Thornton Hall is up for the title of Afternoon Tea of the Year 2018

Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa is joining the battle of the bakers in a bid to be crowned the UK’s top afternoon tea destination.

The hotel is one of 16 finalists in the prestigious Afternoon Tear of the Year 2018 competition – and one of only two based outside London.

It is competing against some of the capital’s most high-profile venues including The Goring, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and the Jumeirah Carlton Tower to take the title at the grand final on June 20.

The award-winning Lawns Restaurant at Thornton Hall serves a sumptuous afternoon spread which includes a choice of more than 20 varieties of loose leaf tea, and unusual jams and curds sourced locally from Pant Glas Bach Preserves.

Finger sandwiches with seasonal fillings and served on wholemeal and white bread are accompanied by homemade cakes and fancies, and freshly baked scones.

It also offers a savoury tea which includes venison sliders, wild mushroom fleuron and cheese scones with Abernethy butter and chilli jam.

A team from the hotel will travel to London on June 20 to recreate Thornton Hall’s afternoon tea at the Westminster Boating Centre on the banks of the River Thames.

They will serve two guests while being watched by a team of five judges who will mark them on presentation, service, taste and overall experience.

There will be awards for Best Tasting, Best Presentation, and the overall Afternoon Tea of the Year award which has a £1,000 top prize.

Hotel general manager Geoff Dale said: “We are very proud of our afternoon tea experience at Thornton Hall, and we are looking forward to recreating this for judges at the grand final in London.

“We are up against stiff competition, but with our quality, locally-sourced ingredients, beautiful home-baked cakes and scones, unusual fillings and attention to detail, I am confident we can bring this national award back to the North West.”

For more information about Thornton Hall head to their website here and let us know what your favourite Merseyside Afternoon Tea is on Twitter and Facebook.