Best Afternoon Tea in Brighton

Afternoon Tea in Brighton

Brighton has more afternoon tea options than a city known for late nights and beach bars has any right to. The Grand has been pouring tea since the 1860s. The Royal Pavilion hosted tea parties for George IV’s guests. The tradition has deeper roots here than most visitors realise, and the modern version runs wider than the standard hotel three-tier.

You can spend £40 at a Victorian seafront hotel or a third of that at an indie tea room where the scones are just as good. There’s a vegetarian version at one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants that replaces cucumber sandwiches with Szechuan halloumi buns. A cocktail bar in the Lanes does the whole thing with katsu sandos and miso brownies. The range is the point.

Insider tip: Afternoon tea is a booking, not a walk-in. Almost everywhere on this list serves it in a fixed window rather than all day, most want 24 to 48 hours’ notice, and the vegan and gluten-free versions usually need longer than that. Ring before you plan the afternoon around it.

The Grand Hotels

The Grand Brighton

The Grand Brighton has won Best Afternoon Tea at the BRAVOs three years running. The Victoria Lounge is the room you want. Victorian ceilings, sea views through tall windows, a cake trolley that does laps of the room. Three tiers of finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream, pastries, and a slice from the trolley. Over 30 tea blends. £40 per person, with dedicated vegan and gluten-free menus at the same price. A lighter Victoria Terrace Tea runs £20 if you want the setting without the full spread. The building has been a Brighton landmark since 1864. The afternoon tea lives up to the postcode. Served daily, noon to 4pm.

Hotel du Vin

Hotel du Vin on Ship Street in the Lanes includes Champagne in the base price rather than as an upgrade, which is unusual. You get finger sandwiches, warm scones, sweet pastries and a glass of Champagne for £29.95 a head. The tea selection comes from Bird & Blend, a Brighton-based speciality blender. The room has dark wood, low lighting, and the unhurried pace of a hotel that knows you’re not in a rush. The catch: it’s weekends only. Friday to Sunday, noon to 3pm (Sunday until 4pm). Gluten-free and vegan menus available. For a date, the included Champagne makes this better value than it first appears.

The Lanes

Terre a Terre

Terre a Terre has been one of the UK’s most celebrated vegetarian restaurants since 1993. Their afternoon tea throws out the standard format. Forget cucumber sandwiches. The savoury tier might include steamed rice buns with Szechuan marinated halloumi and kimchi cabbage, or porcini and salsify bean pudding. The sweet tier follows with orange almond polenta cake and chocolate hazelnut truffles. £29 per person including tea or coffee. Fully vegan afternoon tea available. The menu changes seasonally. This is the one for anyone bored by traditional afternoon tea, and it’s the strongest option for plant-based diets in the city. Wednesday to Friday noon to 2:45pm, Saturday and Sunday 3pm to 4:45pm.

Blossoms

Blossoms is a cocktail bar in the Lanes that launched a Japanese-inspired afternoon tea in early 2025. Crispy chicken katsu sandos, duck gyozas, and avocado maki on the savoury tier. Chocolate mochi balls, miso brownies, and strawberry dorayaki on the sweet. £25 per person. It’s loud, colourful, and designed to photograph well. Not a quiet experience. The cocktail list is the real backbone of the place, so consider the Champagne upgrade. Minimum two guests. Best for a girls’ weekend rather than a quiet Tuesday with your nan.

That Little Tea Shop

That Little Tea Shop in the Lanes on Meeting House Lane is the budget pick. Their cream tea starts at £12.90, the royal cream tea is £18.90, and the full afternoon tea is £25.90. Sandwiches on a stand, warm scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, cake. Loose-leaf teas: Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Assam, Lapsang Souchong. The room is small and stuffed with vintage knick-knacks, like sitting in someone’s front parlour. Gluten-free and vegan scones available with 48 hours’ notice. The scones are the standout. Walk-ins work, though booking helps since the space is tight. Open 11am to 5pm on weekdays and Sunday, and 10.30am to 6pm on Saturday.

Kemptown

Leman Tea Room

Leman Tea Room on Madeira Place in Kemptown seats six people. That’s the entire tea room. You book or you don’t get in. The owner makes everything fresh. Scones (plain or raisin) that locals call the best in Brighton. A sandwich, a scone with clotted cream and jam, and a homemade cake for £25.90 per person. Gluten-free and vegan versions with notice. The decor is described as “fairy tale” and the service is personal in a way that bigger venues can’t match. The consistency keeps people coming back. Private events for up to 12 guests. Open daily noon to 6pm. Book by email or phone.

Hooked Cafe-Bar

Hooked Cafe-Bar on Upper St James’s Street in Kemptown has a 1930s Parisian art deco feel. Afternoon tea runs Thursday to Sunday. Vintage finds on the shelves, locally roasted coffee, and a cocktail bar that opens Friday and Saturday evenings. The afternoon tea is more relaxed than the hotel options, priced around £22-26 per person. The setting is the draw. Art deco interiors are rare in Brighton, and Hooked makes the most of theirs. Check their social media for current availability.

Worth the Drive

Wingrove House

Wingrove House in Alfriston is about thirty minutes from Brighton by car. A 19th-century country house on the High Street of one of the prettiest villages on the South Downs. Afternoon tea at around £25 per person with sandwiches, homemade scones, and cakes. The scones get the same kind of praise that the Leman Tea Room’s do. Champagne upgrade available using Rathfinny Estate sparkling wine, made just a few miles away. The walled garden terrace opens in spring and summer. They have rooms if you want to stay. Combine it with a walk along the Cuckmere Haven or through the village. Book ahead.

Practical Tips

Booking

The Grand, Hotel du Vin, Terre a Terre, and Leman Tea Room all need booking. The Leman seats six people. Don’t chance it. That Little Tea Shop and Hooked take walk-ins but booking helps at weekends.

Dietary Needs

Terre a Terre is the strongest for vegetarian and vegan. The Grand has dedicated vegan and GF menus at the same price (£40). Leman and That Little Tea Shop both do GF and vegan scones with advance notice. Always mention requirements when booking.

What to Expect on Price

The Grand is £40 territory. Hotel du Vin is £29.95 with Champagne included and Terre a Terre £29. Most independents run £22-26. That Little Tea Shop starts at £12.90 for a cream tea. Hotel du Vin includes Champagne in its base price, which makes the comparison closer than it looks.

Weekend vs Weekday

Hotel du Vin is weekends only (Fri-Sun). Hooked does Thursday to Sunday. The Grand serves daily. Weekday afternoons are quieter everywhere.

Gift Vouchers

The Grand, Hotel du Vin, and Wingrove House all sell afternoon tea gift vouchers through their websites. The Leman Tea Room also does them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best afternoon tea in Brighton?

The Grand Brighton has won Best Afternoon Tea at the BRAVOs three years running. For something more intimate, the Leman Tea Room in Kemptown seats six people and has a devoted local following.

How much does afternoon tea cost in Brighton?

The range runs roughly £13 to £40 per person. That Little Tea Shop in the Lanes starts at £12.90 for a cream tea. Most independents charge £22-29. The Grand is £40. Hotel du Vin is £29.95 with Champagne included.

Is there a vegan afternoon tea in Brighton?

Terre a Terre does a fully vegan afternoon tea (£29pp) with inventive dishes rather than standard sandwiches. The Grand Brighton has a dedicated vegan menu. The Leman Tea Room and That Little Tea Shop offer vegan scones with notice.

Do I need to book afternoon tea in Brighton?

At the hotels and Terre a Terre, yes. The Leman Tea Room seats six and books up fast. That Little Tea Shop and Hooked take walk-ins but booking is safer, especially on Saturdays.

Which Brighton afternoon teas are gluten-free?

The Grand Brighton has a dedicated GF afternoon tea at £40pp. The Leman Tea Room and That Little Tea Shop both do gluten-free versions with 48 hours’ notice, though neither is a dedicated gluten-free kitchen. Hotel du Vin and Terre a Terre both accommodate GF on request.

Is there afternoon tea near Brighton outside the city?

Wingrove House in Alfriston (~30 min drive) does afternoon tea at around £25pp in a country house setting on the South Downs. The garden terrace opens in spring and summer.