Could there be anything more indulgent, comforting or quintessentially British than afternoon tea?
For me it is one of those pleasures in life that should be enjoyed occasionally simply to reaffirm that no matter what turmoil there is in the world, or what sleights we have suffered, when all is said and done, life is good.
But not all afternoon teas are worthy of the name. A limp sandwich, a scone and a bit of shortbread do not an afternoon tea make. Oh no. A proper afternoon tea is a work of art.
And in my humble opinion if you want the best afternoon tea in Scotland, you must head to Argyll. Here you will find The Airds Hotel, one of the most comfortable hideaways on the planet and a place that never fails to delight. And if you’re going for an afternoon tea why not go the whole hog and book in for an overnight stay as well? Sublime.
It was a stunning day as we drove through Argyll. The sky was blue, the sea tranquil and the sun sparkling on snow-capped mountains. Idyllic. It reminded me how much I love this part of the world.
Sure, not every day is this idyllic. It has been known to rain and blow a hoolie on occasion. But even in the roughest weather there are few places that can match the Argyll coastline for stunning views and wonderful places to walk and enjoy nature.
We saw seals bobbing about in one of the bays we skirted, but no otters on this occasion, although the rocky Argyll coastline is undoubtedly one of the best places to catch a glimpse of these fascinating creatures. True, we were not looking too hard, after all this trip was about comfort and relaxation rather than exploration.
The Airds was looking pristine and as lovely as ever as we pulled into the car park. Overlooking the sea, it really is a perfect setting. No wonder it receives so many rave reviews. We were shown to our fantastic room with a glorious view from the separate lounge area. The bed looked so comfortable I was tempted to go for a quick nap but no, we were here for a purpose. So it was not long before we headed downstairs to enjoy our much anticipated afternoon tea.
It was everything I hoped it would be. For starters, it came with an amuse-bouche. An amuse-bouche with afternoon tea, how good is that? The chicken liver parfait with the most delicate crisp toast you can imagine was just perfect and raised the anticipation for the main event even higher.
And I assure you the tiered plate of goodies that arrived lived up to its promise and more. It was wonderful. Sandwiches of beef, coronation chicken and cheese and chutney on brown and white bread. All fantastically fresh and packed with flavour. Fruit and plain scones with butter, clotted cream and jam. Tiny blueberry eclairs that were a mouthful of pure pleasure. A moist pistachio sponge and a lemon meringue tart. Everything prepared and presented with such care and skill. We were in raptures. This was exactly what afternoon tea should be.
The Airds excels at special occasions and making every occasion special. Like other hotels they celebrate Easter and Mother’s Day and have loads of special offers.
They have some intriguing creative events as well. How about a star gazing weekend with a leading astronomer taking you on a journey through space? Or my favourite idea “come cook with me” where head chef Chris Stanley helps you design and prepare your own gourmet menu.
After you have tasted your own effort you can relax before dinner where chef will serve you your own dish, but prepared with all the skill and finesse a three-rosette master can bring to the dish. What a treat that would be for the amateur chef in your life. On this occasion we simply enjoyed a brisk walk before a wonderful meal, although given the sumptuous afternoon tea we decided not to choose the full tasting menu, tempting as it looked.
Darkness, total quiet and a bed so comfy it was like sleeping on a cloud was the recipe for a perfect night’s sleep.
Breakfast was as good as every other aspect of our short stay. As a concession to healthy eating I had some granola with fresh yoghurt which was nothing like the dreary version you get from the supermarket. This was on a different level. Don’t ask me what they did to it but trust me it was exceptional. Having done the healthy part I spoiled it by opting for the full cooked as well, but I was on holiday. Fresh local produce, cooked perfectly and served with charm. What a great way to end a gloriously indulgent short break.