Sally and Suzie take high tea at the Radisson Edwardian


What do you expect from the indulgence of high tea? Good company? A genteel and relaxed ambience? Fresh sandwiches and an array of belt-bustlingly delicious cakes and scones? Well, we are happy to report that all were in plentiful supply when we checked into the five-star Radisson Edwardian.

Our location for tea was the glass-fronted Opus One at the front of the hotel, formerly Manchester's Free Trade Hall. Before Radisson Edwardian opened its elegant doors, the Hall was a place of real diversity. It was the first home of Charles Hallé's orchestra, the theatre that held performances by Dylan, Bowie and Led Zeppelin, the place where Disraeli, Gladstone and Churchill dealt political dialogues, where Shackleton and Scott recounted epic explorations, and where Dickens fell in love.

As we look out onto the Friday afternoon traffic, the view isn’t inspiring. However, the decor more than makes up for it. Radisson Edwardian has created a contemporary space in the cloister, giving a slightly monastic feel to their take on afternoon tea, which contrasts with the warm opulence of the adjacent restaurant and bar. You will not find Miss Marple here; this is not Bertram's – it's high tea Manchester style: chic, modern and urban. We loved it!

The food was all 'hotel-made' and of high quality – the cheese a flavoursome Oakwood Cheddar, the ham thickly cut from a real pig, and the salmon and chicken choices fresh and light. When one of us highlighted a fish allergy, a replacement chicken wrap with no trace of anchovy dressing appeared almost immediately. The cake selection was as you would hope: a million calories a go, and the scones were served warm with a big dollop of clotted cream – delicious! The modern twist of a glass of champagne served with high tea sealed the feeling of pure decadence!

Where the Radisson Edwardian falls down is its location; this is not the most convenient spot for post-shopping tiffin, nor do you have the canalside appeal of the Lowry, or the envious view of Cloud 23. However, the Radisson Edwardian is better priced and more than gained the advantage with its exceptional service. Attentive and polite, the staff made us feel really welcome and nothing was too much trouble. When the time came to leave, our cakes were packed in a box for us to take away; this was another nice touch – we defy anyone to actually eat all the food on offer in one sitting.

This is perhaps not the best place to bring your gran, but it is the perfect place to bring your trendy mum or a crowd of girlfriends.

We highly recommend a visit.