Who doesn’t love a nice bit of easy, breezy afternoon delight on a lazy sunny day, hey? And by afternoon delight, we mean a good old fashioned afternoon tea, you filthy-minded fillies! So when we were invited to taste what was on offer at The Courthouse Hotel, we couldn’t wait to try this real slice of Cheshire. With a group of other food bloggers, we got to exclusively experience the brand new afternoon tea at this iconic building that has entered a new, uber stylish incarnation. So click this way, we’ve saved you a seat accordingly…

Located inside what used to be the court for the whole of the North of England, The Courthouse Hotel is a brush with the law that all foodies will want to experience! Located in the picture perfect centre of Knutsford, this newly refurbished courthouse has been lovingly transformed into one of the most beautiful and engagingly elegant spaces. Most notably, this was the very court that Enigma creator and code breaker Alan Turing was sentenced, fact fans! With a stylish mix of grandeur and a cheeky nod to its past, The Courthouse Hotel manages to bring old and new together in a joyously jovial way! Yes, tongue is firmly in cheek when it comes to decor here – the old dock has now become the bar and the walls are covered with the most glamorous of celebrity mugshots, from Bowie to Sinatra to Monroe.

Upon entering this light, bright and airy space with my fellow lucky bloggers, we knew that afternoon tea in the Barrister’s Restaurant was going to be an utter delight…and we were pleased to find it was! As we settled into our plush velvet seats, we were greeted with one of the most delicious and highly instagrammable cocktails to kick things off in style – a heady mixture of liqueurs and, fittingly, red berry teas, topped with a delightfully frothy fragrant foam. Delicious! And the perfect opening act to the main event…

And what an event it was! I don’t know about you, but I love afternoon tea…like love love LOOOOOVE afternoon tea! It’s something I like to partake of as frequently as possible and The Courthouse’s offer is a very fine example of what a good afternoon tea should be about. From the simple but simply stunning assortment of sandwiches which only used locally sourced ingredients, showcasing the quality in the area to the cakestands made from vintage plates to the myriad of cakes on offer – this tea was indeed an afternoon delight. Quality meets quantity with plenty of variety and more than enough portion-wise for two hungry diners to enjoy! Personally, what made this afternoon tea stand out from others HAS to be the cake selection. From the multi-layered Opera cake to the sweetly melting macaroons – the mixture of delectable delights was outstanding!

As an added bonus to the beautiful afternoon, we got to enjoy a tea masterclass from James, owner of Tea from the Manor, who supply the stunning selection of teas on offer at The Courthouse. In fact…you could say his enthusiasm for his brand infused us like warm water envelopes a properly brewed tea! Learning everything from the correct way to make the perfect cuppa to the benefits of silk teabags and showcasing a plethora of pots of full leaf loose teas, it was an insightful and enjoyable way to while away the afternoon. In fact, Tea from the Manor do a whole host of seasonal and speciality teas for big events such as Mother’s Day, Christmas and Valentine’s day, which conjure up the feeling of those events through their taste and smell. We were lucky enough to get some teas to take home and they have been brewed at FDJ LDN HQ most days – the taste and aroma is just something else and I would highly recommend to fellow tea lovers everywhere!

If you are wishing to take a thoroughly modern step into the past, The Courthouse Hotel is the place for you. With its cosy chic aesthetic and gourmet meets homemade food, it’s the perfect spot for a bit of afternoon delight. We can’t wait for our next visit, especially as they have a newly opened rooftop terrace. I rest my case, your honour!

Be sure to take a tour of the best food spots as loved by FDJ LDN here – food porn galore!

Until next time fillies!

Leigh at Fashion Du Jour LDN HQ x

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