Happy Anniversary - Experience Day Voucher

What did you get up to? Arrived at the venue which was really easy to find, they had two big car parks which was free of charge to use. We were greeted by a friendly gentleman in their bar/restaurant, and taken to our en-suite room. The room was really clean and tidy, it had a large bathroom and they had even shaped the towels on the bed into elephants which I thought was a lovely touch. We dropped our bags and went and explored the seaside town, got some delicious fish and chips and sat on the beach. The bed was extremely comfy, the room had tea and coffee making facilities, the hotel also has free Wi-Fi for guests to use. After a great night’s sleep we woke up early and went for breakfast, which was absolutely delicious, great quality food. We decided to stay in Margate for the day and enjoy more of the seaside. What did you enjoy the most? We loved how friendly the staff were at the venue – it really makes a different to your break!

What did you get up to? This has to be the Perfect Gift for any couple in the Universe! How could anyone not love a fab Afternoon Tea with a French twist, followed by the very best views of London from the 70th floor of one of the Nation’s Iconic buildings? And all on a sunny day in July…….. We were lucky with the weather which gave us the chance to have our Afternoon Tea outside so that we could people-watch whilst over-eating cake, plus we had amazingly clear views of everything that London represents. Our Afternoon Tea was a little unusual for aficionados of this traditional treat: it had a Croque Monsieur instead of cucumber sandwiches. Personally, a way better experience (I don’t get Croque Monsieur at home!). The experience was very relaxing and the staff made everything really easy and they were very polite. My other half is from Brazil and the concept of Afternoon Tea is very English and quaint, so everyone was happy.. After eating far too much, we strolled slowly to The Shard (5 minutes from Hay’s Gallery where the Café Rouge is located). The Shard is a unique experience and with 14 million visitors a year being a massive London attraction, it’s easy to forget that there are lots of luxury apartments in the building where people live, as well as restaurants and a 5-star hotel. The vision and ambition behind such a building is truly extraordinary. There are a number of different levels in the Shard from which you can view London including cocktail bars and ice cream concessions, all giving you access to extraordinary panoramic views. It can become a little crowded with people sticking to the glass to soak up the ‘vistas’, but be patient and you will be able to see every bit of London that you really want to see. Viewing London’s skyline from the roof is a unique experience as well, so take your time and take it all in. Oh, and on our way out, a quick visit to the loo revealed a 69th floor-to-ceiling window overlooking London! This might put a few people off!! All-in-all a great afternoon out and something I recommend to everyone looking for a gift for a couple. What did you enjoy the most? I really enjoyed how unique the Afternoon Tea was. It was very different to the more traditional ones, and was a nice change allowing us to try something new!

What did you get up to? The whole experience was so smooth, and I received amazing customer service from start to finish! A member of staff immediately greeted us, took our coats, and gave us a choice of seats. We choose to sit facing the harpist, and the seats were very comfy – they even had pillows! We were given the menu and the waiter explained a brief history about the hotel whilst he poured our champagne. There was a choice of all different teas and we were allowed to keep trying different types. After we were settled with our tea, the food arrived. The sandwiches were so good we asked for another round (which was included in the voucher!!), the scones were dainty but perfect, and the sweets were incredible! Everything was so professional and the atmosphere was very relaxing. Although the waiter did say we could upgrade to bottomless sparkling wine for an extra £15, we were not pushed to buy this and there was no pressure to purchase anything extra. Overall a beautiful experience and I would definitely visit again without a doubt! What did you enjoy the most? Upon entering the Palm Court Restaurant, we were immediately in awe of the beautiful Art Deco features and the soothing sound of the harpist.

What did you get up to? The gin expert was extremely knowledgeable, she answered any questions we had and it was really interesting to learn about the history of gin and how far it’s come from its darker days. We tried a range of gins and I found myself some new favourites, it was also nice to learn what foods work best with certain gins. We rounded off the experience with a cookery lesson from Pity. She was very entertaining and engaging, she got the class involved in making the Spanish Tortilla’s, made us all laugh and had some brilliant tips. Once the experience has taken place you receive an email with all the gins you have tried and where you can purchase them (very handy), as well as a recipe for the canapes. What did you enjoy the most? I really enjoyed finding out about different gins and discovering a new favourite – I know what to ask for when ordering a drink in a bar now!

What did you get up to? My Mum and I went to the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel for our Champagne Afternoon Tea. The staff were very welcoming upon arrival, promptly seating us and soon after we were each poured a glass of refreshing Moet and Chandon Champagne. We were given the choice of a non-vegetarian or vegetarian Afternoon tea and asked to select a tea, which took some time to decide as there were over 20 different types! I went for the Wild Cherry flavour which was lovely. We were served a Platinum Jubilee themed Afternoon Tea in this adorable cage of tiered plates, which had a selection of delicious sandwiches, scones & different mini cakes. We enjoyed every part of the Afternoon Tea and didn’t leave a crumb behind! What did you enjoy the most? Getting to share this experience and spend time with my Mum was very special. One of our experience highlights were the scones – they were still warm by the time we ate them and with the preserves & clotted cream, it was a very tasty combination. I also enjoyed the Platinum Jubilee theme of the Afternoon Tea because it added a unique feel to the experience. The restaurant was very sophisticated and provided a very pleasant atmosphere to enjoy our Afternoon Tea. The Hotel itself was very easy to get to from Kings Cross– approximately 15-20 minutes in total, allowing for underground travel & walking time.