Last week I was able to celebrate Afternoon Tea week (12th August – 18th August) a little early, as myself and group of the bloggers were invited to Chilston Park Hotel in Kent (near Maidstone), where we had an afternoon tea, and were shown around the hotel and all that it has to offer. It is a stunning hotel, hidden away down some country roads, but it is definitely worth a visit if you’re planning a trip to the Garden of England. It has 22 acres and a built-in lake, so there are plenty of grounds to roam.
The hotel has three suites, all of which are decorated differently (a really unique thing that I like about the hotel), as well as several other ‘regular’ rooms. The hotel is a popular spot for weddings, and one of the suites is a popular choice with the bride and groom – talk about bed and bath goals! I like that the hotel has a nod to the classic styles, but some modern thrown in too; it really works and is a great spot for staying somewhere different and not your bog-standard hotel room.
You don’t have to stay over there, though, as there are plenty of other things on offer. You don’t have to be staying over to have an afternoon tea there, eat in the restaurant, or have a drink in the bar. So I think it will make a great spot for a special occasion. I have in-laws that live in Kent, and we have booked for an afternoon tea bridal shower there before, but I will definitely bear it in mind for occasions like birthdays and anniversaries going forward (the restaurant is pretty casual with a gastro-pub kind of menu, as well as the hotel having some private dining areas if you want to book those for a party).
As for the afternoon tea itself, talk about afternoon the goals; it was really stunning, tasted delicious, and all dietary requirements were catered for (always a good thing when there is a group of you). There was a selection of vegetarian sandwiches for me, as well as some other veggie options like baked Camembert, and a mushroom tartlet. But the pièce de résistance has to be the cakes and scones, right? The servings are generous, so you definitely get value for money, and the selection was great, from coconut macarons, to red velvet cake slice, mint chocolate brownie, and mini rhubarb and custard cheesecake; divine. I was impressed with the selection, as well as the service that we had.
You can choose some fizz with your afternoon tea, but of course, some tea is a must. We had the pleasure at the event of having Lucy from Twinings, to talk us through all things tea, and the best tea to have with our afternoon tea. There was a gorgeous elderflower herbal infusion that we had with scones, and the pairing was amazing (*goes scouring the internet to find said tea*).
The whole event was really lovely, and the afternoon tea was fantastic; right up there with the best ones that I have had. So I would definitely recommend a visit to Chilston Park, just south of Maidstone in Kent, to eat, drink, or stay.
Have you ever heard of Chilston Park before? It would be great to hear what you think.
*the afternoon tea and event was gifted but with no obligation to post – I enjoyed it so much so I thought I had to share it with you all!
