I am very pleased with this exciting new afternoon tea inspired by Mary Poppins.
With the limited availability until Sunday 3rd November 2019, at Aqua Shard on level 31, guests will be taken on a playful journey down memory lane, with an exciting series of nostalgic and creative sweets and savouries.
I am truly blown away with their creative concept especially their menu design with gilt gold framed mirror – a recurring symbol throughout the books depicting Mary’s vanity and her ‘practically perfect’ reflection.
Served on a custom-made tea stand with an umbrella on top and silver booted feet below – with crockery that comes to life with Mary Shepard’s original illustrations of Mary Poppins – the tea will follow the format of a quintessentially British afternoon tea with unconventional twists.
To start, the savoury selection will include traditional finger sandwiches (Cackleberry farm egg and truffle, Dingley Dell honey roast ham and mustard, Ploughman’s and a Devon crab and cucumber brioche), as well as crumpets – Mary Poppins’ favourite – with miniature versions served warm with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
After, enjoy Mrs Brill’s homemade scones with jam and clotted cream. Two bespoke teas will complement the experience: ‘Mary’s Tea’, which is an exotic blend of Darjeeling from India, Ceylon from Sri Lanka and Keemun and rose petals from China; and ‘Bert’s Tea’, a smoky combination of Souchong and Keemun from China, Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka and vanilla flavouring and cornflower from Sussex.
I choose to add some fizz to the experience, Champagne flutes come to life with a kite that flies from the glass and guests can choose to add ‘medicine’ to their glass, with the choice of three homemade liqueurs.
A quirky array of sweet treats include a ‘Strike Me Pink Sponge’ which imagines one of Travers’ famous quotes in edible form; Mary Poppins’ very own hat can be enjoyed with a black ‘Cherry Tree Lane’ mousse covered in dark chocolate, and Fairground Candy Floss is served from a stand in the restaurant.
The Mary Poppins Afternoon Tea will be served in the triple-storey atrium of aqua shard, boasting panoramic views of London’s skyline. Served every day from 1.00-5.00pm, the afternoon tea is priced at £49 per person, or £66 with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne, and £72 with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Rosé.
