Maybe I came to London with high expectations for a superb afternoon tea. Perhaps those expectations got the best of me. I must say, however, that our afternoon tea at The Lounge was the most expensive of our journey and my least favorite. Surprising revelations at “The Lounge” in London
First, there was the environment. There was consistent pedestrian traffic around the tables as you tried to enjoy the moment. The kitchen was quite close to our location as well, so the sounds of pots, pans, and dishes were quite distracting.
Secondly, the food felt mass-produced. The scones were somewhat plain, and the jelly felt like it came straight from a jar. Although the sandwiches were tasty, as were the sweet treats, the service felt rushed and impatient. Considering the premium price, the experience felt like a letdown.
What I did appreciate about our time at The Lounge was that it was filled with adventure. Friends were connecting after a long day of work. There were children there, trying an afternoon tea for the first time.
And that is what I think I will remember the most about this experience. After 33 years of marriage, being able to have a friendly conversation with the person you love over tea is something that is taken for granted so often. It is up to each of us to make the most of the moments we are given, whether they are perfect or imperfect.
Maybe the service could have been better. Perhaps the jelly could have been homemade. At the end of the day, I came away satisfied because I got to experience this with someone I love. There may be unmet expectations, for sure, but there were surprising revelations found too.
In all fairness, The Lounge was a backup plan. Rubens at the Palace on Buckingham Road was the first suggestion, but they had been fully booked and required two weeks’ advance notice.
We received no compensation, free food, or other complimentary items from The Lounge at the Royal Houseguards Hotel for this review. This article contains only our own honest thoughts and opinions. We do not work for The Lounge at the Royal Houseguards and receive no commission for any hotel purchases or bookings.