Afternoon Tea at The Royal Theatre, Drury Lane

London is one of those cities bursting with culture, second only in Britain to perhaps Edinburgh in reputation. With so many things to explore, it can be hard to truly enjoy the visit between the endless rushing to and fro. Perhaps this time, you could take a moment and simply enjoy a quiet afternoon (or morning) indulging in a peaceful afternoon tea. While there are many places that serve this particular British pastime, this post will be focussing upon one that should appeal to those of the theatrical state of mind. Found in the upstairs of The Royal Theatre on Drury Lane, the restaurant is one of classical elegance with a theatre twist. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea whilst surrounded by paintings and the busts of familiar names such as Ivor Novello.

Opening in 1812, The Royal Theatre is a beautiful space, with decadent architecture and a rich history. With nods to the earlier iterations of the building, plans can be found displayed upon a wall and old musical posters line a corridor. This is the place where in 1958 My Fair Lady premiered in Britain and the cherished memory of this time is still clear to see. Around the bar are nods to the production, such as sketches and old costumes. From here, you can pass into a hallway lined with the photographs of Cecil Beaton. Take a trip down memory lane and see how many of the faces that you recognise. Andrew Lloyd Webber, the current owner of the theatre, has packed every space with elegant reminders of the theatre’s long history with the most recent of which being a collection of paintings by Maria Kreyn, which were completed over lockdown. These eight pictures represent eight Shakespeare plays: The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and As You Like It. Found at the base of the two main staircases of the theatre, these can come as quite the surprise, being dark both in colour choices and subject matter. Yet, there is something incredibly alluring about them and you may find yourself staring at them, caught up in the artistry of their creation. While there are statues of Shakespeare to be found within the theatre, the playwright’s work has in fact not been performed at The Royal since 1957. Lloyd Webber’s commissioning of these paintings brought the work back to life within the walls and highlighted the importance of these plays within our English corpus.

Passing these paintings, make your way up one of the grand staircases, past the entrance to the auditorium (where Frozen is currently playing) and on to the restaurant. You will find yourself greeted by the loveliest and most attentive staff that you have ever encountered and have your every wish seen to. The afternoon tea is one of the most beautifully laid out of any that I have had the pleasure to sample, with the vegan option tasting glorious rather than feeling like a half hearted attempt. You will find a collection of both savoury and sweet delights, which include vegan cream cheese and stunning little gold coated chocolate cherubs. The brownies, chocolate and cakes are all wonderful and the never ending supply of wonderfully tasting teas perfects the experience. My advice is to take you long as you can enjoying this decandant treat yourself moment and stretch it over as many hours as you are able. The visual element is also something worthy of comment, with sweet little figures in fairytale-esque poses adorning your plates, napkin and menu.

Although this is an expensive treat for many, I really do encourage you to find a special occasion on which to visit this wonderful establishment and sample their afternoon tea. The whole experience, the location, the staff… it is a truly magical moment! As someone with a limited sweet tooth, my only wish would be that there was more savoury items. But this is only a small quibble in a spectacular afternoon tea.

More information