidden in a tiny treasure chest, we find adorable crocodile-shaped gummy sweets. Everything is joyful to behold, and tastes utterly divine.
Afterwards, we can barely move, and take our time at the table, enjoying the views while finishing off a last cup of tea. It has certainly been an afternoon to remember.
