Merseyside venue is one of only two of the 16 finalists to be based outside London and will compete in June against places such as the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and the Jumeirah Carlton Tower

Never mind the Great British Bake-Off, the battle is on to see who offers the UK’s best afternoon tea – and Wirral’s Thornton Hall and Spa is one of the finalists.

The venue is in the last 16 of the Afternoon Tea of the Year 2018 competition – and one of only two based outside London.

It is competing against some of the capital’s most high-profile venues including The Goring, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and the Jumeirah Carlton Tower to take the title at the grand final on June 20.

The award-winning Lawns Restaurant at Thornton Hall serves a sumptuous afternoon spread which includes a choice of more than 20 varieties of loose leaf tea, and unusual jams and curds sourced locally from Pant Glas Bach Preserves.

Finger sandwiches with seasonal fillings and served on wholemeal and white bread are accompanied by homemade cakes and fancies, and freshly baked scones. It also offers a savoury tea which includes venison sliders, wild mushroom fleuron and cheese scones with Abernethy butter and chilli jam.

A team from the hotel will travel to London on June 20 to recreate Thornton Hall’s afternoon tea at the Westminster Boating Centre on the banks of the River Thames.

They will serve two guests while being watched by a team of five judges who will mark them on presentation, service, taste and overall experience.

There will be awards for Best Tasting, Best Presentation, and the overall Afternoon Tea of the Year award which has a £1,000 top prize.

Hotel general manager Geoff Dale said: “We are very proud of our afternoon tea experience at Thornton Hall, and we are looking forward to recreating this for judges at the grand final in London.

“We are up against stiff competition, but with our quality, locally-sourced ingredients, beautiful home-baked cakes and scones, unusual fillings and attention to detail, I am confident we can bring this national award back to the North West.”