Down Hall, Hatfield Heath

Offering up a quintessential afternoon tea spread pimped with festive updates, Down Hall’s Christmas menu promises an indulgent feast of delicate home-made festive cakes, mouth-watering finger sandwiches prepared with the freshest ingredients from the hotel’s Kitchen Garden, plus a range of specialist teas. Served from 1pm to 5.30pm daily throughput December (excluding 25, 26, and 31 December), the Festive Afternoon Tea experience costs £15 for children or £30 for adults.

Prested Hall, Feering

A roaring open fire and grand, period features in the plush venue’s opulent Hall await Festive Afternoon Tea guests at prestigious Prested Hall this Christmas season. Sip on Novus loose leaf teas, including Beetroot & Apple, White Pear & Ginger, and White Mulled Wine, while tucking into freshly backed cranberry, orange and mixed fruit scones served with Tiptree preserves and a plethora of quintessentially English sandwiches with a Christmas twist (cheddar and real ale chutney finger slices, anyone?). Don’t forget to leave space for the mini mince pies, either! Reserve your space in December from 12 noon to 4pm; £22.50 per person.

Wivenhoe House, Wivenhoe

Surrounded by stately home grandeur and supersize Noel decorations, the Christmas Afternoon Tea experience at Wivenhoe House is a festive treat for all the senses. Think crackling country-pile fires, merry mocktails, artisan scones, sumptuous Christmas cakes and pastries, plus a stack of Yuletide savoury sandwiches to devour (hello, roast turkey, stuffing and cranberry on wholemeal). The festive tea menu is served Thursday to Sunday until 5 January; £25 per adult or £12.50 per child.

Mrs Salisbury Tea Room, Maldon

The popular Maldon tearoom is serving up a festive afternoon tea replete with all the trimmings this Christmas. Expect roast turkey and stuffing finger sandwiches, fruit scones with Tiptree morello cherry preserve and clotted cream, followed by a host of festive sweet treats and a glass of Prosecco, mulled wine or non-alcoholic Christmas punch – and all for just £28.95 per person.

Tea at The George, Colchester

Boasting a brand new tearoom that’s been stylishly furnished for contemporary diners, The George’s festive afternoon tea menus are also ideal for Christmas shoppers coveting a gluten-free/veggie/vegan offering. Packed with clementine, cinnamon and gingerbread flavours, plus fun updates on dessert dishes (step forward The Bauble, The Snowman, The Pudding and The Christmas Candle) this thoroughly modern Yuletide treat is also seriously Insta-worthy. Prices from £30 per person.

Roslin Beach Hotel, Southend

A popular haunt with Essex-girl-done-good Denise van Outen, Roslin Beach Hotel is now serving up a festive themed afternoon tea menu you’ll love from just £28. Boasting vegetarian and vegan options, as well as dairy-, gluten- and nut-free plates, this is your one-stop-shop for a girlie pre-Christmas celebration. Just be sure to order a chocolate orange yule log alongside that bottle of Prosecco and stack of smoked salmon sandwiches…

Christmas afternoon teas to enjoy during the holiday season

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