Prêt-à-Portea at the Berkeley

A few weeks ago, when I had a few days off in-between jobs, I met a friend in London for Prêt-à-Portea - afternoon tea with a difference at the Berkeley.

Sarah and her husband had very generously bought me this as a lovely gift for my birthday last year, and we simply hadn’t had the chance to arrange it until then.

Running late as usual, my taxi driver zoomed his way to the train station where I had to run like crazy, all flying hair and trench coat trailing behind me as I navigated my way through the station. Luckily I made the train and arrived safely into London, with the next task of locating Sarah in the madness of St Pancras. I finally found her and had the chance to meet her little daughter Libby for the first time. At only six weeks old, it was Libby’s first trip into central London and she took it all in her stride. After a quick culpa and cuddle at the station, we weaved our way through the crowds, jumped on one tube and walked the rest of the way to the hotel luckily avoiding the rain.

Within moments of arriving at the Berkeley it was as if the hectic morning had never happened. It is the epitome of luxury calm. We were greeted by a gorgeous spring forest in the lobby.

Then seated quickly and promptly brought glasses of pink Champagne. My kind of welcome!

The afternoon tea is held in the caramel room, which for interior junkies like me is just lovely. Decorated in a very classy art deco style, it felt both sophisticated and on-trend at the same time.

The Berkeley describe their afternoon tea as: Prêt-à-Portea adds a creative twist to the classic elements of the traditional English afternoon tea with cakes and pastries resembling the latest catwalk designs for the style conscious.

The Berkeley London designer afternoon tea, Prêt-à-Portea, is inspired by the themes and colours of the fashion world. The menu is transformed every six months to follow the changing seasons in fashion.

It certainly was creative.

Plates of delicious sandwiches were quickly followed by an awe inspiring tier of fascinating cake-creations.

To celebrate the launch of the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Berkeley have included two of his most iconic designs into the collection. They say: The ‘armadillo’ shoes have been transformed into a a heeled chocolate biscuit whilst the much adored feather Butterfly Hat by Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer Collection in 2008 is reinvented as a deliciously dark chocolate mousse with a chocolate miroir and delicate red sugar butterflies.

You can see the Philip Treacy hat in the picture above to the right. ^^ It was delicious!

Mathew Williamson sequin macaroon with Mont Blanc cream ganache and psychedelic swirl of black & white

Jimmy Choo monochrome chic Cayla zebra print bag in Dulcey chocolate moelleux topped with a rainbow of meringue drops

Moschino’s quirky ‘Yellow M’ handbag of blood orange victoria sponge swathed in red quilted chocolate

Charlotte Olympia ‘Sarah’ knee high dark chocolate biscuit boot covered in sultry scarlet and black

Diane von Fürstenberg’s iconic golden gown ginger biscuit with a sprinkling of sparkle highlighting 40 years of Hollywood glamour

Chistopher Kane silk-organza peanut sponge cake and Poire William brandy mousse with delicate pink meringue layering

Manish Arora pink lady apple, cassis jelly and crème de Menthe mousse crowned with a marzipan Candyland apple cap

Valentino’s sexy sixties mini dress chocolate tartellette filled with caramelia cremeux, whipped ganache with red and pink chocolate polka dots

Dolce and Gabbana’s whimsical night owl with blackcurrant bavarois and star anis pannacotta savouring the designers’ Sicilian forest fantasy

…and more!

Whenever we finished a plate of sandwiches the excellent staff brought another round, and likewise with the cakes.

Not to mention as much tea as we could drink, which we took full advantage of.

The staff were great, being efficient and friendly and checking on Libby who slept happily throughout the whole meal. They even brought her a Berkeley rubber duck to play with in the bath when she gets a bit older.

As the afternoon tea was a gift for my birthday, they presented me a lovely additional cake with a candle in (my first as I didn’t get a cake last year!). Feeling thoroughly stuffed, we sat and talked, and Libby took her turn for something to eat before getting a few squeezes from me.

To put the icing on the cake, we were each given the cutest little take away boxes, concealing more cakes for us to take home with us.

I left the Berkeley with the sincere hope that I get to return one day, perhaps to test out their main restaurant, or even better, their rooms! Thanks Sarah, Dan and Libby for a gorgeous afternoon.

If you are looking for an afternoon tea venue in London or a gift for someone, I recommend. Make sure you book ahead, details here.