Culture Food & Travel News & features

Kensington Hotel launches Marie Antoinette-inspired festive afternoon tea with live artist and music

Kensington Hotel launches Marie Antoinette-inspired festive afternoon tea with live artist and music

The Kensington Hotel has launched a festive edition of its afternoon tea this December, entitled Let Us Eat Cake. Available from noon to 4pm in the hotel’s Drawing Room, the seasonal offering coincides with the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition at the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum, and draws inspiration from the extravagant tastes of the 18th-century French queen.

The festive tea combines traditional holiday elements with references to Marie Antoinette’s court, featuring a menu of handcrafted patisserie, savoury bites, warm scones and festive mince pies. On select dates – 6th, 7th, 14th, 20th, 21st and 27th December – the experience will be accompanied by live harp performances, and on 12th and 13th December an illustrator will be present to create complimentary bespoke portraits for guests as they dine.

The patisserie selection includes items such as Le Gâteau du Jardin (a strawberry genoise sponge with vanilla Chantilly and fresh strawberries), La Robe de la Reine (a blackberry and lemon curd tartlet), Le Macaron Petit Trianon (an almond macaron filled with raspberries and white chocolate ganache montée) and Le Brisé de la Dauphine, a lemon shortbread. Seasonal additions include house-made mince pies and a White Chocolate & Coconut Christmas Bauble. The savoury menu features Egg Salad on a brioche roll, Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Sauce on white bread, Avocado Purée with Sundried Tomatoes and Crumbled Feta on pink brioche and House-Cured Salmon with Pickled Cucumber on seeded brown bread. And of course, traditional plain and fruit scones are served with clotted cream and homemade jam.

Guests can opt to complement their tea with The Queen’s Coupe, a cocktail made with Belvedere Vodka, Pimms, Earl Grey cordial, clarified clotted cream and Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV, or choose a glass of the champagne on its own.

The festive tea is priced at £65 per person, or £80 with either The Queen’s Coupe or a glass of champagne.

Food Desk

The Let Us Eat Cake afternoon tea is available from 1st December 2025 at The Kensington Hotel, 109-113 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5LP. For further information or to book a table, visit their website here.

More in Food & Drinks

Orfali Bros reopens in Dubai in a new era for Middle Eastern dining

Food & Travel Desk

Chef Jaime Pesaque unveils Yachay, a new creative culinary atelier in Lima

Food & Travel Desk

Oblix at The Shard to host Burns Night dinner with The Macallan whisky and modern Scottish menu

Food & Travel Desk

Scottish chef Darren Ross brings open-fire residency to London’s Carousel for Burns Night celebrations

Food & Travel Desk

Wild Idol and The May Fair Bar launch Broadway-inspired alcohol-free cocktail menu for January

Food & Travel Desk

Luke Selby appointed chef partner at Palé Hall amid major developments

Food & Travel Desk

Fat Hippo launches SpongeBob-themed burger created with TikTok star ReefaTV to celebrate new movie release

Food & Travel Desk

Heliot Steakhouse launches half-price Argentinian steak offer for January dining boost

Food & Travel Desk

Via Emilia by Food Roots brings handmade pasta and Emilia Romagna flavours to Notting Hill with third London opening

Food & Travel Desk