"I booked a table for 3 people to have afternoon tea at 12 Harland Place , then changed this to 4 people, two days before our booking. I received two emails confirming the booking and the change). I’m a big fan of afternoon tea and like to have it as a treat occasionally. I’ve had it in many different hotels and restaurants with friends so do have a fair scope for comparison. On this occasion I was taking my husband and two teenagers who had not had afternoon tea before, but as I’d enjoyed it at Harland Place twice before, I was confident they would enjoy it as much as I do. Unfortunately their first afternoon tea was a let down and the most disappointing I’ve ever had. After waiting 5 minutes at the door upon arrival, we were met by a lady in her 50’s who was neither welcoming nor friendly and after giving my name for the booking, were asked how many people we had booked for. I explained it was originally 3 but I’d changed it to 4 and she went off to check something. She came back and asked if I had called about the amendment, as there was a problem with the number of people on the booking, so I showed her my two emails confirming the change. Given that we were stood right next to a family eating, it felt uncomfortable and awkward to be stood there so long. After being seated, I felt that perhaps this could have been discussed at the table as there were four or five empty tables for 4 around us. It certainly could have been handled more tactfully than it was. Not the best start. The young man who served us our food was friendlier but we realised after he left that he hadn’t given us any cutlery. When we asked the same lady who greeted us on arrival, for some, she came to check our table before going to get it. I found this a little insulting as this was presumably to check that all four of us weren’t sat staring at them on the table?? All afternoon tea’s I’ve had previously have been served on a three tier cake stand or some other creative way of presenting the food, so to have the sandwiches and scones on plates and slate was a little disappointing. Only the cakes were on a cake stand. The sandwiches were cheese and pickle, ham, and egg mayonnaise. All of which were on white bread. They were nice but rather simple, unimaginative sandwiches and fillings. Something that could be easily made at home. The fruit scones were bland we were not given cheese scones, nor were we given an option to have cheese or fruit and the cream was whipped and not clotted, as is traditionally served with afternoon tea. The jam and cream were served in tea cups though, which was a nice touch. The cakes were; cornflake cake this was OK, though my daughter was unimpressed and didn’t finish it) cheesecake again, ok, but fell apart when you removed it as it wasn’t set properly) and victoria sponge cake which was delicious). Whilst eating our afternoon tea I noticed that another family were asked where they wanted to sit, as they were brought to be seated. This wasn’t something we were asked, which is a shame as I think the children would have liked to have sat in a booth rather than the table we were seated at. Overall our ‘treat’ was really disappointing. I can never understand why people who aren’t genuinely friendly, or unable to fake it at least, work in the service industry? A customer may be your 20th customer of the day, but you don’t know that their visit isn’t the family/couple/friends’ only time of eating out in 12 months, as a special treat. The only saving grace was that we had eaten out during the government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, and so thankfully we did not have to pay full price for such a disappointing meal and experience. Don't think I'll be returning."
