One of the activities I’ve most been looking forward to with Oscar is afternoon tea. At just turned three he is happy to sit in restaurants for longer periods of time (albeit with the help of a drawing board or sticker book) and going out with him and his cousins is really fun! The Jurassic Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel is the perfect afternoon tea for both adults and children like – especially for fans of the movie!
Having visited the Ampersand before for the Science Tea, I already knew we were in for a treat! The Jurassic Tea is served at Apero, located on the below ground floor of the Ampersand. 
The boy absolutely loved being in a VIP booth behind a curtain, it made the whole experience even more private and special.
The kids tea comes with a hot chocolate which the kids make themselves by adding a chocolate dinosaur to milk and then decorating with chocolate balls and marshmallows. The great thing about this tea is all the interactive elements like this that make it even more fun for kids. The adults tea comes with Charles Heidsieck Brut NV or Rosé Champagne or alternative alcoholic or non-alcoholic ‘Teapot tails’ which are really fun!
The first Teapot tail is a Dino Sour with Portobello Gin, white wine syrup, lemon juice, fair passion fruit liquor, pineapple juice and angostura OR Lyre’s (non-alcoholic) gin, lemon, passionfruit purée and pineapple juice served in a dino egg. There’s a kid’s punch version too – the kids loved the dino egg cups and Charlie immediately wanted them for his next birthday party. He’s a huge Jurassic Park fan and loved the latest Jurassic world film that inspired the tea.
The children’s tea is served on this amazing Tyrannosaurus Rex platter whilst the adults tea is on a more elegant traditional tea platter but keeping it fun with dino imprints.
Both of the teas kick off with a fantastic volcano eruption as dry ice smokes from one of the confections!
The savoury selection on the kids tea is very child-friendly and includes mini hot dogs, a dinosaur jam sandwich and a T-Rex foot cheese straw which Oscar loved. 
Adults can enjoy smoked salmon and cream cheese blinis, brioche with roast beef, watercress and cornichons, basil and lemon chicken and mayo bun along with a seasonal quiche.
Scones are homemade white chocolate and cranberry and plain served with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve. Again there is the opportunity to get creative with the passion fruit curd in a squeezy tube along with toppings of freeze dried raspberry, freeze dried pineapple and crunchy caramel.
The cakes are just wonderful, for the kids there’s elderflower and mixed berry jelly, raspberry and lemon crémeux volcano erupt and a dark chocolate and caramel dinosaur egg nest and chocolate dinosaur. Grown ups have similar selection with also receiving the volcano eruption and dinosaur egg and an additional mixed berries T-Rex footprint macaron and white chocolate and blackcurrant Jurassic mountain mousse. All were amazing but my one comment would be that this is a real chocolate lovers feast so be prepared for that!
The next Tea Tail is T-Rex Mex, a hibiscus infused tequila, red wine syrup, pineapple juice, lemon juice & basil or for the non-alcoholic version there’s Lyre’s (non-alcoholic) tequila, rose syrup, pineapple juice, lemon juice and basil. Served with a little steaming teapot!
Another really fun thing about the tea is that children are given a wooden box of chocolate ‘soil’ and a brush to excavate it, inside a mini dinosaur biscuit and milk chocolate fossil is hidden for kids to find.
The final cocktail is Raptor Brew. I loved the bright green colour of the drink and the raptor stencil on top. It’s made up of Havana Club 3yr, St. Gremaine liqueur, lime, apple juice, sugar, egg white, double cream, matcha powder & mint or Lyre’s (non-alcoholic) elderflower cordial, lime, apple juice, egg white, double cream, matcha powder, mint.
We all loved the Jurassic Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel and I can definitely say it’s one of the best kids teas I’ve been to due to the interactive elements. I highly recommend going … and so do Charlie, Jackson and Oscar!!
£59.50 with a glass of Wild Idol (non-alcoholic) sparkling rosé or (non alcoholic) Tea Pot Tails.
£64.50 with a glass of Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut or Tea Pot Tails
£69.50 with a glass of Charles Heidsieck Champagne rosé
£35.00 per child
