Tea in London at Sketch!

What is More Perfect Than English Tea?

I am not really a tea drinker. For me I'd rather go with a good cup of java with some cream. 

But when in London you are gonna be invited to share a "cuppa". 

And, of course, the only correct answer to an offered cup of tea is an emphatic "that sounds great!"

So when my daughter suggested one of London's current hipster hangouts for taking afternoon "Tea" I sort of winced a little bit. The image of afternoon Tea for me is drinking from little cups with pinkies extended. 

But of course taking a proper English "Tea" is much more than that, it is a complete event with sweet and savory finger foods. So I figured heck lets do it.  

The locale Ms. M identified was called Sketch. I visited it's website and found it both crazy and captivating. 

She secured a reservation.

Soon after our chef friend texted saying that she'd gotten strong recommendations from family / friends to visit a restaurant in London named Sketch. Her friends also advised that a reservation made well in advance was a necessity.

Thanks to Ms. M we already had that reservation.  

It turns out Sketch is a collection of eating environments all with artistic themes. However, being a Sunday, only some of the venues were open. Tea was served in "The Gallery".

Sketch, like all "cool for the minute" places, is pricey. Tea with champagne is priced at about $110/person (although I suspect that is modest in comparison to other Sketch offerings). So enjoying Tea was a good middle ground to experience Sketch. 

 

The Full Sketch

The ground floor has a main reception and The Parlor (which actually fronts the street). Down a half flight is a second reception station for The Glade, the East Bar, and The Gallery. Up a half flight is the Lecture Room & Library. The East Bar location is accessed through The Gallery. All, the East Bar is crowned by the "Pods" (more on The Pods later).

 

 Reception Station for The Gallery, The East Bar, and The Glade

 

To the Left is The Glade 

(with its gorgeous bar)

 

 

To the Right is the Elegant "Gallery" 

Settling in for Tea

 

First Course: Caviar with Mornay  

 

I happen to be a caviar fan and this combination was just a perfect way to set taste buds on fire. We also made our initial choices for tea. For my first tea I chose Jasmine as I love how it is so beautifully aromatic. 

 

Next came The Tower.  Top rows were sweet courses. The table level tray held the savory items: Truffle Brioche. Salmon and Ricotta Sandwich, Cucumber Sandwich, Coronation Chicken (my favorite) Sandwich, and Egg Gougère. 

The sweet courses included: Pear and Ginger Cheesecake, Pineapple Marshmallows, Lemon Battenberg, Chocolate Yuzu Strawberry Entremets, Rhubarb & Strawberry Choux, and Jasmine & Raspberry Macarons. 

 

Final course (of course), was scones with Raspberry or Fig Preserves followed by desert course of  Blood Orange Sponge Cake.

The Tea Tower

 

Now lets discuss the East Bar. The East Bar is a cozy space capped by a white domed igloo. Above the domed is a sci-fi forest filled shiny white pods that feel like something directly out of an alien encounter movie. 

 

The pods are accessed by two circular stairways circling up and around the white dome. The pod space is actually Sketch's gender-free restroom. It is filled with a forest of pods and classic porcelain pedestal hand wash sinks. Each pod is a private individual toilet stall that feels like an elegant porta potty. 

Needless to say no one that comes for food or beverage at Sketch resists the chance to visit the Pods. Some (like me) also sneak some photos. Admittedly, my first time taking photos inside a public loo.     

The "Pods"

The Dome Over the East Bar

 

As we left I snapped photos of the stairway from the ground floor up to the Library with its stylized portrait of her majesty at the top. The stairs are coated with series of paint spills running from stair to stair. I suspect buckets of paint were very carefully spilled to create this staircase.

Stairs to The Library

So there is my summary of our visit to Sketch for English Tea. Who knows what will be hot next time I arrive in London, but for now, Tea at Sketch was a truly delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Next Up - Whats on at The V&A!

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