Review: Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, New Milton – age-old British tea tradition doesn’t get much fancier

SET in 130 acres of stunning countryside, New Milton’s Chewton Glen Hotel is the perfect venue to relax and be pampered away from the pressures of modern life.

Although I’ve been lucky enough to visit this beautiful hotel on a number of occasions I’m always struck by just how charming it is, with its pristine croquet lawns, wisteria-clad walls and stunning sculptures adding character to the beautiful gardens.

Chewton Glen is a hotel with much to celebrate, including its world-class spa, an immersive cookery school run by celebrity chef James Martin, and a beautiful kitchen garden which provides many of the ingredients used in the two onsite restaurants.

After a busy summer, the back-to-school week seemed the perfect time to meet up with one of my oldest friends to enjoy a catch-up over a show-stopping afternoon tea.

Chewton Glen is a quintessentially English country house hotel, and on the day of our visit we happened to experience some quintessentially English weather, with persistent drizzle making it impossible to explore the lovely grounds.

However, as we arrived in the bright and cosy dining room we were shown to a corner table with a views of the pretty terrace, and beyond it the extensive lawns and woodland so we were at least able to enjoy the views.

Starting with a glass of sparkling water, we were then offered a glass of Nyetimber, an award-winning English fizz which was recently appointed as the official sparkling wine of Team GB for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Finishing our glasses perhaps a little too quickly, we agreed the deliciously quaffable beverage was a perfect match for the luxurious settings.

Our afternoon tea experience began with a decadent amuse-bouche of choux buns filled with warm Old Winchester cheese and grated truffle. Despite its bite-sized stature, the buns were big on flavour, delivering an incredible mix of savoury tastes and creamy textures.

Next up was a classic selection of finger sandwiches – Dorset ham and English mustard in a wonderful tomato bread, Flambard’s egg mayonaise and cress on white bread, smoked salmon with horseradish butter on granary bread, and coronation chicken on onion bread.

Freshly made each day, it was difficult to pick a favourite. Not being a big fan of ham sandwiches, I was particularly impressed by the Chewton’s offering with its wonderful combination of tomato bread and mustard. It is worth pointing out that afternoon tea guests are able to enjoy as many sandwiches as they like.

Freshly baked scones – one fruit and one buttermilk – arrived at our table elegantly parcelled in a napkin to keep them warm. They were the perfect size, with a golden top and soft crumbly centre and served with lemon curd, strawberry jam and rich West Country clotted cream.

With a selection of pastries yet to enjoy, my friend and I decided to have a short break. I enjoyed a wonderful pot of loose-leaf afternoon tea, while she opted for a floral Earl Grey. Both were supplied by Tregothnan, the UK’s first tea gardens, producing home grown crops since 2005.

Enjoying the incredible views and tranquility of the stunning dining room setting, it was a rare opportunity to catch up and have a proper chat without any interruptions – a wonderful treat for two busy mums!

For many, the highlight of an afternoon tea is the cakes and pastries, and Chewton Glen certainly delivered a sublime selection. Whenever I visit France, one of my favourite delicacies are the wonderful macarons – and Chewton’s New Forest strawberry and cream offering was quite simply exceptional, combining a crispy outside with a chewy meringue centre filled with rich cream and strawberry jam.

Equally delicious was the dainty blueberry and vanilla tartlet which combined a creamy sweet filling with a crunchy biscuit base. Decadently rich yet incredibly light, the luxurious Valrhona chocolate éclair was a fitting finish to a truly memorable dining experience.

However, the treats had not stopped coming – we were informed by the lovely Emanuel that guests are also treated to a cake to take home! Although I could not have eaten another morsel, I enjoyed a delicious gooseberry Bakewell tart later that evening.

Service was outstanding, with staff unfailingly courteous and welcoming without ever being overbearing.

With prices starting from £45, afternoon tea at the Chewton Glen is the perfect treat for special occasions or just a lovely excuse to get together with friends and family.

• To be in with a chance of winning an afternoon tea for four people at the hotel, pick upo this week’s A&T from the newsstand.