opentable.co.uk blog

Insider's Guide to Dining

8 of the best places to enjoy afternoon tea in Birmingham

At this time of year, we love nothing more than a bit of afternoon indulgence. What better way to celebrate the colder season than with warm scones topped with jam and clotted cream and a cup of tea (or glass of bubbly!). If you’re looking to treat yourself in Birmingham, here are some of the top spots for traditional afternoon tea.

AC Lounge
Whether you’re staying at the AC Hotel or just exploring the Mailbox, the AC Lounge is a top spot for tea. The contemporary space is unlike most traditional tearooms and the laid-back vibe allows guests to sit back, unwind, and sip their cup of tea in peace. So, what are you waiting for? Their heavenly cakes and pastries are waiting for you.

Craft Dining Rooms
This modern British restaurant opened its doors at Birmingham’s ICC this summer and it’s been a hit with the locals ever since. With its striking yellow and grey décor, Craft Dining Rooms is one of the city’s most stylish eateries. As the name suggests, everything is handcrafted, handpicked, and homegrown, from the food and drink to the art on the walls. For a special treat, book their Mad Hattingley Tea Party and enjoy handmade savouries, afternoon tea fancies, and a glass of Hattingley Valley sparkling wine for £30pp.

The Ivy Temple Row
After a day of shopping in Birmingham’s busy city centre, take a well-deserved break at The Ivy Temple Row. If you’re wondering where locals go to treat themselves, then look no further. Here you can enjoy a delicious afternoon tea and do a spot of people-watching in elegant Art Deco-inspired surroundings. With truffled chicken brioche rolls and blackberry and Champagne trifle on offer, how could you resist?

The Edgbaston
Afternoon tea is served daily at The Edgbaston, a stylish boutique hotel not far from the city centre. Guests can expect delicious artisan savouries, seasonal sweet treats, and scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Afternoon tea is accompanied by organic loose leaf Jing tea that will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

1565 at Park Regis Birmingham
Planning a weekend break or a girly day out? You can dine in style at the Park Regis, a luxury hotel on Broad Street that’s surrounded by trendy bars, comedy clubs, and nightclubs. Tea is served in the 1565 bar and, in warmer weather, out on the terrace. Diners with a sweet tooth will love the white chocolate and raspberry lollipops, while gin connoisseurs can add a Hendrick’s cocktail to their tea experience for an extra £5.

Harvey Nichols Brasserie
Planning a shopping spree? Then head to Harvey Nichols and treat yourself to a fabulous afternoon tea in the temple of luxury fashion. Once you’re relaxing in their leather banquette booths and enjoying a glass of Champagne, you’ll instantly feel like an A-lister. Their luxury afternoon tea is a bargain at £22 per head, so why not enjoy a cocktail in the bar before heading home?

Three Church Road
Situated close to Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, Three Church Road is a modern restaurant and bistro with quintessential English charm. It’s a sophisticated spot for traditional afternoon tea or a cream tea, if you fancy something a little lighter. There’s even a ‘G & Tea’ option which includes a gin and tonic served in a china cup. Cheers!

Edwardian Tearooms at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Art lovers, rejoice! After a morning exploring the galleries, culture vultures can take tea in the beautifully renovated Edwardian Tearooms. For just £17.95, you’ll enjoy dainty sandwiches, scrumptious scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, as well as an array of bitesize cakes. We especially love their ‘Press for Champagne’ service – simply sit back in your private booth, press the Champagne buzzer and make a toast to the cosy season!

This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.

Don’t forget to share this via and LinkedIn.

Wintry weekend breaks: 5 UK cities for a foodie getaway

In certain UK cities, the winter holidays make for as good a visit as any other time of the year. While making the most of their culture, history, and surroundings however, just as important is what to eat and where to eat it.

Cardiff
If medieval architecture is your bag, make a beeline for Cardiff Castle or the out-of-town Castell Coch. For more of Cardiff’s iconic buildings in general, and the peaceful Wetlands Nature Reserve, wander over to the bay. Just make sure to stop by Cardiff Central Market before you head home, where almost anything can be found from laverbread to flat caps. You’ll want to plan where to eat – if the mood says ‘British inspired small plates’, Great British Menu finalist Tommy Heaney will set you up well at Heaney’s. For the more exotic, Vivo Latino’s South American approach is sure to wake up the taste buds, while Sri Lankan street food spot The Coconut Tree will do the job just as well.

Manchester
Welcome to Manchester. Here for the music scene? Then make tracks to one of Manchester’s great gig venues (YES is usually a good start), or record stores such as Eastern Bloc. The sport-curious should check out the National Football Museum, while the Pankhurst Centre, exhibiting the history of women’s social movement, is an enlightening visit for all. As with music, Manchester’s other appetites are diverse: There’s BAB, serving all manner of good things on flame-grilled flatbreads; Hispi, Gary Usher’s follow-up to the impossibly popular Sticky Walnut and Burnt Truffle, and Bundobust – with its okra fries, broccoli and kale bhajis, and vada pav burgers – is one of the best meat-free options in town. If you fancy food on the move, you can grab a glühwein and a German sausage at the city’s famous Christmas market.

Edinburgh
As the annual Fringe demonstrates, Edinburgh is fertile ground for culture, with The Festival Theatre, Scottish National (art) Galleries, and independent cinemas like Cameo Picturehouse all worth a look-in. It’s also a great city to explore by foot, so pack the walking boots especially for Arthur’s Seat – an extinct volcano a 45-minute walk from the city centre. Head back into town for dinner at local favourite Café St Honoré or The Gardener’s Cottage – once home to the Royal Terrace Garden’s handyman, now a restaurant influenced by its former life (fruit, veg, and herbs are grown on-site).

York
Known for its history, there are parts of York left largely untouched for 1,000 years or more. Soak it in by walking its ancient streets (most notably The Shambles), taking a tour of the Roman walls that once protected the city, and checking out Barley Hall, a particularly well-preserved Henry VIII-era townhouse. At some point in-between, you’ll want to fuel up with some of the country’s finest fish and chips on behalf of Millers. Taking afternoon tea on an old-school railway carriage is also recommended, or let shoe-box sized newcomer Shori warm your bones with top notch bao and ramen.

Canterbury
Many come here with eyes for punting and the cathedral, but there’s more to this historic city. You can spend a day pub-crawling the several-century-old boozers; browsing the shelves at The Chaucer Bookshop; or exploring the Roman Museum, revealing some of the city’s oldest remnants. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can tuck into British comfort food at Oscar & Bentleys or enjoy a meze feast at Zeus Ouzeri & Taverna. The Goods Shed – a farmer’s market, food hall, and restaurant – fulfils many a locavore’s dream, while a visit to The Falstaff is necessary for those late afternoon cravings of scones, jam, and clotted cream.

Travelling elsewhere this winter? Visit OpenTable to discover restaurants across the UK and beyond.

This is a guest post from freelance food journalist Hugh Thomas. He’s contributed to Foodism, Time Out, Great British Chefs, and is part of British Street Food’s small team of vigilant writers. Find him on twitter @hughwrites.

Photo Credit: Visit York and Visit Manchester.

Don’t forget to share this via and LinkedIn.

Taste the Island: Celebrating Northern Ireland’s fantastic food and drink

From outstanding local produce to award-winning restaurants, Northern Ireland has much to offer the foodie traveller. It was recently named the World’s Best Food Destination at the International Travel & Tourism Awards 2018/19 and there’s never been a better time to visit.

This autumn, Tourism Northern Ireland are championing local food and drink and encouraging visitors to #TasteTheIsland. There’s plenty to keep you busy, whether you fancy a food tour, a cookery class, or fishing for your breakfast on a ‘Catch and Sea’ tour in Portrush. You could visit the famous Old Bushmills Distillery or simply eat your way around the city on a weekend break in Belfast.

Already planning a trip to Northern Ireland? Here are ten dishes to try this autumn that showcase top quality local ingredients. Visit OpenTable to book and dine like a local as soon as you land.

– Coppi, Belfast – Duck ragu with porcini mushroom ravioli, red wine, parmesan, and truffle.
– Sleepy Hollow, Newtownabbey – Rump of venison, braised shank tart with granola and cranberry relish and hay baked celeriac purée.
– EDO, Belfast – Venison steak, crispy shoulder, Blue Moon Pumpkin, confit artichoke, plum, and beetroot purée.
– The Salty Dog, Bangor – Strangford mussels in white wine, garlic and cream, served with sourdough.
– The Stables, Groomsport – Fillet of salmon marinated in beetroot and Jawbox gin, with chargrilled root vegetables, celeriac purée, and hollandaise Sauce.
– James St, Belfast – Aged sirloin with Hannan’s braised ox cheek and Helen’s Bay organic vegetables. (Part of the Taste the Island menu – £45pp).
– The Mill Restaurant, Newtownards – Blade of Irish beef, Comber mash potato with scallions, roast carrot, parsnip and onions, served with a roast confit orange jus.
– Shed Bistro, Belfast – Peter Hannan’s Himalayan salt dry aged 8oz rump steak, chunky chips, confit tomato, onion rings, brandy, thyme and green peppercorn cream.
– The Groomsport Inn, Groomsport – Locally caught seabass with buttered greens, chorizo, and sauté potatoes.
– 44 Hill Street, Belfast – Pan-fried cod with courgette risotto, Fivemiletown goats cheese, and Irish honey.

Visit OpenTable to discover more restaurants participating in the #TasteTheIsland campaign.

Don’t forget to share this via and LinkedIn.

10 of the best London restaurants for Christmas parties

Traditional or left field, private or inclusive, cost-effective or on the company account – as long as food and drink’s involved, a Christmas party in London can be anything you like.

Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe
Next door to the Globe Theatre, the Swan is in a prime location with views over the river towards St Paul’s. The modern British menu offers something for every occasion, from breakfasts and roasts to afternoon tea inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The restaurant’s five private rooms range from the intimate (14 covers) to the more inclusive (350).

Big Easy Canary Wharf
Probably your best bet if looking for a budget-friendly crowd-pleaser, Big Easy’s enormous all-American menu is made for feeding large groups. The Captain’s Table, a striking event space designed to look a ship’s wood panelled dining room, is one of London’s best kept secrets.

The Pig and Butcher
For the authentic Christmas experience, no one does it quite so well as Islington gastropub The Pig and Butcher. The farmhouse kitchen-inspired private dining room, complete with an Aga and wood-burning stove, is like a trip to the country without leaving the city. The menu makes the experience, though: palate-tuners like cheese straws and pork crackling with apple sauce set the stage for braised beef with bone marrow and smoked bacon; whole suckling pig; or free-range turkey.

Launceston Place
Launceston Place proudly has one of the UK’s most promising chefs in Ben Murphy, previously of The Woodford. Groups can be accommodated in the elegant interconnecting dining rooms or at the Chef’s Table where up to 12 guests can enjoy a bespoke menu created by Murphy.

The Lighterman
Situated on Granary Square, The Lighterman can accommodate all sorts of parties, from festive team lunches to drinks and canapé receptions. Here you’ll find some of the best views over Regent’s Canal, and excellent British-inspired food to boot. The three-course Christmas menu (£50pp) is reassuringly reflective of the winter season, with dishes like venison loin, Jerusalem artichoke and wild mushroom tart, and clementine chocolate brownie on offer.

Market Halls West End
London’s hottest food hall is set to open just off Oxford Street on November 15th. It will be the city’s biggest, set to feature 11 traders already lighting up London, including BaoziInn, Super Tacos (a Breddo’s offshoot), and plant-based maestros CookDaily. Christmas party bookings are available for up to 350 guests.

The Ivy Soho Brasserie
The Ivy’s most central branch, right in the middle of Soho, is perfect for parties and can accommodate up to 40 guests in The Blake Room. Given how much the brand respects the calendar, and famously have an eye for the aesthetic, you can be sure The Ivy will go all out for Christmas.

Caravan City
Another restaurant that will suit most tastes, Caravan’s culinary inspirations are global rather than specific. The mini-chain is also famous for its brunches, so if kicking off the festivities in the late morning is the order of day, then you’re in the right place. Their City branch, in the Bloomberg Arcade, has a semi-private mezzanine area that’s worth keeping in mind for parties and team lunches.

Tramshed
As the bill of fare demonstrates, there’s two things you should know about Tramshed: steak and chicken. Long banquet tables make this a prime spot for larger parties, while artwork by Damien Hirst provides talking points. The mezzanine area offers semi-private dining with a view, while the chef’s table in Mark’s Kitchen Library is ideal for smaller gatherings of up to 12 people.

Inamo Covent Garden
With interactive tabletops dishing up retro games and live chef cam feeds, ‘ordinary’ isn’t a word that enters Inamo’s vocabulary. If you don’t fancy turkey, their pan-Asian menu might hit the spot with dishes like miso salmon and sizzling black pepper beef. The Onyx Room at their Covent Garden restaurant is fitted out with huge screens and gaming consoles – ideal for after-dinner gaming or karaoke.

Find Christmas party venues in your area on OpenTable.

This is a guest post from freelance food journalist Hugh Thomas. He’s contributed to Foodism, Time Out, Great British Chefs, and is part of British Street Food’s small team of vigilant writers. Find him on twitter @hughwrites.

Don’t forget to share this via and LinkedIn.

Book a table on OpenTable
OpenTable UK Tech Blog
Press Centre
About OpenTable
Privacy Policy
OpenTable Terms of Use
Restaurateurs: Join Us
Careers
Affiliate Program