My close friend Jacqui, freelance journalist and founder of Mummy’s Little Monkey first introduced me to Cliveden National Trust almost 3 years ago at a critical time for the family as Peter and I were considering a move to Windsor from Yorkshire. It’s no exaggeration that a carefree cold but fun day in the historic grounds of Cliveden, and the important reminder of the many friends we had down South, proved to be a catalyst in us making the move.
I didn’t imagine that upon moving, PR and now good pal, James Rogers, would reach out to invite me to make Cliveden House, the privately owned 5 star, Grade 1 Listed hotel, a second home (I know, how lucky I am-so grateful?!) but that’s what happened!
We’ve luckily experienced many a milestone there from several nourishing spa trips in their state-of-the-art spa and gym (with a listed pool no less) to a private dining Christmas festive feast, a champagne launch party lunch at the Astor Grill and most recently, the divine Ruinart Champagne Afternoon Tea that Jacqui and I enjoyed, overlooking the famous Maze (comprised of 500 metres of paths winding amongst two-metre high hedge) from the expansive parlour windows.
On what would have been an otherwise mundane Monday, we shed our usual responsibilities (along with our mum uniform of gym kits) and morphed into ladies of the manor (ha!) and it was glorious!!!
…I’ve written about the history of Cliveden House several times before but if you’re not aware of its background (and how could you not with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex staying there the night before her wedding), it has also been home to many a secret, and party too. Over 350 years, it has played host to almost every British Monarch since George 1 and saw three dukes, an Earl and Frederick Prince of Wales also live there.
It was of course the setting of the scandalous Profumo affair of 61 which saw John Profumo, an up-and-coming Conservative Secretary of State for War and husband of well-known actress, Valerie Hobson, embark on an elicit affair with 19 year old model and suspected Russian spy Christine Keeler after a chance meeting at Cliveden House.
The affair forced his resignation after an initial denial and damaged the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan’s reputation and confidence leading to the Conservatives’ defeat by the Labour Party in 64.
Steamy scandals aside, let’s refocus on Ruinart champagne and pretty views and the only scandal being, who would eat both scones or settle for one!
With perfectly prepared finger sandwiches (cucumber are always my faves) and savoury treats; freshly baked scones with home-made strawberry jam and clotted cream; chocolate pastries, the full-bodied and aromatic Cliveden blend tea (house blend for me followed by Rooibos) and not forgetting the pièce de résistance, a glass of the delectable Ruinart Rosé Champagne each, this was no ordinary afternoon tea but a feast for both the eyes and tastebuds too, a joyful curation of sweet and savoury morsels served on a signed Ron Arad tea tray.
Exquisite!
Each tray is a piece of art, signed and numbered by the artist, with only 300 ever having been produced…
“The shape of the Ruinart bottle is very distinctive. It is part of the DNA of Ruinart. [In the creation] The outline is a ghost. The spiral is embracing the ghost. It is the ghost of a [Ruinart] bottle holding the cakes for the tea party.” ~ Ron Arad.
A statement centrepiece, it does make the afternoon tea rather spectacular indeed. And look at the surroundings!
The menu is as follows, with vegetarian and vegan options available (I enjoyed a vegetarian afternoon tea, Jacqui a standard version):
Ruinart Champagne Afternoon Tea
SAVOURY
Smoked salmon and cucumber finger sandwich
crème fraîche, granary bread [G, F, D]
Free range egg mayonnaise finger sandwich
onion bread [G, E, D, SD]
Coronation chicken brioche roll [G, E, D, SD]
Barbecued beef soft shell taco [G, E, SD]
Chorizo sausage roll [G, E, D, Ce, SD]
Tomato and basil quiche [G, D, E]
SCONES
Freshly baked raisin and plain scones [G, D, SD]
Devonshire clotted cream [D]
Homemade strawberry jam
CAKES
Mint chocolate and cherry tartlet [G, D, E, S, SD]
Strawberry and vanilla religieuse [G, D, E]
Red velvet cake with raspberry buttercream [G, D, E, SD]
ALLERGEN KEY: [C] CRUSTACEANS, [Ce] CELERY, [D] DAIRY, [E] EGG,
[F] FISH, [G] GLUTEN, [L] LUPIN, [Mo] MOLLUSCS, [Mu] MUSTARD, [N] NUTS,
[P] PEANUTS, [S] SOYA, [SD] SULPHUR DIOXIDE, [Se] SESAME SEEDS
£65.00 per person
Available 26th October and 16th November 2019 only. Subject to availability. Must be booked in advance.
A trip to Cliveden would not be complete without a leisurely stroll around the beautiful 376 acre estate. An additional charge of £10 is levied by the National Trust for all guests visiting Cliveden House although if you are already a National Trust member there is no extra charge.
For more information, please see: https://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/whats-on/ruinart-champagne-afternoon-tea/
You can be feel like a princess for a day too!
Enter to win afternoon tea (not the limited edition Ruinart one) for two worth £100.
Ends Nov 24th 2019
UK only
No cash alternative
Winner must respond within 7 days of the email notification being sent otherwise a new winner will be randomly selected.
UK only or must be in the UK when visiting. Travel and accommodation will not be covered.
Good luck.
Watch the video:
Disclosure: Jacqui and I received a complimentary afternoon tea.
Promoted on Prize finder, Loquax, Super Lucky , UK Wins and Competition Database.
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I’d love to take my husband as we have a baby girl and it would be great to go on a romantic date again
I’d take my mom, she deserves a treat as she is just finishing a round of chemo.
I’d take my husband along with me to celebrate our marriage anniversary.
I would like to win so I could take my husband as he deserves a treat
My amazing friend Lucy … she bloody loves it here!
It would make for a lovely date afternoon with wifey
My mum because we love tea and cake and a good chat in fine surroundings for a treat
I would love to experience Cliveden House and I would take my daughter
I would take my amazing crew mate (ambulance service) we talk about food non stop and the pictures you took like A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!
I’d take my mum as a huge thank you for being amazing
Looks fabulous – would love to take my husband for our anniversary.
I have an old friend who has been going through a very tough divorce this year and I would really like to treat her to a special event – she never gets to leave her boys anymore, but I would somehow sort childcare for her!
I would take my husband as it’s been a bit of a hard year and this would be a nice, relaxing treat.
I have always wanted to go to afternoon but never really has the opportunity to do so, I would take my sister in law as she has been well over the past few years x
I absolutely love Afternoon Tea. I’d take my friend who loves a cake as much as I do! x
My awesome wife – she loves afternoon tea!
I’d take my friend Liz as she would love a treat like this. It looks fabulous!
I would love to win this as it looks so beautiful. My partner can you believe has never had afternoon tea?? And what a place to have his first experience
I have been so ill, and my best friend lives nearby to here, so it would be such a pleasure to visit her, and treat her to a lovely special day as she has been ultra supportive…..many thanks
I would like to take my husband as we never have any time together
I would take my mum – because we love cake ! And tea
You’ve written “the divine Ruinart Champagne Afternoon Tea that Jacqui and I enjoyed, overlooking the famous Maze (comprised of 500 metres of paths winding amongst two-metre high hedge) from the expansive parlour windows.” but you’re clearly not overlooking a maze! The famous maze is way over by the Water Gardens, near the National Trust car park, so not anywhere near where you are having Afternoon Tea and can’t even be seen from there nor is it in any of your photos. The view out the window in your photos is beautiful, but it is of the Parterre, which does contain hedges, but as you can clearly tell from your photos they are not anywhere near 2 metres high, nor do they form any sort of maze! Haha 🙂 This is what the famous maze looks like: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/discover-the-maze-at-cliveden-buckinghamshire
would take my boyfriend as it would be really romantic
I’d love to treat for mum around Christmas time, I bet Cliveden is beautiful then! I’ve never been before and it would be a dream!
Id take my lovely partner as we never have dates anymore since having the kids and hes never experienced afternoon tea! Xx
I’d love to visit and bring my friend Samantha. It’s her birthday next month and she has expressed how she would love to visit Cliveden House.
I’d treat my mum
I’d love to treat my partner Nicola on our anniversary
I’m a huge afternoon tea fan and this one looks amazing! I’d take my Kiwi friend Jess to introduce her to this wonderful English tradition (and to make her feel a little better after this morning’s Rugby World Cup semi final.)
I would love to win and take my mum because she never thinks about herself and deserves to be treat
I would love to take my mother-in-law for her birthday as she has wanted to go for years but never been and would be a lovely surprise for her
I’d love to win to take my partner as we’ve both had a stressful time at work lately!!
It looks fab. I’d take My daughter. We like to take tea.
I would take my friend Jess. We are both mum’s to children with special needs so this would be a lovely treat and a break from the norm.
I would like to visit Clivedon for a little pampering and to see the hotel and garden. I would take my partner who deserves a treat
We’ve still never visited Cliveden despite having lived in the area for almost 40 years – perhaps we need to get a bit more settled here first!!!!! Anyway, I would love to visit and would bring my husband.
We’ve still never visited Cliveden despite having lived in the area for almost 40 years – perhaps we need to get a bit more settled here first!!!!! Anyway, I would love to visit and would bring my husband.
I wish to win because it looks like an utterly fabulous treat and I would take my best friend Elaine
I’ve love to win to experience this fantastic building and interior and to treat my lovely Mother
My wife and I love walking in the gardens at Cliveden, but have only ever eaten in the Orangery. Tea in the house itself would be a very special treat for both of us!
I would to win as it’s my 40th birthday soon so it would be a fabulous treat with a special friend.
Sounds amazing! We’ve spent a few special days walking in the grounds of Cliveden with family and our 1 and 4 year olds, so it’s a place of lovely memories. Though we’ve never made it into the house, so to win afternoon tea (child free!) would be quite the treat!
I saw Cliveden in the distance from a boat on the Thames and have always wanted to visit. Winning a trip seems to be the only way I will do it and I would love to show it to my husband for our 38th wedding anniversary.
I would take my daughter and we can have some bonding time together