Afternoon tea, it is claimed, was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840.
The Duchess would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o’clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner.
The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.
It has, in 2019, proliferated, with most venues offering some take on it and despite it being criticised in some quarters as nothing more than a cake obstacle course, has become a popular pastime.
The latest establishment to bring it in is Hotel Football, a venture begun by the so called Class of 92, situated a stones throw from Old Trafford and served on the ground floor in Cafe Football.
It is certainly a departure from the norm, arriving on a tray complete with synthetic grass, it comes in two Home Game and The Away Game. The less traditional Home Game includes mini fish & chips, mini Yorkshire pudding with beef and gravy and sausage roll swirls . The Away Game menu is a little more dainty and includes churros with chocolate sauce, Prosecco jelly, lemon poppy seed cake.
With a nod to the Football fan, it also comes with a small glass of Cafe Football beer,courtesy of local brewery Seven Brothers.
The mini fish and chips and Yorkshire pudding was very good, the finger sandwiches with the away option, could have been better, the rustic sandwiches that came with the Home selection were far better.
However all thoughts of Sandwiches were banished by the excellent Churros and Chocolate dipping sauce and scones with cream and raspberry jam excellently complimented by the Prosecco jelly.
Now bring on the Football
