Thomas Paine Hotel

Afternoon Tea at The Thomas Paine Hotel

Price: £19.95 per person including standard tea and coffee

Our mixed sandwiches include honey baked ham and grain mustard, egg mayonnaise and water cress and lastly cream cheese and cucumber. It also includes warm fruited scones with clotted cream and jam along with assorted cakes, cupcakes and other sweet treats.

Afternoon Tea Serving times:

Friday to Sunday 12 pm-9 pm

All afternoon teas require pre-booking and 24 hours notice with a £5 deposit per person. We can accommodate dietary requirements such as gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan afternoon tea with advanced notice for a supplement of £2.50 per person.

A brief history of Afternoon Tea.

Tea consumption increased dramatically during the early nineteenth century and it is around this time that Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford is said to have complained of “having that sinking feeling” during the late afternoon. At the time it was usual for people to take only two main meals a day, breakfast, and dinner at around 8 o’clock in the evening. The solution for the Duchess was a pot of tea and a light snack, taken privately in her boudoir during the afternoon.

So to avoid that ‘sinking feeling’ we are delighted to say that we are now serving traditional afternoon teas and cream teas at The Thomas Paine Hotel every day.

Afternoon Teas have come a long way since then, and we have long come to expect a full range of items all freshly made. When you visit the Thomas Paine Hotel in Thetford for afternoon tea you can expect a traditional 3 tier stand containing freshly cut sandwiches with various fillings, plain and fruit scones with cream and jam, along with sweet treats to savour. Of course, all washed down with a choice of teas (or coffee!).