Whatever the occasion, people do love a spot of afternoon tea.
The great British tradition involves the consumption of delicately cut sandwich 'fingers', scones with clotted cream and jam and a selection of pastries and cakes.
In Salford, there are several establishments that offer afternoon tea packages.
At The Lowry Hotel, guests have the choice to upgrade a traditional afternoon tea to an alcohol-infused one with a gin and tonic or glass of Champagne or Bellini.
And over in MediaCityUK, celebrity chef Marco Pierre White's restaurant Marco's New York Italian also offers a twist on the classic with an Italian-style afternoon tea with Parma ham rolls, miniature bruschetta and tiramisu.
Here's our guide to the afternoon tea spots in Salford - including where to find them, opening hours and what you can expect to find on their menus.
The Lowry Hotel
The Lowry Hotel offer an afternoon tea experience for £22.50.
For that price, guests are spoilt with a selection of delicately presented savoury items including goat’s cheese, cranberry and walnut tart and sandwiches with fillings including poached Scottish salmon, rocket and carper creme fraiche; cucumber, apple and cream cheese; and coronation chicken.
Sweet items include passion fruit, coconut and mango tart, rum and raisin cake with caramelised banana, apple crumble and custard macaron, chocolate and citrus tart, fruit and plain scones, strawberry preserve and Cornish clotted cream.
Guests also have the option to upgrade their afternoon tea package to include a glass of alcohol.
For £33, guests can enjoy either a gin and tonic, a glass of champagne or a glass of Bellini to enjoy alongside their food.
To book call 0161 827 4000.
Address: 50 Dearmans Pl, Salford M3 5LH
Marco's New York Italian MediaCityUK
Marco Pierre White's restaurant in MediaCityUK offers two tempting afternoon tea packages.
Located inside the Holiday Inn, the restaurants traditional afternoon tea package costs £15.95.
For this price guests can enjoy Severn and Wye smoked salmon with light cream cheese sandwiches; sliced Wiltshire ham with Colman’s mustard sandwiches; sliced cucumber and light cream cheese sandwiches and rare roast beef with horseradish sandwiches.
The sweet selection includes macarons, sachertorte, strawberry and clotted cream cheesecake, carrot cake, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves.
And diners can also enjoy a selection of teas and herbal infusions
Marco's Italian-style afternoon tea is available for £14.95.
This includes Parma ham rolls with crushed avocado, Cerignola olives, a selection of miniature bruschetta, tomato, avocado and wild mushroom, beef and pancetta brioche sliders with melted Italian cheese, sweet potato fries, classic tiramisu, dark chocolate brownie and lemon tart.
To book call 0161 813 1040 or email info@marcosmediacityuk.com.
Address: Holiday Inn MediaCity, Salford M50 2EQ
The Ainscow Hotel
At the Ainscow Hotel on Trinity Way, afternoon tea costs £19.95 per person.
For this price, diners are treated to a selection of finger sandwiches with various filling, fluffy scones with rich clotted cream, a selection of homemade cakes and pastries and unlimited tea or coffee.
The Ainscow Hotel also offers a Prosecco afternoon tea for £24.95 per person.
To book call 0161 827 1650 or email enquiries@theainscow.com.
Address: Trinity Way, Salford M3 5EN
GK Gallery and Tea Room
GK Gallery and Tea Room Chapel Street, is a family-run art cafe with a gallery.
If you give the GK team at least three day's notice, they will prepare an afternoon tea experience for you complete with a selection of sandwiches, scones, mini cakes and tea or coffee.
For midweek afternoon tea, the price is £22 per person.
If you want to visit during a weekend the cost is £23.50.
They also offer group rates for parties of more than seven people.
To book call 07935735143 or email info@gkgallery.co.uk.
Address: 272 Chapel St, Salford M3 5JZ
Café Rouge - Salford
Parisian-inspired bistro chain Café Rouge offers several afternoon tea packages.
In Salford, the Café Rouge inside the Lowry Outlet Mall offers three different options.
Café Rouge's Classic Afternoon Tea costs £25 for two people and includes French chocolate mousse, chocolate, raspberry and coconut cake, chocolate red velvet cake, carrot cake, lemon cake, fruit scones with clotted cream, Bonne Maman strawberry jam and fresh strawberries and Monsieur or portobello mushroom Croque.
Café Rouge's Chocolate Afternoon Tea is available for £29.95 per couple.
This sweet treat includes a Billionaire bar, French white chocolate mousse, chocolate, raspberry and coconut slice,. chocolate fondue served with brownie pieces, marshmallows, grapes, strawberries and pineapple chunks for dipping, Choc Monsieur - s'mores French toastie with chocolate sauce, marshmallow and cocoa powder.
This package is only available until February 29, 2020.
And for quirky, savoury alternative - guests can also enjoy the Café Rouge's Cheese Afternoon Tea priced at £30 for two people.
The tea includes baked Brittany Camembert with crudités and garlic flatbread, French artisan cheese board with baby figs, grapes and water biscuits or baguette, Croque Monsieur with smoked ham or Croque Portobello Mushroom with baby spinach, goat’s cheese and a drizzle of truffle oil, and a hot drink.
To book call 0161 877 3971.
Address: The Lowry Outlet Mall, Unit G40B, Salford M50 3AZ
