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Sumptuous scones, mouthwatering muffins and tasty teas. It's time for tea, the afternoon way, this Mother's Day - even if we have to wait.
Whether you’re missing your mum, valuing her help in lockdown, or know someone who could do with a treat to celebrate the end of home schooling, we’ve picked some treats for Mum across Kent which are worth waiting for.
Kent’s only Moët & Chandon Champagne bar
While hotels and bars are not open right now, what a treat this would be to look forward to - visiting the county’s only Moët & Chandon bar. Situated in the Hythe Imperial with its seafront views, mums of all ages would love to raise a glass of “the champagne of success and glamour since 1743” and enjoy the finer things in life for the afternoon. Order a gift voucher to visit the hotel once it has reopened at hytheimperial.co.uk
Gusbourne Picnics
It may be a bit nippy for picnics on Mother’s Day, but if you save it until Monday, April 12, the sun should be shining and you could sit on your picnic blanket in the Gusbourne’s Boot Hill vineyard with your sunglasses on. You and your mum will be treated to sensational views and Kent and Sussex produce packed in your own picnic bag plus a bottle of Gusbourne’s Brut Reserve and reusable glassware to help raise a toast. Picnics cost £80 for two. Book at gusbourne.com
Stay-tasting experience
While you can’t take Mum out for the day she deserves, Maidstone Distillery has created an experience to enjoy while staying at home. The Stay-tasting means that with a pre-recorded video, households can link up to be guided through a tutored tasting of the distillery’s two gins; meet Darren and Sam, who founded the company, and hear about the town’s distilling legacy. When you sign up, you’ll be sent a miniature of both George Bishop and Ranscombe Wild gins; two premium tonics, a dried citrus garnish pack and your very own vintage gin goblet. The experience costs £28 for one, and £49 for two people and can be booked at themaidstonedistillery.com
Pamper Box
Biddenden Vineyard has two boxes of treats which will go down a storm on Mother’s Day. The Biddenden Pamper Box features a bottle of Biddenden Demi-Sec Ortega, Fudge Kitchen sea salted caramel fudge, candles, Romney Marsh Wools hand and body lotion, and more local goodies for £48 while the Mother’s Day Delights Box features the Gribble Bridge Sparkling Rose 2017 and Romney Marsh Wools lanolin rich toiletries for pampered perfection for £35. Book for them to be delivered to your door here.
Say it with flowers...
Rather than picking up a bouquet from the supermarket, this year go all out with a special arrangement from your local florist. West Malling Flowers, which is celebrating 10 years in business this year, has a huge range to choose from, including The Mayfair Flower Box. Available in three different sizes it features a selection of seasonal cut stems in pastel shades which will arrive beautifully wrapped in a long flower box so that mum can arrange into a vase of her choice at home. Pre-order by Wednesday, March 10 at westmallingflowers.co.uk
Verdigris, Tonbridge
Chef Scott Goss’s Verdigris in Tonbridge town centre, which reopens its outside terrace in April, will whip up a meal for your mum on Mother’s Day and have it delivered to her door if you live in the area, or pick it up. Order by 8pm on Thursday, March 11. It’s five courses, and there’s a vegetarian menu, for £45 per person. See the menu and order at verdigris-tonbridge.com
Macknade
Foodie favourite Macknade has put together an extra special Sparkling Afternoon Tea for Mother’s Day this year.
Already known for their selection of hampers available online, for £50 you can spoil your mum with an indulgent afternoon tea, featuring a bottle of Langlois sparkling rosé - plus everything you need for the perfect afternoon tea, including cake, scones, jam and clotted cream. The deadline for online orders to arrive in time for Mother’s Day ended this week but you can visit the store in Elwick Place, Ashford and Selling Road, Faversham. More at macknade.com
Leeds Castle
You may not be able to treat Mum to an afternoon tea on Mother's Day at “the loveliest castle in the world" but you can give her the gift of it to look forward to later in the year. The gift of Afternoon Tea for Two, which costs from £84, will see you served a variety of sandwiches and sweet delights in one of the luxurious state rooms, on selected dates throughout the year (in line with current government guidance), just as the castle's last private owner, Lady Baillie, had entertained her guests in the rooms in the 1930s. Or you can order gifts such as adopting one of the resident birds of prey for a year, including Groot, a baby Burrowing Owl who hatched in May 2020 and is the first ever bird of prey to be bred at the castle. Order at leeds-castle.com
Bridgewood Manor
The four-star hotel near Chatham doesn't want mums to miss out due to lockdown so has come up with a takeaway Mother’s Day afternoon tea. The traditional tea, which costs £30 and serves two, includes a bottle of prosecco and a bunch of daffodils, plus a selection of finger sandwiches on wholemeal and white bread, such as honey roast ham and tomato chutney and smoked salmon, red onion and cucumber. There is also a choice of plain or fruit scones served with Cornish clotted cream and jam; a selection of cakes and teas. The teas are available to pre-order for collection on Saturday, March 13 or Sunday, March 14. Call 01634 201333 or email events@bridgewoodmanorhotel.com to book.
Cafe Nucleus
The cafes in Rochester and Chatham reopen outdoors from Monday, April 12 for alfresco dining, but in the meantime you can treat someone to . For £17.50, an afternoon tea includes a selection of finger sandwiches, a fruit scone with Cornish clotted cream and jam, and a selection of afternoon fancies plus a selection of teas and other drinks. To buy a gift voucher which can be personalised, go to cafenucleus.co.uk
Champneys, Eastwell Manor
The spa and hotel near Ashford has Tea for Two and afternoon tea options, where you can enjoy a selection of freshly cut finger sandwiches and savouries before tucking into warm scones with clotted cream and homemade jam. Finish with sweet treats of beautifully-presented petit fours and some speciality teas from £26 per person or sip on a glass of sparkling wine or bubbles from £32 per person. Eastwell Manor reopens on Monday, May 17, so Mum only has to wait two months to enjoy her voucher. Book at champneys.com
Oh Crumbs!
Sandwiches, scones and homemade cakes can be delivered to your door from the Folkestone-based community interest company run by Changing Lives Kent CIC. The family kitchen also has the option of extra sandwiches or cakes for a bespoke Premium Afternoon Tea for £15 per person. Delivery charges apply for areas further than surrounding Folkestone. Orders in time for Mother's Day are now sold out but order for the weeks after that at ohcrumbsfolkestone.co.uk or via the Facebook page.
The Potting Shed
The restaurant in Langley, just outside Maidstone, is part of the Elite Pubs chain and has afternoon tea to treat someone to, with a selection of finger sandwiches; traditional plain and fruit scones with jam and clotted cream, and a selection of cakes such as lemon, lime and orange cake and macaroons. They cost £20 per person or with fizz £26.50 per person. Tables are available to book outside from April 12 at elitepubs.com
For more days out ideas across Kent click here.