Review: Gruffalo Afternoon Tea at The Drawing Room, Raffles London at The OWO
The Gruffalo Children’s Afternoon Tea at Raffles is a fun and rather sweet experience, particularly for little ones who know and love the story. Served in the very grand surroundings of Raffles London at The OWO, it is a distinctly elegant setting, adding to its charm.
Upon arrival, the children are offered a hot chocolate (with the option of cream and marshmallows for topping!), given a colouring activity and handed a Gruffalo themed menu. There is something rather nice and grown up about being presented with your own Afternoon Tea menu in such a grand setting. Children have their own selection of finger sandwiches, with each one given a playful name inspired by the characters, including Roasted Fox, which is roasted ham with butter, Little Brown Mouse - the cheese option, Deep Dark Wood - cucumber, mint and cream cheese, and Scrambled Snake - which in actual fact is scrambled egg and watercress.
Once the savoury course is completed, the scones and desserts arrive on a three tiered stand. Children get to feel grown up making their own scones, just as they might with the adult menu, with freshly baked scones served alongside clotted cream, strawberry jam and lemon curd.
The cakes are undoubtedly the main event. The Gruffalo theme is carried through the pastries in a charming and playful way, with the characters and stories brought to life in miniature. They are beautifully presented and make the arrival of the cakes feel like a little occasion in itself. The mini Gruffalo biscuit is piped in the sweetest way, making the character instantly recognisable. It may not last for long - filled with vanilla caramel, the cocoa shortbread is irresistible! The mouse is a light Madeline sponge filled with a crunchy popcorn praline and dulcey Chantilly, whereas the Owl's Pot of Soup is a clever carrot cake, topped with mini carrots and finished with a chocolate pot handle.
Finally, the children's sharing cake is a edible chocolate book, filled with a nutty sponge and chocolate cremeux topped with a chocolate cover of the new Gruffalo Granny book. It is a delicious way to end the experience.
The staff are warm and welcoming towards children, while still maintaining the polished atmosphere you would expect from such a luxurious hotel. It is very much a grown-up venue, rather than somewhere designed entirely around children, but the Afternoon Tea gives younger guests enough little details to make them feel included.
And then there is the setting. Raffles is an undeniably luxurious venue, housed within the historic Old War Office, with an extraordinary sense of history and grandeur. The contrast between the elegant surroundings and the whimsical Gruffalo theme is rather charming.
Overall, the Gruffalo Afternoon Tea is a fun and beautifully presented Children’s Afternoon Tea: a special treat for Gruffalo fans, with character-inspired sandwiches, freshly baked scones, elaborate little cakes and a marshmallow-topped hot chocolate, all enjoyed in one of London’s grandest settings.
