Vintry & Mercer launches circus-themed afternoon tea for all ages in City of London

Five-star boutique hotel Vintry & Mercer, in City of London, will introduce a new themed afternoon tea experience on 22^nd November. Dubbed the Circus Afternoon Tea, the offering is designed for both adults and children and will be served at the venue’s Vintry Kitchen on weekends and during school holidays from 12.30 to 5pm. The initiative aims to provide a sensory dining experience inspired by the colours, nostalgia and theatricality of traditional circus entertainment.

The menu begins with a variety of savoury items, with options such as roast beef with horseradish, Yorkshire pudding and gravy or truffled egg mayonnaise in a brioche bun, coronation chicken with mango chutney or smoked salmon blinis with herb cream cheese. These are followed by traditional buttermilk scones, served with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam. The dessert selection has been designed to reflect the visual flair of the circus, to include The Big Top (a raspberry and lemon curd mousse), Carousel Macarons with peach and raspberry, Bobo the Clown (a blackberry and white chocolate cheesecake with Bourbon marble sable) and Popping Apple-Dini – cherry apples coated in fruit pulp and popping candy.

In addition to a selection of teas, guests can opt to accompany their meal with a glass of Charles Heidsieck Champagne, either Brut NV (£69.50) or Rosé (£74.50). A standard Circus Afternoon Tea is priced at £54.50 per adult, with a children’s Junior Circus Tea menu for £39.50, which includes a tailored selection of dishes designed for younger diners.

The hotel has also introduced Circus Tea Pot Tails – a range of tea-infused cocktails aimed at adding a theatrical flair to the experience. A spokesperson for the hotel said the new offering “invites guests for a marvellous gastronomic experience where culinary artistry meets childhood nostalgia”.

Food Desk

The Circus Afternoon Tea will be available from 22^nd November 2025 until further notice at Vintry & Mercer, 20 Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AU. For further information or to book a table, visit their website here.