Afternoon Tea at The Grove is served in the comfortable lounges of the Hertfordshire country estate at Chandler’s Cross. The setting is polished but relaxed, encouraging guests to settle in rather than rush through courses. Views of the hotel and its extensive grounds reinforce the sense of an occasion away from everyday city dining.
The traditional seasonal tea combines crafted savouries with patisserie and freshly baked scones. Summer menus have used ingredients such as slow cooked Herefordshire beef, cucumber, smoked salmon and coronation chicken before moving into fruit led sweets and flavoured scones. Later menus change with the harvest and other seasonal produce, so the selection evolves during the year.
An omakase sushi afternoon tea offers a markedly different route through the experience. Handcrafted rolls and nigiri, including carefully prepared seafood, lead into seasonal scones and desserts. This option keeps the leisurely structure of afternoon tea while replacing the usual sandwiches with Japanese techniques and flavours.
Tea is central to both formats, while a glass of Champagne can add a celebratory touch. The Grove’s lounges also serve coffee, light bites and cocktails, making them comfortable before or after the tea itself. With two distinct menus and a country house setting, the experience suits celebrations as well as diners looking for an imaginative afternoon meal.
Address: The Grove, Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire WD3 4TG, United Kingdom
Afternoon Tea At The Grove Menu
Autumn Harvest Afternoon Tea
Served Wednesday – Sunday. £70 per person. With Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée £85 per person, with Laurent-Perrier Héritage £89 per person, with Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé £93 per person.
Coronation chicken
Mango chutney, crispy onion bhaji
Burford Brown egg mayonnaise
Mustard cress, crispy shallot
Roast Herefordshire beef
Wasabi and nori mayonnaise, watercress
Yorkshire honey-roast ham
Sage and onion stuffing, Bramley apple
Severn and Wye smoked salmon
Pickled golden beetroot, dill crème fraîche
Traditional and cranberry with orange
Clotted cream and seasonal preserve
Woodland acorn
Hazelnut praline, milk chocolate mousse, chocolate sponge
Orchard apple
Braeburn apple Tatin, chai-spiced cream, brown butter crust
Pumpkin patch
Roasted pumpkin custard, caramelised pecans, toasted meringue
Heritage plum
Ginger cheesecake, poached plums, ginger biscuit
Plant-Based Afternoon Tea
Served Wednesday – Sunday. £70 per person. With Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée £85 per person, with Laurent-Perrier Héritage £89 per person, with Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé £93 per person.
Coronation roasted cauliflower
Mango chutney, crispy onion bhaji
Crushed chickpea, chive and kimchi mayonnaise
Mustard cress, crispy shallot
Roast seasonal woodland mushrooms
Wasabi and nori mayonnaise, watercress
Roast autumn celeriac
Sage and onion stuffing, Bramley apple
Cured golden beetroot
Dill crème fraîche, lemon
Traditional and cranberry with orange
Oatly crème fraîche and seasonal preserve
Woodland acorn
Hazelnut praline, vegan milk chocolate mousse
Orchard apple
Braeburn apple Tatin, chai-spiced cream
Pumpkin patch
Roasted pumpkin vegan custard, caramelised pecans
Heritage plum
Ginger cheesecake, poached plums
Children’s Afternoon Tea
£35 per child
Yorkshire ham
Cheddar cheese and tomato
Free-range chicken mayonnaise
Line-caught tuna mayonnaise and cucumber
Traditional scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam
Pumpkin spiced mousse and chocolate sponge
The Grove’s rice krispy treat
Mini apples dipped in chocolate and caramel
Summer Blossom Afternoon Tea
Served Wednesday – Sunday. £70 per person. With Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée £85 per person, with Laurent-Perrier Héritage £89 per person, with Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé £93 per person.
Slow-cooked Herefordshire beef
Horseradish crème fraîche, pickled elderflower shallots, watercress
Free-range coronation chicken
Golden raisins, coriander, mango chutney
English cucumber
Jasmine and apple glaze, cracked black pepper
Burford Brown egg and chive blossom
Jemima’s garden chive blossom, mayonnaise
Severn and Wye smoked salmon
Croxton Manor cream cheese, citrus, alfalfa
Strawberry and lemon verbena chiffon
Mara des Bois gel, verbena cream
Apricot and rosemary Breton
Rosemary sable Breton, mascarpone, honey roasted apricot
Raspberry hibiscus pavlova
Swiss meringue, hibiscus pâte de fruit, red berry crémeux
Berry bouquet
Finest berries and petals with a Hertfordshire honey chocolate mousse
Traditional and redberry and rose scones
Clotted cream and seasonal preserve
Omakase Sushi Afternoon Tea
£75 per person. With Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée £90 per person, with Laurent-Perrier Héritage £94 per person, with Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé £97 per person.
Otoro Nigiri
with Arenkha caviar
Torched scallop Nigiri
with yuzu zest
Tuna & avocado roll
with shiso and tobiko
Sweet snow crab roll
with cucumber and citrus mayo
Salmon and ikura temari
crowned with salmon roe
Strawberry and lemon verbena chiffon
Mara des Bois gel, verbena cream
Apricot and rosemary Breton
Rosemary sable Breton, mascarpone, honey roasted apricot
Raspberry hibiscus pavlova
Swiss meringue, hibiscus pâte de fruit, red berry crémeux
Berry bouquet
Finest berries and petals with a Hertfordshire honey chocolate mousse
Traditional and redberry and rose scones
Clotted cream and seasonal preserve
Teas & Tisanes
All That Jazz
A delicate, fresh jasmine green tea blend with floral notes and jasmine blossoms. This blend is divine at any time of the day.
Clarendon’s Earl Grey
A quintessentially British tea blended with notes of rose and lavender – inspired by the Earl of Clarendon.
Classic Earl
Enjoy this classically British tea. Its bold flavour stems from the combination of bergamot essential oil and black tea blends. Enjoy with or without milk.
Chamomile Yawn
A soothing, naturally caffeine-free tonic, made from some of nature’s most relaxing herbs: whole chamomile flower heads, lemon balm, rose and lavender.
Sencha Green
A light, fresh caffeinated blend. Sencha translates as ‘steamed’, reflecting the traditional technique for ensuring the leaves deliver maximum flavour.
Sweet Chai of Mine
Oh, oh, oh, sweet chai of mine! This warming, rich and aromatic caffeinated blend brings a classic right up to date, with a hint of the spice of the moment, turmeric.
Champagne & Wine
Champagne Laurent-Perrier at The Grove. Glass 125ml and bottle prices.
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée
Laurent-Perrier Héritage
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé
Laurent-Perrier Brut Millésimé 2015
Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
Grand Siècle Iteration N°26
Beer & Cider
Birra Moretti
Heineken
Sol
The Grove Pale Ale 500ml
Made from hops grown in our Walled Garden
Noam Beer
3 Brewers Golden Ale
Spirits
Spirits are served as 50ml measures unless indicated.
Belvedere
Grey Goose
Ketel One
Stolichnaya
Żubrówka
Sapling Vodka
Softs & Juices
Fever-Tree 200ml
Indian Tonic Water, Naturally Light, Tonic Water, Ginger Ale, Soda Water, Mediterranean Tonic Water, Sicilian Lemonade