Raffles London at The OWO is launching an exciting new Afternoon Tea inspired by Operation Mincemeat. The hotel is working in collaboration with the sellout musical Operation Mincemeat to continue the original espionage theme that commenced with Secrets and Spies in 2025. This iteration of Afternoon Tea will bring to life the story of the daring British deception of 1943 through five cakes, each inspired by a key element of the successful covert military operation.

Served in the elegance of The Drawing Room of Raffles London - formerly the Old War Office and home to Britain’s Ministry of Defence - the historic surroundings set the perfect stage, inviting hotel guests and visitors to step into the world of wartime intelligence, courage and ingenuity. Through carefully crafted flavours and design, each element reflects key moments, people, and places connected to the operation and the building’s storied past.

The War Office played its part in the evolution of the Military Intelligence Service into its modern form (MI5 and MI6). During the Second World War, candidate spies for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) were interviewed and briefed in the basement, whilst MI9 was created here and formed the network that helped fugitive Prisoners of War (POWs) and soldiers stranded behind enemy lines to escape home to Britain.

This unique Afternoon Tea is designed to commemorate one of the most successful wartime deceptions ever achieved, bring alive the history of The OWO building, as well as highlighting seasonal British ingredients used in the cakes and pastries. There will also be a kids version of the Afternoon Tea with fun interactive elements.

The Afternoon Tea begins with a selection of refined tartlets, savoury snacks, and five varieties of classic finger sandwiches. Freshly baked scones are served alongside traditional jam and clotted cream, honouring the rituals of the British Afternoon Tea tradition. Then five inspired cakes deliver the clever messages of Operation Mincemeat as each one draws its inspiration from the dramatic story behind Operation Mincemeat.

Raffles London at The OWO occupies a magnificent Grade II* Edwardian Baroque building in Whitehall, the epicentre of British Government. A sophisticated neighbourhood with a central location overlooking Horse Guards Parade and moments from St James’s Park, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.  A classic English Afternoon Tea offers time to relax and enjoy the finest finger sandwiches, scones and cream and bespoke cakes.  With tea, or champagne or both!

Served with elegance and refinement in The Drawing Room, the Afternoon Tea brings together the classic combination of savoury and sweet flavours first introduced by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, in the 1840s.

A stately British drawing room reimagined, with contemporary furnishings set against historic architectural details, wood panelling, an original fireplace, and a grand piano to keep guests entertained.  And overlooking historic Whitehall through four mahogany sash windows – where the smart mounted Household Cavalry guards the official entrance to Buckingham Palace.