It is Afternoon Tea Week, and Suffolk is rich in places to enjoy a delicious mid-afternoon treat in a beautiful location.
We asked our readers for their recommendations of the best places to have an afternoon tea. Here are some of their top responses:
1. The Swan, Lavenham
Price per person: £27.50
Set within the historic village of Lavenham, this 15th-century hotel's afternoon tea is iconic to Suffolk locals.
The traditional afternoon tea includes a selection of finger sandwiches, pastries, savouries, and cakes, and can be upgraded to include prosecco or champagne for an additional cost.
Diners can enjoy this treat in The Gallery restaurant or in the lounge for a more cosy experience.
2. Retreat East, Hemingstone
Price per person: £26
Just from glancing at the menu on the website, it is evident why this afternoon tea spot was so popular amongst our readers.
Diners can expect a Dingley Dell sausage roll, a malt and chocolate mousse dome, a caramelised white chocolate and mixed berry choux bun, as well as a selection of finger sandwiches filled with local produce.
Champagne can be added for an additional cost, and there is a plant-based option available as well.
3. The Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds
Price per person: £24
Located in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, this afternoon tea comes with a beautiful view of the Abbey Gardens.
Served daily between 12pm - 4pm, diners can expect a range of sandwich fillings, including a Suffolk ham and mustard sandwich, and smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich, as well as more unusual offerings, such as the cheddar and sun-blushed tomato muffin.
The Angel serves a vast selection of teas, so customers have plenty of choice when choosing their accompanying drink.
4. The Swan, Southwold
Price per person: £29.50
Sitting in the marketplace in the popular seaside town, customers on the hunt for an afternoon treat come from near and far.
Afternoon tea is served in The Still Room between 2.30pm - 4pm every day and features a range of savoury and sweet delights: saffron arancini with cheese espuma is served alongside mini monkfish and chips, and the dessert options include an Earl Grey and chocolate cake pop and mini cinnamon doughnuts.
There is a range of upgrade options for diners looking for a glass of something bubbly to accompany their food.
5. Suffolk Food Hall, Ipswich
Price per person: £17.95
Arguably the afternoon tea with the most impressive view, the Suffolk Food Hall serves this treat in a restaurant with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and Orwell Bridge.
The majority of the offerings on this afternoon tea come from the food hall itself - including the kiln-smoked salmon, the butcher's sausage roll and the honey-glazed ham.
Afternoon tea bookings can be made from Wednesday - Sunday, with a short booking window available.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here