The Great Hall at Boringdon Hall in Plymouth

After looking forward to afternoon tea at this hotel I was extremely disappointed with the whole experience. Although in a beautiful setting the afternoon tea was disappointing, Luke warm tea, poor sandwich’s and no staff around. We spent half an hour waiting for staff to attend once we were seated then waited again for the tea etc. Not something I expected from this hotel. Staff service was extremely poor and the whole occasion lacked atmosphere. I would not recommend this experience for the price it cost.

My friend and I popped into Borringdon Hall, 6th Sept in the afternoon. Told the receptionist, we were very hungry and she directed us to the bar/eating area where we would be attended to. We were completely ignored in spite of several waiters trying to look busy behind the bar. Only two other people in that room waiting to be served and a few out in the garden area. Still ignored I walked to the bar and asked for a menu - I was given the drinks list!! Again waited. Got up found a lady in another area and eventually we received the food menu. Serviettes and cutlery arrived and eventually the order was taken for a vastly overpriced selection FROM the afternoon tea. Tea arrived in glass pot half full of tea leaves. Revolting and only enough water in it for one cup each. Far too strong, eventually replaced. Food arrived on such a small plate that I actually asked " where was mine". Two mini sandwiches each, one with a little bit of ham 8n, the other cucumber only, ultra mini quiche, mini thing in a wrap, and soggy pastry chicken thing. Total £26!!! Not to give up we waited and waited for a dessert. Half an hour later I went in search of help and a lady got us a waiter from the Bar area. They were all facing us, so we couldn't have been missed. So in spite of the cost of £9 each we ordered desserts. We waited and waited and waited, no desserts arrived but there was a clue - the napkins arrived. Half an hour later I locate the helpful lady in the blue dress and amazingly just a quarter of an hour later desserts arrive. My friends cheese cake was unrecognizable and looked like a trifle with still frozen berries on it. This whole performance took over two hours. The food was a ridiculous price, and certainly nothing special, at a total of £53 and the service was dreadful. I had to get up at least four times to ask to be served. The manager needs to take notice of this and give his staff some serious training as well as getting a grip on the quality of the food. I complained at the time, but not much notice was taken. We would not return and definitely do not reccomend Borringdon Hall, especially if you are hungry.

Great venue, great food but it’s a shame your tea arrives far to soon before your food arrives therefore its cold and you can’t drink anymore Had a voucher from a friend but it was all spoit when the waitress came back with a card machine asking for a service charge We always tip with good food and service and would have left something anyway, but we were asked to pay something before we had finished our food Not going back and will not recommend

We celebrated our Wedding Anniversary with an Festive Afternoon Tea. Well worth it, superb attention to detail to the patisserie, delicious all round. Atmosphere, including Xmas Decorations, was also superb. And of course, superb service from the staff. Cannot wait till next year Thank You.

Se suponía que esto era un regalo encantador para un cumpleaños, reservado con semanas de anticipación al día. Llegamos a las 3 y 10 de la tarde. Nos llevaron a nuestra mesa en la segunda habitación detrás de la barra. El ambiente era decepcionante, pero seguimos siendo optimistas ya que el lugar es encantador. Nos dieron un menú de té y nos fuimos. Nadie vino a tomar nuestro pedido de té hasta las 3:40. Luego tardaron otros 10 minutos en llegar las dos teteras de té. Le preguntamos a un camarero cuándo llegaría la comida y nos dijeron que lo comprobarían. No nos dijeron nada y nos dejaron esperando hasta las 4 pm, momento en el que decidimos irnos porque teníamos demasiada hambre para esperar más. El personal no parecía sorprendido de que nos fuéramos y no pudo ofrecer ninguna explicación sobre lo que estaba tomando la comida (té de la tarde, bollos, sándwiches, etc.) tanto tiempo para llegar. Esperábamos asistir a más eventos como la víspera de Año Nuevo, pero desafortunadamente no recomendaríamos el servicio en lo más mínimo. Muy, muy decepcionante para algo que había sido tan esperado.

This place is just amazing. The spa (Gaia), the restaurant (Acleaf), the castle and especially the employees will all give you an amazing experience.

The Great Hall is a wonderful place to relax with a drink We were welcomed with our two old labradors and we enjoyed the first class service, ambience and the range of drinks available. Recommended.

We had the choice of small bowls or main meals, the food was excellent, very tasty and beautifully presented, the dinning room is draped curtains around the tables which makes the restaurant very personal. We did not feel rushed and the service was very good

I would like to thank you so much for making my parents Golden wedding anniversary celebration tea so special on Wednesday March 20th. Your attention to detail was beautifully presented and my parents were delighted! I am very grateful to you and I hope to visit you soon myself. Best wishes to all the team. Rachel X

I have had afternoon tea on 3 separate occasions at Boringdon Hall (have had vouchers as presents) and on all the visits I have come away feeling that a great opportunity has been missed by the management here. As stated by previous reviewers, there are precious few places in Plymouth in get afternoon tea and this is the sort of location that you feel could put the others to shame but sadly this is not so. You have a choice of the regular or a themed afternoon tea (which changes monthly) and, as the regular menu had not changed one bit since my previous visit in November, one my visit this week I chose the themed one. They have a selection of teas to chose from and this was delivered to the table first. When the tea arrived it consisted of 2 finger sandwiches, one containing ham and one cucumber, 1 smoked salmon blini (the size of a 10p piece, a prawn vol au vent (just large enough to get 2 prawns in) and a miniature vegetable tart (served cold). There was one plain and one fruit scone (warmed) and a selection of 4 small fancy cakes (one of which was a decorated biscuit). At no point during the meal was more tea/sandwiches/cakes offered and, as the waiter was very often nowhere to be seen, you had to try and catch his attention if you wanted anything (I.e. spoons for the jam and cream!). Having eaten afternoon tea at many establishments, ranging from coffee shops to 5* London hotels, I can honestly say that at £30 a head the Boringdon tea was by far the poorest value for money and quality that I have come across and as this is one of the most grand hotels in Plymouth how sad that they couldn't have set out to be the one of the grandest afternoon teas in the area too.

Very Grand hall with lots of charm & a great bar. The bar man knows all about Gin In Tonic with zest of any fruit you like. If a member of staff lights the fire stand back as there's often a blowback that filled the hall with smoke & has the diners on the balcony coughing. Goes great with the smoked haddock.Had a great time.

We had lovely pre-dinner drinks, great location, great service. I would have given 5* but it was a little cold, but to be fair it’s a vast hall and the heat from the fire does tend to be lost into the vary high roof space. Perhaps a self-closer on the main hotel door might help. Its only a minor niggle wonderful space for pre-dinner drinks or a snack.

We spend a fair bit of time on the look out for decent afternoon teas, with an almost equal balance between an impressive or period setting and a delicate tasty and well presented assembly of the classic componants occasionally with a contemporary take. When we came to Boringdon Hall back in November partly to check the place out but also to experience the Spa and have a good supper on that raised balcony, we also tried the A/T. Just under £30 without the turbo extras. Not really very satisfying or value. Our experience was very much like that of the earlier trailblazing reviewer. A real let down and poor value. Frankly it is difficult to get a good afternoon tea in Plymouth, a lot though not this one are geared towards ladies of a certain age with time on their hands or underperforming vamps who need fizz and some carbs to soak it up. Maybe the Boringdon formula has improved since November. For us it was a let down but that's no reason at all to discourage others from testing it out. We didn't work up enough enthusiasm to take any touristy forensic pix of the food.

Took my husband to this restaurant for afternoon tea as a birthday treat. Disappointing food selections and service was pretty slow. We have two finger sandwiches each, two scones, ok they were quite big and 6 small fancies, one of which was a piece of xmas cake which was so dry it was awful. At £29.95 per person you would have expected something really special but it certainly wasn't. Then to add insult to injury a service charge was automatically added to the bill and I wasn't given the opportunity to remove it which was poor.