Luton Hoo - Afternoon Tea in Central Bedfordshire

The staff were pleasant and the food was fine but oh so slow! From the time we arrived we were waiting at every stage. Waiting to be seated, there was no one in sight. Eventually we were shown to our seats and waited again for someone to take our order, waited again and, after being there over 30 minutes, our tea and coffee arrived, but no milk. The coffee was fine but the tea wasn’t hot, but drinkable as long as I drank it straight down. Another long wait for sandwiches and again a wait for cakes. I would have preferred everything to arrive at once so that I could decide how long to take to eat them. As it was we were there over 2 hours and I was bored. I would hate to be there if it was full as today less than half the tables were taken. Not the best experience of afternoon tea I’m afraid.

Went for my birthday for afternoon tea on Halloween. Cakes had a theme. Food was lovely. Setting was peaceful. Service by Varinder was perfect. Cannot fault the experience.

Wonderful setting the house and grounds are lovely. The whole experience was very disappointing, the staff were friendly but the service was very slow and disjointed. the food was average and not up to the standard I would expect from them.

We went yesterday on the 18 oct 2024 for there afternoon tea .Very stunning place set in incredible surroundings and run so well .The afternoon tea was delightfully and at £90.00 for a couple should be .Unlimited tea and coffee with fabulous sandwiches and an array of delicious cakes we had a lovely time served by Reena .

I love an afternoon tea as much as the next person and I have been to Luton Hoo before for tea but I felt really let down on this time. I should begin by saying that our waitress was lovely, she was super attentive and made us all feel very welcome so I want to start by saying that. What let the experience down for me was the standard falling far short from previous visits. The tea itself was cool (not to sound like Maggie Smith, but tea should be hot!) the quality and volume of the sandwiches and cakes were poor. A very small volume compared with the last time I visited Luton Hoo where it felt that sandwiches were always topped up. If you're charging £49 per head with a 12.5% service charge you expect quality. The scones were dry (almost like they had been left out for a while) and on leaving I felt the £165.38 charge for the afternoon could have been better spent on a nice meal at a restaurant. I personally wouldn't want to return.

My husband and I were treated to a champagne afternoon tea by our son. We went yesterday and the whole afternoon was a delightful experience. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly and the food was excellent. We will definitely visit again.

I went with my husband for afternoon tea at Luton Hoo on our wedding anniversary. Positives: the food was excellent, delicious sandwiches and amazing cakes (see photo); super service too, Reena and Abdul looked after us well. The venue was light and airy ... but the place looks rather faded as if it has seen better days. I see that the hotel was reopened in 2008, if - as I thought quite possible - nothing much has been done since then, I feel some kind of refurbishment is called for, especially in view of the prices charged. A negative: we both have food allergies and intolerance issues, one of us having to avoid chocolate. I e-mailed in advance detailing these and also mentioning the special occasion (wedding anniversary) and received a reply that these had been noted. But, alas, I think not. The staff were clearly unaware of them and initially (understandably) seemed rather flummoxed as to what to do (particularly regarding the no chocolate issue). Fortunately, the head waiter was able to resolve the issue and, all credit to those involved, a decent tea was provided and neither of us had any unpleasant after effects (fingers crossed). The fact that the message about the wedding anniversary also failed to get through, although a first world issue, did detract from the occasion - wouldn't have been too much trouble to have produced a cake or similar with 'Happy anniversary' scrolled around, as has happened at other venues in previous years. Another niggle: on arriving by car, you are directed to a car park designated 'Afternoon Teas' which is a bit of a walk from the venue, not too great for those of us who are not 100% on our pins - and in the rain too. Yet bang in front of the main entrance there is a large space which seemed to be half fun of expensive cars, giving an impression (hopefully wrong) that afternoon tea visitors are regarded as some kind of poor relations to be kept out of sight. Maybe the signage could be changed to 'Car Park' (ie for in front of the house, on a first come first served basis) and the one saying 'Afternoon Teas' to "Overflow Parking' ? I would suggest that whoever is responsible for taking the online bookings actually makes a note of the requirements of guests - and I reinforced these in an e-mail rather than relying on an online form - and liaises with the staff accordingly, failure to do so is really letting the side down. For this reason (plus the air of faded gentility to which I referred) I am giving it three out of five: for the price charged (over £110 for two afternoon teas, with no alcohol), I think Luton Hoo needs to do better. A shame - as it is, potentially, a great venue and could offer a really memorable experience.

Had a nice afternoon tea at Luton Hoo. Sandwiches and scones were delicious but sadly cakes did not taste as nice as they looked.Service was very good.

Just had afternoon tea, very disappointed no nice silver teapots as before. Had to ask for side plates to eat sandwiches from. clean knives, ask twice for extra tea etc. Very expensive for what you receive have had much nicer elsewhere

On arrival, we were greeted by various staff members who were very smiley and friendly. We were served by Pamela who was very attentive throughout and really took care of us if there was anything we needed. The room itself was stunning -we felt very relaxed taking in the wonderful surroundings. Sandwiches were delicious followed by a selection of nice warm scones and homemade jam as well as some very visually exquisite cakes. Although they did look nice and very well presented , we thought that they didn't taste as good as they looked. Overall, we had a lovely afternoon tea. The landscaped gardens were beautiful and the grounds seemed never ending! Definitely worth a visit.

Been to Luton Hoo for Afternoon Tea before so was looking forward to visiting again but what a disappointment! Was greeted by a young girl, no smiles, just said hello, showed us to our table, left us for about 5 minutes asking us what tea would we like, I had to mention we had booked for sparkling wine afternoon tea, probably wouldn’t have got it otherwise so decided what tea to have, didn’t take long as not much of a selection then she went off. 10 minutes later a young lad came with a small plate each, 5 sandwiches on each plate, what happened to the tier plates you use to get them on? Anyway, the roasted beef sandwich was the only nice one, the other 4 were tasteless and now to have to pay £8.00 for a refill but before they use to be free! Shocking! If they were all nice I would have paid extra as I was still hungry! The tea wasn’t much either, sparkling wine was ok. We ordered another 2 pots of tea to go with our cakes, well they were even worse, 4 small, doughy scones, 2 plain, 2 with raisins and literally 2 raisins in them, you couldn’t make it up! Small pot of jam and cream, certainly not enough for two but couldn’t be bothered to ask for more, just wanted to get out. Passion fruit & chocolate mouse was bitter, green tea choux, why?, pineapple and buttermilk tart was as dry as anything and Victoria sponge was coconut sponge, rotten. The whole experience was dreadful, use to be such a lovely, busy place but it was so quiet, staff don’t care! Anyway we decided to leave without getting our 2nd pots of tea, can’t believe it took so long! Service was terrible. Will not be back.

Went as a group of 4 for afternoon tea and was not impressed. Communication before the date of booking was poor, the service was slow and the standard of mediocre at best. We even received our sandwiches before our tea/coffee and had to ask more than twice for water. The Gluten Free afternoon tea was awful. The sandwiches were hard and dry and the cakes all tasted the same. Expensive but poor quality. Other places offer better afternoon tea.

Oh this afternoon tea was amazing. We booked as part of a spa deal. The staff are so friendly and very attentive. It was a really warm day and they brought us water straight away. This afternoon was so generous we couldn't finish it all. The sandwiches were wonderful and different to others we have tried. All had different breads which were so tasty. The scones were fresh and delicious. The best I have had. The cakes were devine - we ended up taking most home with us which was a lovely treat. I would highly recommend the chai tea. The room is wonderful and clean and very spacious we didn't feel too close to other customers. I would recommend this very highly, a wonderful experience.

I took my elderly mother for the afternoon tea. It was fabulous. Taejah was so attentive and very welcoming, we had a very pleasant experience because of Taejah. Thank you and we will be back again!

I booked afternoon tea,at Luton Hoo.for my cousins birthdays. We was greeted by a very happy doorman. We arrived early but they seated us straight away. But I was disappointed with afternoon tea. The choice of sandwiches was not great We where disappointed. It was mot presented on a tire tray. The cakes where poor choice but the scones where very nice. Our waitress was lovely Taejah Boothe.She was amazing The venue was beautiful. But I wouldn't book again. I found it expensive. I'm disappointed with tea, not the services. I wouldn't book again.

Not worth the money. Food was fancy but not very nice. Service was horrendous. Waited ages to be seated (only 3 other groups present), seating is all sofas so very low, uncomfortable and not very spacious. Had to ask/remind them of our drinks multiple times (and heard other tables doing the same), used the poor excuse of the printer not working. Refills/extra food is overpriced. Somehow came out with a massive bill for 2 coffees. Building and setting is beautiful. Staff were friendly.

Worst afternoon tea ever been too,,,paid £98 champagne afternoon tea for two,,,never even got the champagne,,,, Would not go there again,

Came for afternoon tea with friends. It has been our go to place for a special afternoon but for various reasons it’s been a year since our last visit and we won’t rush back. The three star is for our overall experience not for food and drink. The staff were very pleasant and attentive. The atmosphere was non existent with 2/3 of the tables empty which is telling in itself. We have been used to a free refill of sandwiches- now you get a personal plate and a refill is £8 (on top of the £50 plus service charge already paid). The tea was served in cold pots. No spoons for the jam and cream which were v small portions. Please can the new owners take heed of the reviews and revert to the lovely experience we previously enjoyed.

The venue and food was first class but we were very disappointed that our teapots of English tea contained teabags! We also had a strainer which was not needed.

We visited Luton Hoo for afternoon tea. We arrived on time but had to wait 30 min for our table - not too much of a problem as there were other places to sit and wait and they were apologetic. However, once we were seated the service was exceptionally poor and slow. We had to wait a long time in-between each 'course' to get the next one and they took a long time to clear our plates. We asked for more tea and had to remind them later that it hadn't arrived - the previous pots had not been removed so that was juggling act. Later on we had to remind them that we'd not had the extra clotted cream we'd asked for (one set had a pot of jam and cream between 2 people, which wasn't enough). There was no waiting staff around our area and we felt like we'd been forgotten about - she wasn't overly apologetic for forgetting things either. They give you a leaving time but due to slow service, we were still in there at ten to 7 and our booking was for 3:15! Food was nice, and the venue is gorgeous, but poor service really let it down , especially considering the fact everything is cold, so you don't have to wait for it to be made. For £50 a head you expect good service. Note, it wasn't overly busy - perhaps 5 groups.

We were celebrating a wheelchair-bound, relative's 80th birthday with an afternoon tea in the lounge with a small group of family and friends. Chris at the door was great, he was cheerful; ensured the ramps were all set up and wheeled her from the car and up into the building and took her back again when we left with the same attention to detail. We enjoyed the unconventional array of savouries; pastries rather than finger sandwiches. The cakes were lovely too, as were the scones, though the greedy side of me would have liked even more fruit in the fruit scones. The waitress (Reena); Maitre D (Sebastien) and other staff members were all very attentive, friendly and professional without being overbearing and helped the event to go well. The views over the gardens were beautiful. All-in-all a very nice afternoon, we're glad we chose it, thanks.

Let’s start with the positives. This is a beautiful Country estate hidden sway on the outskirts of Luton. The hotel is magnificent but internally is dated with oodles of history where the late Queen, Thatcher and Churchill have all stayed. I was there for afternoon tea. It is expensive at £50 a head and we opted for a glass of champagne each(which was sparkling wine). The booking systemic was shambolic. Our names weren’t on it as the person had booked us in for the following day despite our email saying it was the day we attended. The maitre d called Sebastian(a Basil Fawlty character)asked our name plus variations six times. We told him our names and dutifully shortened them hoping we were on his booking system. He then began to read other names suggesting we simply adopt somebody else’s booking. It was laughable but eventually we were shown into a massive room with lots of comfy armchairs and sofas with crisp linen tables and we were told to choose. My wife chose a table next to a radiator as conservatively the room was about 2 degrees above freezing. The coats remained on as the radiator was as cold as ice. Two pots of tea arrived. We had to ask for the champagne. Then 15 minutes later just as the tea was getting cold, the sandwiches arrived. It was a small plate of open sandwiches with six choices one of which was a tasty if small sausage roll. The salmon was nice as was the beef, albeit the beef was devoid of any horseradish. The egg mayonnaise was flavourless and the remainder utterly forgettable. The only ‘wow’ factor was the price. The cakes arrived. The server didn’t know what they were so we guessed as we ate them. The scones with clotted cream and jam were superb. The scones still warm from the oven. The other cakes I would expect to buy in the local PTA cake sale. Bland and tasteless and not a trace of chocolate in sight. Having been to other ‘Afternoon teas’ this was an absolute let down. No greeting on arrival and no goodbye on departure. Extortionate prices in a tired venue with predominately tasteless food and jaded staff who seem to have simply given up. Save your money and go elsewhere.

We went for afternoon tea, the food was excellent with dietary needs catered for. The lady who serving us, Taejah, was delightful, she was friendly and attentive. We really enjoyed our experience. Would really reminded for a tasty afternoon tea with excellent service.

The setting is beautiful. We came for afternoon tea for my friend's 50th birthday. Unfortunately it didn't live up to its reputation. We found the service to be lacking in areas, there were only 6 to 8 tables on and unfortunately that seemed to be a struggle for them. The food presentation was beautiful, however I do agree with other reviews, I've experienced better elsewhere for a fraction of the price. Overall I felt that the service you are experiencing and the food quality did not balance out to the price you are paying.

The room where afternoon tea is served is impressive views over the garden and high ceilings, mirrors on the wall. The service is good, with a shout-out to Teajah, friendly and efficient. They were aware of allergies (one allergic to Soya caused no issues, the other coeliac and allergic to black pepper). There are open sandwiches, with traditional flavours but not the usual finger sandwiches. This works well and are generally quite tasty. The egg vol au vent was spoilt by excessive paprika. Our first choice tea, the hotel signature afternoon tea blend, was unavailable! So standard EBT, but in a tea bag ... disappointing. Then on to the sweet/cake options strangely only two cake stands were delivered, one GF and one unspecified (so we needed to wait), until staff came to clarify- Teajah rectified this after talking to the kitchen, bringing another stand. These were really good. The chairs around a low table are armchairs, which are really soft, and you sink into a long way, making it very difficult to "climb out." Whilst some might like this to me, it was like sitting on the floor with my knees up.

Indulging in afternoon tea was an exquisite experience, made even more memorable by Teeja's impeccable service. Her attention to detail and warm demeanor added an extra layer of enjoyment to the occasion.

Afternoon tea, Lovely setting, savoury course nice, dessert, underwhelming. We all had 1 glass of Prosecco also, total £70 each, was it value for money… I’ve had much better for less.

I booked afternoon tea for my elderly folks as a present. We have a lutonhoo.com website screen shot showing the price at £32 each. My parents are then charged £110 for the afternoon tea. Ruined their afternoon. And mine! I engaged with LH management and they claim it’s an old menu. But can’t explain my screenshot!! Their order confirmation does not show the price of £49 each either. Shoddy, and I never expected this. Go to Hanbury Manor instead and you won’t get taken for a ride. We won’t be going back ever again. And whilst my folks are very polite, it was clear they didn’t think much of the food.

Lovely food, friendly waitress, but SLOW service. We had to ask for the cakes as only 20 minutes left according the the email with table times (were told we could have longer) then a service charge was automatically added to the bill

Booked afternoon tea as special treat for myself and my son's partner. Please bring back the traditional finger sandwiches. Whilst the new savoury selection was ok, it doesn't really suggest afternoon tea. The place wasn't very busy but we had to wait to be shown to our table. After 15 minutes, I had to ask for our beverages. The service was dreadful. The cakes arrived along with scones but no cream or jam. All in all we were somewhat disappointed. Hardly a 5 star experience.

Myself and 2 friends had a gorgeous afternoon tea on a busy Friday afternoon. Sandwiches were very fresh & tasty, delicious cakes and moist scones. Even though it can appear a little expensive at just under £50 per head with a glass of bubbles and 10% service added on, you can ask for additional sandwiches including different ones to try and as many tea/ coffee refills as you like. We had tea to start then lattes/ cappuccinos etc. Only negative was the silver tea pots were ridiculously hot including the handles and too heavy to pick up, but staff happy to pour for us! The far end room we were in was stunning & comfortable. We ended up staying almost 4 hours! Special shout out to Joe, a new young member of staff who served us very politely and did a little tour of the Manor House afterwards. He was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic and made our afternoon that extra bit Special!

The preceeding review sums up very well the afternoon tea experience at Luton Hoo, overall poor! Not the experience I wished for my family falling well short on previous visits in the past and not a 5 star experience which is what the cost suggests you'll be getting. Aadditional things to add to the previous review is the quality of the table cloth? Stained!!! The tea pots not only look very tired but we're piping hot to handle, very dangerous with only a tissue around the handle to insulate the intense heat woefully insufficient! The sandwiches and cakes were not displayed in 5 star experience presentation. The point or i should say 'points' the previous review mentions are worthy of reiterating, very slow service! Service charge therefore a liberty and if you want more tea or sandwiches or cakes ask for it as you should be told you are entitled to! (re service charge, you are within your rights to decline paying it) Just trying to get the attention of staff was a task even wanting to pay the bill! Lastly will not be booking any further afternoon teas at Luton Hoo unless future reviews express a significant change for the better.

The GoodThe house and interior are beautiful; it certainly does make an occasion feel special. The seating in the salon is comfortable and, even with other people there, it is spacious enough that the noise from others does not make it hard to enjoy conversation within your own party. Overall, a lovely ambience, especially with the spring sunshine coming in the large windows. The doormen are polite and welcoming. Guests are asked about dietary requirements, and suitable exchanges are made. The cakes were generally nice, but some sandwiches were better than others because some were a little dry.The Not So GoodThe afternoon tea experience itself is rather disappointing. The service is quite slow: we had to ask several times for refill drinks or takeaway boxes. The tables are quite small, which would be fine if the staff took away empty pots more quickly. It is not made clear, but drinks and sandwich refills are included. During our visit, we only realised this when other parties were given extras. It would be nice if staff came around during the tea to see if any extras were needed. The silverware is quite basic, with ageing silver-plated pots and the cutlery would have benefitted from a polish to make it feel a little more luxurious. Generally, for the price, service levels and attention to detail could have been improved. The cakes served were also different from the menu, which should really have been specified. Most insulting of all was the 'discretionary' 10% service charge that is added to the bill. Not only was it not warranted in this case, but this automatic addition is unacceptable and completely defeats the object of a tip. Tips for service should be earned, and actually at the guests' discretion rather than only being a matter of choice if you happen to notice the small-print.

I was given a voucher for Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at Luton Hoo as a gift. We arrived and were totally blown away by the building and the decor, it is simply stunning. We were seated in a lovely room at the end of the building (I think it was the ballroom). My partner didnt fancy Champagne so we ordered a gin and tonic each. The drinks must have taken 15 minutes to arrive and when they arrived they were served in standard glasses with one cube of ice if we were lucky, no slice of lemon or lime, and a warm bottle of Schweppes tonic (surprised they dont stock Fevertree!)Anyway.... the Afternoon Tea arrives which looked lovely. The sandwich fillings were nice, however the sandwiches had clearly been sat on the side for a while as the bread had dried out. The chocolate tarts were bland, the macaroons average, the white choc and rhubarb mousse was horrible but the matcha green tea opera cake was lovely. The scones were good, however we were given one tiny ball of clotted cream for the two of us and the slice of strawberry on the top was clearly past its best and shrivelled up. At the end we were presented with a bill for the two gin and tonics, I understand that the voucher was for Champagne however two G&T's dont cost more than two glasses of Champagne!!! Anyway we paid and left.Based on this visit the Afternoon Tea is not to the standard you would expect and certainly not value for money.

I booked afternoon tea for 4 as a special Birthday treat for my Aunts 80th. Whilst the staff were all lovely and friendly, sadly I have to say the afternoon tea was really disappointing. Dry bread, the beef truffle combo sandwich was very odd, the poached chicken was rubbery and again very odd flavours. It felt like they were trying a little too hard. The cake selection was very average with no real ‘wow’ factor. I didn’t complain at the time as that would have embarrassed my guests but to be honest for £187 bill for 4 it should Have been amazing.

I took five friends to afternoon tea as a special treat to celebrate my special birthday. It was not only a disappointment but embarrassing too. We were served a selection of dry sandwiches and uninteresting cakes. Not a scone in sight and no explanation. After an hour and a half and having to ask a waitress twice, still with no response, I went to find a manager. He sent a supervisor to deal with me who fobbed me off with a story about the scones from the morning having to be thrown out and new ones being made. That did not explain why others were getting them and us not. Eventually they arrived - not fresh and rather tasteless, they appeared to have been heated from frozen - definitely not worth the wait. I was given twenty percent off the bill for the inconvenience but no apology. I hear the hotel is under new management. I hope they rectify the bad service and poor food before this lovely hotel loses it's previously great reputation

We had dinner at the Wernher restaurant . We were given a gift voucher for our wedding for Sunday lunch and they kindly let us change to a Friday night which was more convenient. The surroundings are beautiful and the service was good . The staff were really friendly . The food was lovely but the reason I have given this meal a 2 star review was because of the portion sizes I understand the concept of an a la carte menu but I feel you should not leave a 3 course meal hungry particularly as we paid nearly £ 200 in total after drinks etc . The portions were tiny they would not have satisfied a toddler . We are not huge eaters . I understand you are not just paying for the meal but the experience and surroundings but we felt a little ripped off and you can dress it up as a la carte but to me this just translates to poor value . It’s such a shame we wouldn’t come again because of this and everything else was great . We have been for afternoon tea a fair few times and have left more than happy .

I went for afternoon tea as a special treat to celebrate my birthday and retirement with to of my friends, but it as very disappointing. The positives: At first we were very impressed. We were made to feel special as we were welcomed by the door man and butler escorted us to our seats in the large opulent lounge. The cleanliness of the toilets; the white cotton hand towels and Moulton brown Toiletries were nice. The service and attention of the staff was ok. There were some delays, but then there were a lot of customers that afternoon. Bottomless tea was served, but only the Earl grey is worth drinking! The negatives: While the large period chairs and sofas were nice to look at, they were very uncomfortable to sit/relax on. The springs & padding on the seats are shot. When you sat down you sink into a massive hole in the seat! We asked to be moved to some smaller more upright chairs, but these were worse! The chairs are in dire need of re-upholstering/renovating!It got worse when the food was brought in. The sandwiches were not freshly made! The bread was very dry and hard. They had either been made with stale bread or were week old sandwiches from the fridge! The selection of cakes was also very poor and was probably more suited to a children party. ( The macaroons & stale, tough multicoloured concoction). The best things on the menu were the chocolate tarts and the scones! However, the selection of jams served was very limited and skimpy! I expected to see nice ornate teapots, but the tea was served in some battered dull, stained ordinary metal pots with ill fitting lids that had seen better days!This was a very expensive and disappointing experience that I we will certainly not repeat again!

Such a beautiful setting but such a disappointing over priced experience. The service was atrocious and left us feeling like we were an inconvenience not a paying customer

Very, very disappointed. What can I say. SERVICE, Waiting, waiting, to enjoy an afternoon tea. Which we had to chase up to get it after placing the order, over an hour and when it arrived it was only half the order and very disappointing to look at and taste. Went away after 3 hours of not so much of an afternoon tea. This was a joke for an afternoon tea. Seriously need to sort your mess out, Luton Hoo (Who). You can't blame this on short staff. If you are short on staff then it's best to tell paying customers before hand. For a grand place that you use as a selling point then your service and food should match. When we complained the staff couldn't wait to get us out there. Never again. I rather go to Woburn for a much better tasting afternoon tea, service and price.

Today we had a wonderfully festive afternoon tea. The staff were very attentive and the food was super! I would like to especially highlight the kindness and extra service that Chris the Concierge provided. He went above and beyond to help us out. Thank you to everyone invoiced today. My friends and I look forward to returning again soon.

Good stuff first. The Stately home hotel is beautiful with a lovely ambient atmosphere. The staff are friendly and nice but not very efficient, they need more training, maybe it is hard to get staff because of Covid and Brexit.We were here for a family birthday and had booked afternoon tea for 9 people.The actual content of the afternoon tea was poor.The sandwiches were in dry bread and not enough of them . The cakes were O.K but nothing special. The scones were terrible , crusty rock hard on the outside and powdery on the inside.At £40 per person it was poor. I would rather have paid the £40 just for the ambience of the venue and being there with my friends and family and brought a picnic of my own food and drink and ate that in there.I had an afternoon tea there about 5 years ago and it was delicious, what has happened to it?

Had a very nice afternoon tea for two. Staff were very efficient and friendly. We were shown quickly to our table and they asked if there were any food intolerances etc before serving our tea. All the cakes were tasty and well presented. An enjoyable experience.

Disappointed, such a lovely elegant building the service for our afternoon tea was not very good at all , waiter wasn't clear on how the afternoon tea experience worked his explanation weak for venue like this, he needed more positive detailed training and when it came to the champagne he said white or rose instead of calling the champagne by it's name, this lack of professionalism lets the whole experience down. When the metal teapot arrived it had obviously came out of the dishwasher and had lots of watermarks on it and looked dirty on the outside, really it should have been polished up to remove the watermarks this then would make a much better presentation , attention to detail is so important for such a elegant building.

The whole company Elite Hotels is far from Elite. We went for Sunday lunch for our Wedding Anniversary and when we went to pay the bill their card machine wouldn't connect so the transaction was void. Subsequently, we paid in cash as we did not want to put another card in. When we got home, I checked and had a pending transaction on my account. We tried phoning Luton Hoo, no answer for hours, to be fobbed off with someone will ring us back. Monday we were told the transaction was not taken and it would disappear from the account. I cancelled the transaction with my bank.To my horror this morning, Luton Hoo have taken the money from my account and we have been in dispute with the hotel and management of Elite Hotels since 6.30am this morning and still we do not have any answers and no refund. I certainly will be telling everyone I know to steer clear of this company as they do not care they have stolen our money.An absolutely furious customer!

We went to the Luton Hoo for Afternoon tea for my sisters birthday, it was £40 per head, I must say it was not worth the money at all , the sandwiches were bland there was no quiche , they had the wrong pastry delivered (apparently the chief cannot make pastry @Luton Hoo) the scones were as flat as pancakes , and the cakes were awful. We had 1 tea strainer for 3 different types of tea The service was slow and poor. We have had much better Afternoon tea's at other hotels for half the price, if your looking for a nice experience I certainly wouldn't bother. Then they added 10% to the bill without asking !!Also the thing that surprised me was the toilets , they were so shabby the wallpaper was coming off in chucks and the toilets were marked like they had been attacked with a brillo pad. My son was looking at this for his wedding venue , I have told him not to bother ... I must say I was very surprised !!

This was supposed to be a special afternoon tea to belatedly celebrate my mother in law’s birthday. I had informed the hotel that she’s elderly and also that it was a celebration of her birthday; neither seems to have been taken into consideration. The seven of us were sat at a tiny table with a very deep sofa that my mother in law disappeared into, two equally generous armchairs and two dining chairs which made the occupants tower over the rest of the party. Due to the tiny table we then had three other even smaller tables to try and make some space for the crockery and food. It was a mess. How we didn’t spill or drop anything was a miracle. We were told in no uncertain terms that we could have more sandwiches and drinks but not too ups of anything else. It just sounded stingy.Added to this there was a wedding going on in both ends of the room and so every now and then the wedding party would move through the room that we were sitting in. It was disruptive and can’t have been great for the wedding party either. After tea we went for a walk in the garden but left quickly as we felt that we were in the way of the wedding who were taking photos. It seemed to me that the hotel were trying to have their cake and eat it. At £280 plus service (….) we felt entirely ripped off.

Firstly let me start by saying that we have been going to the Luton Hoo for tea or sandwiches for many years. Unfortunately that ended yesterday with our last visit. I started by booking afternoon tea and when we arrived a confusion about numbers attending. That's no biggie. Then we sat and waited in an empty restaurant while staff just wandered past. Again no biggie this is a relaxed place however we just waited and waited. Then we got some attention. And after ordering the teas our waitress returned to tell us we weren't allowed to order three read as there were four of us. So the menus were brought back and we ordered sandwiches. Then we waited for 40 minutes, asked where they were to be told they were on their way. 10 minutes later they arrived. Four plates of one little sandwich each with stale bread. When we complained the waitress returned and when we explained she actually felt each sandwich to determine if they were stale. Instead of just accepting they were she felt each sandwich. After feeling the bread on all our plates she told us that they had been in the fridge and that's why. It was an excuse for stale bread on sandwiches that cost £12 each. We were then asked if we want to reorder. We asked if the same bread would be used and told probably. We order four scones. They arrived small. Very small. We weren't charged for the sandwiches we don't eat and the four tiny scones were free thank you. We were charged for the coffees. We won't be back. And the right way to deal with this would have been the manager apologising and no charge. We left after two hours. And had to go to eat somewhere else. A shame.

Supposed to be a special event!! Very poor sandwiches, had better from Pret. Staff cleaning tables and made us feel as if we were in the way and they wanted to clear the brasserie for evening service.Disappointing, terrible service and I expected more. It’s not about the money but this was taking the proverbial.

We booked afternoon tea at Luton Hoo to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. The website advertised afternoon tea in lavish, luxurious surroundings with ‘crisp white linen’ and ‘fine bone china’, at £35 a head. It promised to be a fitting setting for our celebrations. However, when we arrived, we found our table was in the not so fitting Brasserie - our table had no table cloth or fine bone china, the surroundings were not lavish or luxurious and our fellow diners were having a late lunch in their bath robes (the Brasserie is next door to the spa). We had planned to have champagne with our afternoon tea, but this was not offered. We were very disappointed and it really spoiled what should have been a special occasion for us. So, if you plan on parting with £70 for afternoon tea for two, I should look elsewhere.

I’m torn on how many stars to give because I’d say it was above ‘average’ (3 stars) but couldn’t say it was ‘very good’ (4 stars) - especially for the price. It is a beautiful setting and I like the style of the old / low sofas and chairs. Service was very friendly and I wouldn’t fault those for friendliness who attended us. We did have to wait a few minutes upon arrival though and given we had a booking and arrived promptly I don’t think that’s very good.The sandwiches were tasty but very small (4 provided) and I wonder with hindsight whether replenishments would have been available but we were not told this to be the case so I don’t know. The cakes were okay but not hugely exciting. I love scones but these were hard on the bottom and I wondered whether they had been microwaved, even if not, they shouldn’t have a crunchy base. Our 2 children had the children’s afternoon tea - although we had to ask for the children’s menu and given they are clearly young school age I do wonder why these aren’t forthcoming upon arrival! They were given 3 small sandwiches and were still very hungry after so we did ask if they could have some more and 2 more followed for each child shortly after. I didn’t really feel I could ask again! Perhaps this would have been a time to ask us if we wanted more ourselves and say there were complimentary replenishments…Whilst I don’t think it’s usually fair to mark somewhere down for things that you’ve not raised at the time of the meal, when somewhere is marketed as a special event location, with high end pricing, I don’t expect to have to keep making basic requests. We weren’t offered any other teas or clean plates between food items. It’s the little things which add up to making something feel special - or not. I’ve been for afternoon tea a good half a dozen times here but I’m starting to question whether I should attend again.

Afternoon tea very nice, scones and sandwiches very fresh, cakes delicious. Were sat at a table with sofas which were worn off, shabby threadbare and offered no support, had to sit on 4 cushions to get to a comfortable height to eat. Most furniture looked the same, shabby and worn out as did the carpet. Service started well and then got very slow, waited 30 minutes to get sorted with the bill. My partner asked for a second Berry tea, got a tea bag in hot water for £7!! that is a massive rip off, £77 for tea for two, hugely overpriced, will not go again. Cost more than our food bill for a week for two.

I was so excited to book Luton Hoo for my son & future daughter-in-laws pre-wedding tea. We originally had booked for 58 people,the week before their wedding. Sadly the numbers had to be reduced to 30 as it was just 6 days before ‘Freedom day’The attention to detail previous to the tea was very specific on our part as all our guests were vegetarian and some were kosher We had advised No meats,no shellfish which was clearly stated in CAPITAL letters on the contract. We had chosen the sandwiches and cakes and despite the disappointment in having to disinvite guests, we were obviously getting excited to celebrate the upcoming nuptials which had been rearranged 3 times due to the dreaded C word!So we arrive at the hotel and go straight to the very beautiful Romanov room. I had organised flowers myself to be on the tables so I was very surprised to see that nothing was on the tables other than a cup and saucer, not even plates or cutlery. My guests arrived and were supposed to have been offered champagne as they entered the room (and have it topped up throughout the tea) half of them never received one glass. We sat down and firstly tea was brought to our four individual tables It wasn’t poured for us, instead left to sit and stew on the table until it became tepid. We were then brought individual plates of sandwiches, which looked absolutely awful. The bread was dried out on most of them and there was no decoration or any garnish on the plates. We thought that because of COVID we were given these individual plates though the scones and cakes arrived on cake stands at the same time so this was really strange - never did get an explanation. The worst part of the whole event is that three of my guests were given ham and chicken sandwiches, after all my instructions. I was horrified. The cakes that came on the stands were awful, three out of four were brown in colour and looked so unappealing that in fact after the tea I noticed and took photos of all the cakes untouched. We had specifically chosen other cakes which had been left off and when asking the staff we were told that we were wrong and the menu that had been especially printed for our event was wrong. They told us at 4.35 that the chef would make us some of the lemon puffs that they’d not given us but they’d take an hour to make and tea was over at 6. What a ridiculous suggestion Why did staff bring all the food at the same time like they were rushing us ? We waited for fresh tea but it took ages to arrive then my brother in law had to serve it. Apparently the staff weren’t allowed to pour tea, if we’d been told this at any time we would have cancelled our tea. The staff were just standing near us as if they were observing us, not helping to serve the elderly parents or guests. I was so mortified and embarrassed. I’d have made a much better tea at home We had brought in our own pianist to entertain and We asked 3 times for him to be offered tea or sandwiches, he wasn’t even given a glass of water! I was so stressed and upset about the function as it was a complete embarrassment to my new family. This was certainly not what I was expecting from a five star hotel.

I booked traditional afternoon tea for my partner as a birthday gift and was initially very excited. The drive through the grounds to the hotel was pretty and from the outside it looked beautiful and at that point I was rather happy with my decision to book afternoon tea here over other options.As we entered the hotel we waited around 5 minutes to be seated which was ok and were led to the lounge which i must admit was impressive we were sat at a little table by the window overlooking the courtyard which was pretty enough.The staff were very friendly and our waitress came and asked if we had any diatry requirements and I simply informed her that we do not eat pork, she took our order and the tea and food both arrived fairly quickly but unfortunately there were ham sandwiches so it meant that we could not eat some of the sandwiches provided as they had been touched by the ham.I did eat a chicken sandwich which was very small and had bones in, so we gave up on the sandwiches all together.The cakes were tasty , but pretty average.The scones were not very warm and again pretty average.The best part if it all was the tea, but as I had green tea I felt this was something I could have had at home for much cheaper.All in all a waste of money, very pretty surroundings, nice enough staff but the food is pretty average.

Champagne afternoon tea for two was a gift for my birthday. The surroundings are lovely and the staff were polite but service was slow and when the sandwiches and cakes arrived it seemed rather a meagre serving for forty pounds a head. As well as some very small sandwiches we received one mini chees tartlet each which were very tasty. I asked if we could have another tartlet each and the lady serving told me they were not allowed to give more tartlets but could restock the sandwiches - we received two very small extra sandwiches each.My friend and I do not eat meat so the lady said they would replace the meat sandwiches with alternatives. We received egg and salmon even though we had also requested cheese. It's the little details that are lacking - no clean plates for the cakes, no pastry forks, small cafetieres for the coffee rather than proper coffee pots. My friend and I felt that we had sufficient food even though it was rather unimaginative, but we questioned whether it would fill people with bigger appetites. Overall rather disappointing. If you charge a premium price then you should provide a premium experience and not be mean with the portions.

Sadly very disappointing. Our friend who had booked it felt so embarrassed even though it was not her fault. Was certainly not worth £35 pp. The non lactose sandwiches were an insult - grated carrot with a few sultanas! Sandwiches in fact, were very poor. Packet ham in some and obviously left in the fridge but very dry bread. Confusion initially over the booking. Booked a while ago but seated in the lounge which was not the best as there were 8 of us. Waiting staff were polite and courteous but there is clearly an issue with the overall quality of a supposed excellent tea??

Our daughter advised we book for her fathers 70th birthday lunch - she joined us and we had all made an effort to dress up of course - we were shown to a low table with very low armchairs - I then said we had booked lunch not afternoon tea ? The waiting staff looked amused and said that this is where they serve lunch. We decided none of us fancied eating a cooked lunch in such circumstances so ordered sandwiches ( bad idea ) also it was a heatwave last Tuesday and we were stifling and asked if they could open a window - the waitress failed at this and our daughter and hubby managed it after a bit of a struggle - We ordered 2 mocktails for my husband and I ( only two options of alcohol free sadly ) we would have liked an alcohol free bottle of wine but no option there - our daughter had a champagne cocktail. Thankfully we ordered two side dishes which were very tasty but the sandwiches were dreadful - my smoked salmon and cream cheese turned up as tinned mushed salmon - they offered soda bread but then said they had ran out of this ( 12.45 pm ) my husband and daughters ham mustard and rocket arrived without the mustard and rocket - a plain ham sandwich which our daughter remarked was what she would feed her children. Then we ordered coffee and that was mostly all wrong too - daughter asked for a flat white and I asked for black and all came with just hot milk !!! To top it all - we saw men walking around wearing vests and tee shirts and even someone in a fluorescent Nike tee shirt and shorts - honestly - all in all yes I know it was hot but there should surely be some kind of dress code in such a regal building. The staff were very sweet and did explain that the usual chef was at some outdoor function - however the whole experience was a total disaster and we felt sorry for our daughter mostly as she wanted to give her father a birthday treat !! They did offer to remove the service charge - we accepted of course !!

I booked afternoon tea with friends for my 60th Birthday as a special treat at what I thought was a 5* hotel but was very very disappointed with the whole experience of afternoon tea. We arrived and had to wait 5 maybe 10 minutes before we were seated to what I can only say we’re 2 armchairs a sofa and a coffee table. The waiter gave us menu’s and asked it we had any dietary requirements. I said that I could not eat cream as I am lactose intolerant! We ordered our tea/coffee which took some time to come but that was fine as we were catching up. A member of the kitchen staff then came out to see if I was vegetarian as I had said no cream, I said that I wasn’t but didn’t want cream. Afternoon tea arrived and there was no substitute for cream with the scones and no alternatives for others cakes which had cream in them. When booking we had asked for a glass of champagne which they did not have a clue about, but we did get the glass of champagne eventually. We didn’t get the cheese and pickle sandwiches and I am sorry to say that I would not recommend Luton Hoo for afternoon tea! The price we thought it was going to be was not the price we paid as they put a 12.5% service charge!

Went for afternoon tea, service was very slow, tea was cold asked for another pot of tea. Requested more sandwiches, waited over 20 minutes before went and complained. Sandwiches came out another 5 minutes later. Sandwiches were dry on the outside ones as obviously been made up and been sitting around before being brought out.

Went for afternoon tea with friends. Sandwiches uninspiring and tasteless. Poor selection of cakes, quite boring in fact. The scones were rock hard. Overpriced at £35 a head. Would not recommend . Have had far better for less in equally attractive surroundings.

Had afternoon tea here today with my two daughters. Left very disappointed - not worth the £35 each charged. I appreciate you're paying for the ambience and the grandness of this beautiful building but the price is extortionate for what you get, and the quality. Very uninspiring sandwiches (realised afterwards that we didn't get the cheese and chutney sandwiches, with no replacement), tasteless cakes and dry scones. Macaroons were replaced by tiny sponge cakes. Would certainly not go again. Photo shows what I paid £105 for!

We went for a baby shower. The place itself is really nice in good weather, especially the garden at the back. However the sandwich were very stale, ive just read other reviews saying the same, seems to be how they do things there - they prepare the sandwiches too early to avoid pressure, tasted at least 1 or 2 days old. Despite pre pared sandwiches, they still took 20 mins to serve us. They then forgot to bring milk for the English tea and forgot to bring sugar and spoons! Very surprised given they are necessary items for english tea! Wont go for tea again.

It was such a lovely birthday experience for afternoon tea at the Mansion.The ambience and the food was good! The only thing was the dress code of some of the customers which made it not such a posh environment. I think there should be a semi formal or formal dress code to attend to keep the standards high.Though it was the first day of sitting in open and was busy, the staff tried their best to make sure we were looked after. Will definitely visit again!Thank You

My daughter booked this as a treat after a tough year and because we hadn’t been able to meet up for a while. We were aware of the price and have enjoyed similar outings to hotels in London previously so were looking forward to it. Despite the grounds and the actual exterior of the main house being impressive, there is not a view of this from the Brasserie. The sandwiches were very meagre - the equivalent of two slices of (dry) bread each with very mundane fillings. The cakes were small and not particularly tasty. The service was friendly but not especially quick - we waited twenty minutes for a warm pot of tea. The scones were nice but there is no way to justify charging £40 each for this afternoon tea - I wish we had booked a Sunday roast for £18. We arrived home feeling hungry and totally ripped off.

Nice location, overpriced. Heaters was not on whilst we were sat outside in the cold, our afternoon tea for two

One of the best parts of “Afternoon Tea @ Home” was collecting it! Arriving at the delivery entrance, a quick phone calls allows you into the grounds – it is quite a long drive up to the house, but due to the lack of guests (or other activities in the grounds) there were masses of wildlife: mainly pheasants, but at one point a bird of prey swooped across the road just in front of me.A lot of venues (and people working from home) are selling afternoon tea packages, but it was Luton Hoo’s menu that grabbed our attention. The finger sandwiches were good, the scones were nice, but it was the cakes that I found excellent. Each of the four cakes had a unique appearance, taste and texture. Also provided was six tea bags (three English Breakfast and three Earl Gray) per person.Having afternoon tea at home was good and, whilst you can still dress up at home, one does miss the opulence of Luton Hoo’s lounges and the high level of service their staff provide. Hopefully, soon, we will once again be able to enjoy an afternoon tea in the surroundings that so well match this quintessential English indulgence.PS I would recommend a glass of bubbly to start the Afternoon Tea with; although, along with ambience, cake stand, crisp linen and napkins, you need to provide your own at the moment.

Arrived at booking desk stood there for 10 mins before anyone came, we were showed to our easy chairs and coffee table then we waited for 20 mins before anyone came to take our tea order, again we waited a further 20 mins before the tea arrived, again another wait before afternoon tea came. There were a lot of young girls wandering around taking little or no notice of their customers, wandering around being the objective. This is a charge of £80 for two and we should have experienced good service along with the lovely ambiance. This was a gift voucher given to us and l certainly would pay that myself it wasn’t worth it, didn’t even get offered a tea top up.

Two of us went for afternoon tea and were really disappointed. Arrived and our reservation couldn't be found, then it was, some standing around waiting for someone to seat us. We were put on a table for 4, set up for 4, on sofa's that were so beaten up we were nearly sat on the floor and a low table, totally unsuitable for eating anything, we were nearly doubled up to lean in and no way we could've conversed easily. Asked to be moved, eventually was. Order taken.Food arrived, no glass of champagne as ordered that didn't come at all until I asked twice,, tea arrived and was left in my place setting, helpful, so I had to move it all around. Sandwiches dry, been made ages and not even cut straight, white bread borderline stale. Cheese and pickle sandwiches??? Not expected at a high quality afternoon tea, Scones hard on the bottom and clearly microwaved, Jam and cream in cereal bowls with no spoons to serve it onto the scones, one knife provided, nobody to ask for clean plates, nobody to ask for anything! The poor girl looking after the whole room was also preparing the drinks at the bar. She was amazing but her bosses should be ashamed. Cakes obviously bought in, none were great, the raspberry one was awful, dry, collapsed when you cut it, strawberry one tasteless and too sweet.Then when I reached the bottom of the milk we saw it was tarnished and filthy from halfway down to the bottom, looked awful.And it was so busy so they can't say they don't have the money to do it properly at these prices. Really bad to be honest. They failed on service, quality and value for money. Such a shame as it could've been great the room is beautiful but who decided putting huge vases and plants to block the view of the garden on the sills was a good idea. Really clear that the management doesn't look at this place at all.And I agree with other posters the parking was unclear. I wouldn't return and it's put me off coming here for anything.We went to Cliveden for an afternoon tea in the summer, for the same money and it was fabulous, every single aspect, if you want a treat go there!!

Very expensive for dry sandwiches that had obviously been plated up too early. Cake selection was nice but in no way comparable to Sopwell House. Service was painfully slow. Very average and there are far better places to go for £40 a head.

What a lovely afternoon. In these troubled times how nice it was to spend a few hours away from the world. We felt very safe and were well looked after by Erica. This young lady was very polite (despite having to wear her mask at all time) nothing was too much trouble and is a credit to the team. The selection of teas suited the tastes of my wife and our friends and was plentiful and piping hot. The selection of sandwiches were lovely and fresh and the scones were the best I have ever tasted. The whole atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. We were not rushed or constantly being badgered by over attentive staff. We were able to take stroll the magnificent rooms and admire the decor following our tea and thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon. Will definitely come back again

I came to Luton Hoo for the first time today to enjoy an afternoon tea with friends. At £32 I was expecting a really lovely afternoon with good food. We were seated at a sofa and various random chairs with a small low table between us. The sandwiches were fresh. The salmon and chicken ones really tasty. The beef was really tough and not good at all. The cakes were quite underwhelming. I have a feeling that they are brought in rather than made on site. They just had that shop bought look about them.The servers were rather scarce and everything we ordered took ages to arrive and some things we had to ask for twice. Our table wasn’t cleared at any time and looked an utter mess. When we asked for fresh cups, we literally got the cups and without saucers. There were no cake forks, just dinner forks to eat your cakes with.Nothing about this had a posh feel about it. I have had better afternoon teas in little cafes for much less money. This was a rip off. I would not recommend this at all.Overpriced and underdelivered!

This was a birthday gift from our granddaughter for my wife's 70th,no we feel very guilty that she spent this amount of money,£40 a head for ,poor food,poor service and tired decor,the people at the next tables scone fell of ,what was a defective stand on to to the floor,fortunately no damage,they asked for them to be replaced,they were met with comments like ,we don't usually and I will see what I can do,no apology.this is an afternoon tea you could get anywhere for £15.complete rip off

My mum and I went for her birthday last week and had the loveliest time! The hotel is beautiful and the tea/sandwiches/cake/scones are amazing. The girl serving us was really lovely (I think her name was Parise?) and when she noticed it was mum's birthday she got her a little birthday cake with a candle and a cookie, which was adorable. We had a great time and I'd definitely recommend

Booked it before seeing the previous reviews so was a little concerned... my lady and I had a great experience! The food was fabulous- the staff were great and very attentive. Far too much delicious food to eat in one go so they gave us a cake box to take the surplus home. All in all we loved it and will definitely go again.

Let’s start with the Positive...There is a real reason why Luton Hoo is worth a visit...Beautiful grounds and mansion but as far as service and food/ tea very poor as all the silverware needs replacing badly it’s worn to bits, the quality of the sandwiches and cakes to be kind was Dull at best and service was lack lustered at least all of the poor points could easily be refreshed with a cash injection and fresh rethink...

I was given a voucher by friends. When I initially booked to visit in May it took 3 emails for them to get my booking right - they got my name and the number of people wrong. When May came I hadn't heard anything from then so had to phone to check whether it would go ahead.I phoned to rebook for September and had to give a credit card despite having a voucher. When we arrived we didn't see signs for the car park and were told by the doorman at the front door that parking for afternoon was round the back - got the impression that we weren't important enough to park at the front.Inside the Covid measures were poor, no one was wearing marks and during our tea members of staff repeatedly stood close behind me to access a cabinet.It took 20 minutes for them to give us menus then at least another 20minutes for them to bring us any food or drink. It took even longer for then to bring our Champagne. We had to ask for more tea and put up with the staff changing the table settings around us. I felt in the way rather than welcome.The setting was nice but the food average.I would recommend The Grove in Watford if you want a good afternoon tea with excellent service.

Disappointing afternoon tea. Good selection of teas and freshly baked scones but the sandwiches were average and the cakes tasted like those bought from a mass caterer. I was concerned that none of the waiting staff were wearing masks. It did not feel safe.

Not the best lunch - sandwiches were on thick bread and the presentation left a lot to be desired - in saying that after contacting the customer service team I believe that things will be out right and I was satisfied with the outcome . I went the following week for morning coffee and could not falut it

It took 20 minutes for our order to be taken and it was very difficult to get anyone's attention after that although the food initially came fairly quickly. When we eventually were able to order more cream they then took it to the wrong table. It was only when we chased them they realised their mistake and retrieved it, they brought it straight over to us. Not great in the current state of COVID19. There was very little social distancing by staff in the restaurant. The food was ok but not worth the money paid. Most of the tables were low and based around settees rather than chairs, so perhaps not suitable for everyone. We were certainly happier we were at a normal table. The service by the restaurant staff was poor and not what you expect from this type of establishment. However, the concierge was excellent even offering to drive us to our car as we left in a thunderstorm.

The wife and I thought we treat ourselves to an afternoon delight in a beautiful stately home...the place is beautiful but I would never go back there:The service was poor, the quantity offered was very disappointing, a few cakes & scones with minute sandwiches...we were told that everything was replenishible at the time of booking, but only the sandwiches were which you had to wait a while and than to be told they didn't have enough, though lots of other people were still eating.For the money we paid I would rather go to a London Hotel were you would get more and a better service.Even after walking in their lovely gardens we had wait to almost 30 minutes before getting our drinks after our order had been taken.After we complained we were fobed off with a box of small cakes, which they could have given us in the first place...Anyway nice place but never again.Please see the photo which is worth £88...tell if you think that's worth it !!!

This place is unreal tops anywhere else in the area, food and service is unbeatable. The scenario is amazing, well worth the money and highly recommended!

We used a Christmas gift voucher for afternoon tea in the Manor House at a Luton Hoo and it was excellent. On arrival the Covid precautions were apparent with sanitizer dispenser at the entrance and a one way layout worth social distances markers. Our welcome check in and escort to our table in the Italian room followed by offers of pre tea drinks. The selection menu and tea selection was extensive and the quality was very good, we were also offered refills of tea and more sandwiches/ cakes. The surrounding are first class as you would expect from a 5 star venue. All in all a great afternoon

Lovely location but the visit was spoilt by the dreadful service and mediocre food. We probably waited at least half an hour for our order to be taken. It did not seem very busy for a midweek at 4pm. It then took another 30 minutes before we got the tea or any food. The scones were good but the sandwiches and cakes were poor. Asking for more tea caused another long wait. The staff did not seem to know what they were doing and were not really bothered about the customers. They forgot to add the government meal £10 discount to the bill until we asked. I would not go back. £30 for tea was was ok for this type of location but certainly not for the quality of the tea or service

Disappointed. 30 minutes to take order, a further 30 to get food. No service. Staff were simply gophers. Food ok. Teapot too hot to handle , no cutlery with jam or cream, no tongs. Setting and room beautiful.

Cannot fault the afternoon tea at all. Staff were very attentive and the quality of the food was excellent. Purchased as a treat for my family and it did not disappoint.

Good afternoon.I am emailing in regards to an afternoon tea we attended on Saturday 22nd February at 3pm.I would like to be sending good feedback but unfortunately I am emailing to complain about the food and the service that was received.The booking was under the name of Natalie Batchelor-Roles. This was booked for a hen party, for our sister Chloe.We had a private room. Firstly the vegan selection had no vegan clotted cream, this can be made or sourced, however this wasn't and for the price of the afternoon tea I would of expected this to have been available.Secondly the drink selection of tea and coffee is lovely, however we had to ask for refills, it wasn't brought to us frequently, and a couple of times the server spilt the tea when serving it to me and my sister, he spilt on the saucer and on our coats which wherr hanging on the back of the chair. When I asked for a squash as my daughter did not drink tea or coffee, I was told if I wanted one for her it would cost me extra on top of the £40 we had already paid per person.With a booking of around £700 I would of expected a much better service than we received.Thirdly the child in our party, the niece of the bride was addressed as 'the kid' when she was been given her afternoon tea plate, this is totally unacceptable wording for where we was.And very unprofessional of the server.Then we come to the actual afternoon tea that we received.Having been to many other afternoon tea venue's, including small establishments. Their afternoon tea cakes and sandwiches were of much better quality and more availableThe food we had at your afternoon tea, had some nice food, but not to a 5 star rating, the sandwiches fell apart, the cakes where dry with little flavour in some of them.The scones, had no butter offered with them, and they where quite dry in taste.Overall I was very disappointed with this experience that we had, I did not want to upset the bride to be with this and this is why I am messaging now rather than being it up on the Saturday.But I was not happy with how the afternoon tea was.Can you please forward to the relevant department.This was my email to them with a very poor reply from them

I went for a birthday afternoon tea and the setting itself is lovely and very pretty and the history of the place. When we arrived didn’t know where to go once we got inside and was pointed where to go. There was a staff member standing at her board asking could she help and I explained we were here for afternoon tea for a birthday and gave her all the details and three different names it could be under for her to have no idea whose it was and there was going to be about 30 people there. Luckily a member of the family had come past as I was giving out different names and we followed her. The sandwiches looked nice but I couldn’t eat them as there was only one vegetarian option which I didn’t like no fault of anyone’s but mine! I think you can choose if you book afternoon tea what sandwiches you would like. There was plenty of juice and water at the table and a free refill of sandwiches. There were also cakes too and I had a scone jam and clotted cream. My husband and son had the sandwiches and said they were nice but the bread was a bit dry. I then went to the bar to put a drink on the organisers tab and that was also hardwork trying to explain and give the name etc. The girls who brought juice to the table were more than pleasant and helpful.

Recently came here for a colleagues 60th birthday for afternoon tea - group of 9 of us arrived at just after 14.30.It wasn't overly busy however it took quite a while for someone to take our tea orders - tea arrived about 5 minutes later and was serve to us, but the teapots were left on the side away from the table so we couldn't refill as needed. When the food came out, a selection of sandwiches were forgotten so these had to be requested and also a refill of drinks. The food was OK however nothing spectacular.We all had one alcoholic beverage and as it was a birthday treat, we covered the cost for our colleague which meant that the individual cost was £46.00 (would normally have been £32.00) and in all honesty, I don't think it was worth that amount. I've had better afternoon teas for significantly less with better quality of food and service.Luton Hoo is a star attraction in the area however it all felt a bit 'complacent' and sub standard - I wouldn't be recommending it to anyone in a hurry as I think there are other places around (Sopwell House, the Grove) that would give better quality and value for money. I've had afternoon tea here 3 times now and it seems to have got progressively worse each time.

Stunning surroundings and lovely food to go with it. The staff were friendly and attentive and the lounge is luxurious and spacious. We preferred being in the lounge rather than the conservatory area as that was a bit chilly. I will most certainly return in the summer to be able to walk in the grounds too.

Really enjoyed our tea and scone there, with Carla looking after us as we arrived, and tasty treats plus great tea. Nice place to just sit about and talk, and actually great value despite thinking it would be an expensive treat.

The hotel decoration is magnificent, from the ceiling to the table and chair set up, however the afternoon tea to my opinion is nothing special but ordinary. However to enjoy the atmosphere, the nature ground and decoration is worth for an experience.

This was a gift. What a stunning place inside and out. Impressive decor. A lovely comfortable lounge with relaxing chairs to sit back and unwind in as you enjoy the experience. Champagne was beautiful and the food lovely. A few things to note (but these didn't spoil my day)It wasn't greatly signposted on arrival so we were not sure where to park. We asked the doorman who directed us to further parking a 2 minute walk away. The rest room was manned yet the cubical I went in had no toilet roll and hadn't been flushed. We were not offered any additional items even though we were told this would be the case on arrival, however there was plenty, it's purely as I prefer savory items. Staff were attentive and professional. The lady who was our main server was lovely and more pesonable / friendly / welcoming than the others. Food was beautiful and there was no pressure put on us to leave by a certain time.I will deffinately return.

Family took mum for her 80th birthday celebration. Beautiful place lovely afternoon tea . Service was lovely they brought out a little cake with a candle and happy birthday written in chocolate sauce on the plate . The young lady that served us was very attentive and popped over regularly to make sure we looked after and tea was topped up . When we left the man on the door took mums arm and helped her down the stairs . Mum had a lovely day would highly recommend

Luton Hoo is a spectular place with enjoyable views. However, the service and afternoon tea was shabby. The sandwiches and cakes were substandard and not worthy of the price charged. If i negate the taste of the sandwiches it was disappointing to see that they could not even make the effort to cut them straight. We received the gluten free scones half way through the experience, and had to ask for numerous missing items. Was really looking forward to it but was very disappointed. Thanks

Our afternoon tea at Luton Hoo was a fabulous experience.Treated like Royalty in majestic surroundings, Luton Hoo is a rare find.The Concierge in the car park gave us a real royal welcome and set the scene for a perfect afternoon. The Mansion itself is magnificent and is well worth the time to wander around and admire the beautiful chapel and the sweeping staircase.Seating in the spacious lounge was very comfortable and the attention to every detail by every member of staff was amazing.We were served the freshest of sandwiches, which had the most delicious of fillings and scones that were totally amazing. The endless coffee and tea was enjoyed by all.We loved the occasion, the surroundings were wonderfully luxurious and our Afternoon Tea was scrumptious Everything about our visit to Luton Hoo was just brilliant. We will certainly be back.

Like the restaurant. First class. Staff very good and very friendly. We were looked after very well. Afternoon tea was really nice. Well prepared and presented.

Recently came here with family for afternoon tea and it was a great experience. There's many options on the menu, including vegetarian for those who are, and we were allowed to step outside to see the grounds too. The service was excellent and staff were very friendly and attentive. I would highly recommend.

Excellent treat / service food the ambiance it really doesn’t get much better fantastic will be returning

Afternoon tea with two old friends. OMG! It was our second visit and unbelievably it was better than the first. The sandwiches were phenomenal as were the second plateful that they bought us. Then the Scones, pastries and cakes. Everything was perfect in this absolutely beautiful and genteel venue. Just one more point: none of this would have been anywhere near as special without the perfect staff, I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere that had better staff. Thank you all. Thinking about next year’s Christmas dinner now.

Forgot just how beautiful the hotel is . Just had a cream tea service is impeccable food just delicious . Setting magnificent and comfy what more can I say . Even pet friendly in certain areas