Park Lane Hotel’s inaugural afternoon tea dance

Posted on October 3, 2012

On Sunday, November 25, London’s Park Lane Hotel will welcome guests to its inaugural afternoon tea dance in its listed art deco ballroom (pictured). 

Accompanied by live music from five-piece ensemble Simply Swing, dancers will not only enjoy the elegant surroundings, they will also be treated to one of London’s finest afternoon teas. Carefully devised by the hotel’s award-winning pastry chef, Sarah Hartnett, the traditional afternoon tea includes an array of finger sandwiches, delicate French pastries and fresh British scones served with clotted cream and homemade preserves – and a varied selection of English, Oriental and herbal teas. 

Opened in 1927, Park Lane Hotel’s ballroom is arguably London’s finest example of art deco and has played host to top socialites and the aristocracy over the decades. At the dawning of World War II, Westminster decided it could be the substitute venue for the Commons should the Palace of Westminster be damaged. Throughout its 85 years, the ballroom has provided the backdrop for scenes in many famous films including The Poseidon Adventure, Brideshead Revisited and James Bond’s GoldenEye. 

The Park Lane Hotel afternoon tea dance will take place on Sunday, November 25 from 2pm to 5pm. Tickets to the tea dance cost £49 per person. To book, visit www.palmcourtlondon.co.uk or call the Palm Court lounge on 020 7290 7323/7328.

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.