Here are a handful of city centre venues offering a festive afternoon tea plus a couple of places which have Christmas Big Deals on afternoon tea.
Of course, you can browse all of 5pm's afternoon tea offers here while all of our afternoon tea Christmas Gift ideas are here. The main picture above is from Chez Mal.
Browns Bar and Brasserie
With the first Browns opening in 1973, this family of classic brasseries has had plenty of time to polish its offer. Stylish, timeless interiors; smartly turned out staff and simple but well sourced and prepared dishes are key. Located in the old General Post Office building on George Square, the Browns Brasserie and Bar in Glasgow fits the mould neatly. Afternoon tea is £19.50 per person for the Festive afternoon tea. Guests can look forward to a selection of savoury delights, home-baked buttermilk scones and festive mini desserts with tea or coffee.
Cranachan
Located on the second floor of Princes Square on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street, Cranachan is an inviting mix of modern design and locally-produced food. Antler chandeliers and walls decorated by Glasgow’s famous Timorous Beasties design studio confidently set the stage for the contemporary Scottish cuisine served in Cranachan.
Your festive afternoon tea stand (£18.50 pp) includes choice of sandwiches, festive cakes, desserts, macaroons and scones to share plus tea or coffee. If you want to fizz up your festivities, you can add a glass of pink Prosecco for £4.95 each.
Windows at the Carlton George
Perched on the seventh floor of the hotel, Windows has panoramic views of the city centre and beyond. You can try and catch a glimpse of Santa while tucking into the restaurant's festive afternoon tea menu. Highlights include sandwiches filled with turkey and cranberry; warm scone with Chantilly cream; Christmas pudding cheesecake and a festive gingerbread. If your fingers are chilled after Christmas shopping then the winter vegetable soup will be very welcome.
Book in with 5pm Dining.
Edinburgh offers
One Square
A welcoming brasserie located on Festival Square in the heart of Edinburgh, One Square offers a modern Scottish take on drinking and dining. Perfect for a break in between Christmas shopping or a festive get together with your best friends, the festive afternoon tea is a cracker.
Among many other delights, it features freshly made scones with Xanté pear liqueur-marinated golden sultanas; Bailey’s cheesecake; mini mince pies and a Winter chocolate spice Yule log. To make it even more special, your tea is brewed at your table with a traditional Russian Samovar. The festive afternoon tea is £32 per person and you can add a glass of Moët & Chandon Impérial for an additional £10 per person. Alternatively, gin is a house speciality with more than 90 different varieties available behind the bar, including their very own One Square Gin made by the local Pickering’s Distillery.
Hotel du Vin
Nothing beats a real fire and the cosy bistro in this Old Town hotel makes the most of its restored fireplaces. Add in polished service plus lots of wine merchant memorabilia and the Bistro at Hotel du Vin is perfect for a festive afternoon tea. And if the Bistro is booked, the Whisky Snug is just as cosy. The festive afternoon tea (£22.50 pp) includes a choice of teas, a festive spread of mince pies, turkey and cranberry sausage rolls, gingerbread men and other festive treats.
Book here.
Big Deals
Valid from early January, these deals would make thoughtful Christmas gifts. There are more here.
Champagne Central - Grand Central Hotel
The elegant Champagne Central is part of Glasgow’s Principal Grand Central Hotel, which has played host to everyone from Winston Churchill to Frank Sinatra to The Beatles.
Now you can treat someone special to a decadent afternoon tea for two in one of Glasgow’s glammest hangouts.
Two people can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea accompanied by a glass of Champagne for £28.
Afternoon tea will include the Chef’s selection of sandwiches, mini filled brioche rolls followed by freshly baked fruit and plain scones with clotted cream and preserves.
To finish, guests can tuck into Chef’s top plate of cakes.
Chez Mal Bar in Glasgow Malmaison
Nominated for Hotel of the Year at the Prestige Hotel Awards last year, Mal Bar is a cool hangout with eye-catching Pop Art
It is ideal for a catch-up with a chum. Especially when you have one hand on a Hendrick’s G & Tea and one eye on a salted chocolate brownie.
Priced at £34, this Big Deal is for two people to have a Hendrick’s afternoon tea at Chez Mal bar.
Among other treats, your afternoon tea will include fruit or plain scones; smoked salmon, cucumber & cream cheese bagel; a Louisiana slider; salted caramel chocolate brownie and a seasonal fruit shake.
As well as your choice of speciality teas, the deal includes a Hendrick’s G & Tea – a refreshing mix of Hendrick’s gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur, blackberry and elderflower tea syrup, lemon juice, tonic.
Buy here.