“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” – Henry James
Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to enjoy a much needed catch-up, celebrate a special occasion, or mark a milestone!
The History of Afternoon Tea
The much-loved afternoon treat, originated in the U.K. and was invented by Anna Maria Russell, the Duchess of Bedford (and one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting) sometime around 1840.
During that time, dinner was traditionally served quite late in the evening, around 9 p.m. many hours after lunch. Feeling the void, or that 'sinking feeling' in the afternoon, the Duchess started to request that some tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room at around 4/5 p.m. She then started to invite some friends of hers along to enjoy this afternoon treat and from there, a new ritual was born, and without any surprise quickly took off around Britain!
Information Source: The British Museum Blog
Afternoon Tea at Butler House & Garden
We love Afternoon Tea here at Butler House. Our guests can take a step back in time and enjoy the splendour of the large bow windows, original plastered ceilings, castle views and walls adorned with magnificent pieces of art from the Basil Goulding Collection. An intimate and sophisticated atmosphere with an intriguing history awaits…
Our Head Chef and his team have created a decadent menu filled with sweet and savoury delights, all handmade in-house with the finest local ingredients. Afternoon Tea is served with a choice of bespoke teas and coffees, or a glass of bubbles for an extra special treat!
Experience the best of this tradition - Afternoon Tea is available Wednesday - Sunday from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Price: €35 per person with Tea/ Coffee | €41 per person with Prosecco. We also offer Gluten Free / Vegetarian and Vegan options, simply mention at the time of booking.
Pre-Booking is essential, and you can make a booking here.
You can view our Sample Afternoon Tea Menus here.
Afternoon Tea at Home
Prefer to enjoy an Afternoon Tea experience from the comfort of your own home? Our Lady Eleanor Afternoon Tea is available for collection Wednesday – Sunday from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Price: €27.50 per person, and pre-Booking is essential. To book ‘Afternoon Tea at Home’, call us on 056 7722828 or email res@butler.ie.