Wirral hotel and spa fought off fierce competition to take the title of Best Tasting Afternoon Tea of the Year 2018 in a hotly-contested live final which took place in central London

Wirral’s Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa has been crowned one of the UK’s top afternoon tea destinations.

The hotel fought off fierce competition to take the title of Best Tasting Afternoon Tea of the Year 2018 in a hotly-contested live final in central London. It was one of 16 finalists in the inaugural national contest, and the only one based outside the capital.

And the team from the hotel’s award-winning Lawns Restaurant triumphed in the taste stakes with a presentation of its traditional Great Wirral afternoon tea which was served to judges – including the pastry chef from the House of Commons – at the venue on the banks of the River Thames.

Competitors, including five star London hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and The Stafford, had to serve two guests while being watched by a team of five judges who marked them on presentation, service, taste and overall experience.

Awards being contested were Best Tasting, Best Presentation and overall Afternoon Tea of the Year.

The Lawns Restaurant’s traditional afternoon tea includes a choice of more than 20 varieties of loose leaf tea. Finger sandwiches with seasonal fillings and served on wholemeal and white bread are accompanied by homemade cakes and fancies and freshly baked scones.

Hotel general manager Geoff Dale said: “To be up against many five star London venues and win is quite an achievement. I’m so proud of the whole team- the Lawns’ head chef Chad Hughes, our pastry chef Ellie Fletcher and restaurant manager Abdallah Othmani.

“As we were the only countryside hotel we also took our view with us on two pop ups with photos of our gardens, so the judges could really get the Thornton Hall experience.”