The venue’s afternoon tea menu pays tribute to the city’s heritage
There was an option to add a bottle of prosecco onto the afternoon tea
Afternoon tea is a classic British tradition. Rain or shine, there’s nothing quite like relaxing with some tasty treats – whether it’s scones slathered in rich cream or jam, light finger sandwiches, or a steaming cup of your favourite tea.
With its vibrant waterfront, iconic landmarks, and rich cultural heritage, Liverpool boasts a range of venues offering delicious afternoon tea menus. If you’re craving a delightful indulgence, the city has something for everyone to enjoy; however, one is said to be head and shoulders above the rest.
New Care Homes, a care home operator based in the North West, compiled a list of the top spots in the area for afternoon tea. It sought to find the best of the best and named Voyagers Restaurant & Bar’s £32.50 per person deal as exactly that.
Having never experienced an official afternoon tea before, I felt it was time to see what all the fuss was about. And with the winner just a five-minute walk from my doorstep, how could I refuse?
I wasn’t surprised Voyagers was named among the top spots. I have been to the restaurant several times and it’s yet to let me down. The restaurant is one of the city’s more upscale offerings, and if the interior or customer service didn’t tell you that, the prices on the menu certainly would’ve.
The afternoon tea had Scouse-inspired sausage rolls and The Beatles-themed desserts
It’s the type of place you’d choose to splash out on for an anniversary date or a graduation meal. And you’d be in good hands if you opted to go here.
Sitting in a cosy, elegant space known as the Garden Room, with the sunlight streaming through the roof-to-floor windows, we were quickly presented with a tiered stand filled with delicate treats.
Starting with the bottom tier, there were classic finger sandwiches filled with Mrs Kirkham’s Cheese and red onion chutney, smoked salmon and cream cheese open sandwiches on focaccia and a salt and pepper chicken brioche bun.
The middle tier had warm, freshly baked scones served with clotted cream and the option of strawberry or raspberry jam. On top was a colourful choice of miniature cakes, pastries, and tarts. Each one was a tiny work of art, leaving you no choice but to savour each bite and enjoy the combination of sweet and savoury flavours.
The afternoon tea didn’t look like there was much but it certainly filled you up with all the bread
However, the star of the show wasn’t even on the tiered selection – it came on its own. The Scouse-inspired sausage roll was filled with all the ingredients you’d find in the traditional stew and, of course, meat. It was served alongside a dollop of beetroot ketchup, and the only downside – if you would even label it as such – was that I wished there was more of it.
While I couldn’t fault any of the food, the afternoon tea prides itself on paying homage to Liverpool’s unique culture, yet this could’ve easily been missed.
Take the tart, for example, which is said to offer a Liverpool citrussy twist on a treacle tart, and the white-and-red macarons are nods to Strawberry Fields with its colours.
Voyagers restaurant is found on Parr Street
Meanwhile the nostalgic delicacy ‘dockers’ cake’ is a reminder of the spiced fruit cake originally made for dock workers who needed an energy-boosting snack while they worked on the bustling waterfront.
However, this wasn’t flagged to us at the beginning. The traditional-yet-modern afternoon tea had a local twist, but it was barely embraced. Every element on the menu was supposed “to tell a story”, and yet we didn’t even get a single chapter.
The New Care Homes list was based on information including the number of establishments, from cafes to stately homes, that serve afternoon tea, the cost of a standard afternoon tea session, and the percentage of ‘Excellent’ ratings on TripAdvisor. Each venue was then ranked accordingly to find the best value and the best venue to visit.
Dawn Collett, commissioning director at New Care Homes, who commissioned the study, said: “Popping out for afternoon tea is often considered something that only the older generation do, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Day-to-day life can be stressful and can often leave us feeling like we don’t get to spend time with the ones we love as much as we would like.
“From celebrating great news and milestones to just catching up with friends and family, afternoon tea is a wonderful pastime that people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy – whether with your favourite cup of tea or a nice glass of champagne. One thing’s for sure, it’s a perfect way to spend an afternoon.”