Sun 12th May 2024 - 1.30pm

Esteemed ladies and gentlemen of the Ton: you are cordially invited for a Sunday afternoon of refined indulgence on May 12 in the Georgian Music Room at The Assembly House.

Chef de Cuisine Mr Mark Mitson has created a special afternoon tea menu steeped in tradition which pays homage to the exquisite tastes of the Georgian Regency era which you can enjoy in a room which has hosted gatherings such as this for centuries.

Fresh from their sold-out performances for the Candlelight Concert series at The Assembly House, string quartet Kavolini will also be playing Bridgerton-style serenades at Norwich’s most famous Georgian townhouse: Bach meets Beyoncé, if you will.

Your afternoon will begin at 1.30pm where you will arrive for a glass of bubbles and a small and delicate iced cream (quite the pinnacle of the culinary arts! The height of frozen ambrosia!) before being seated on a communal table for up to eight guests ahead of a performance from Kavolini from 2pm to 2.30pm.

Afternoon tea will be served from 2.30pm to 3.15pm. Enjoy Queen Charlotte’s Iced York Biscuits, a Petite Bakewell Tart, Battenburg Gateau Opera, Midsummer Strawberry Party Trifle and Pineapple Upside Down Cake alongside scones, savouries and sandwiches. We will also include Jane Austen’s favourite snack: a small toasted cheese sandwich.

The musicians will continue to entertain throughout the afternoon for your delight until 4.15pm.

PS Please DO NOT tell Lady Whistledown. Though her presence might lend an air of intrigue to our affair, we cannot disregard the disreputable nature of her scandal sheet. Our polite society cannot afford to be tarnished by the salacious tales spun by her quill.

Programme:

1.30/1.45pm arrival: Glass of fizz, mini ice cream cone

2pm to 2.30pm: Kavolini performance

2.30pm to 3.15pm: Afternoon tea is served

20-minute interval while tea is served

Performance during tea and after tea (to include a short break while tables are cleared)

Performance to end at 4.15pm

4.15pm: Carriages

Menu:

On arrival, a glass of bubbles: An iced cream; quite the pinnacle of the culinary arts, a frozen delight, a regal alchemy of ice and cream combined to create: ice cream! The height of frozen ambrosia and the crowning jewel of any exquisite repast.

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Queen Charlotte’s Iced York Biscuits –a lemon shortbread biscuit topped with orange buttercream

A Petite Bakewell Tart – a shortcrust pastry case with layers of jam, frangipane, almonds and icing

Battenburg Gateau Opera: A Battenburg layer cake filled with apricot jam and filled and topped with marzipan flavoured icing

Midsummer Strawberry Party Trifle – layers of sponge, Champagne-syrup laced cream, strawberries and custard

Pineapple Upside Down Cake – The Hermès Birkin or Lamborghini of the age, the pineapple was a status symbol imported from Barbados, or grown at great expense in special hothouses. They were often rented to aspirational hostesses to decorate their dinner tables!

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Fruit scone, butter, strawberry preserve, clotted cream

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Dainty Finger Sandwiches of;

Local ham and mild grain mustard

Egg and cress

Smoked salmon and cream cheese

Cream cheese and cucumber

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Savouries of;

Sausage roll

Three cheese toastie of mature Cheddar, Red Leicester and mozzarella, tomato pickle

Coronation chicken bridge roll, mango chutney, coconut

Cheese, Colman’s Mustard and chive scone; an uncommon luxury, behold the savoury scone, a triumph of culinary ingenuity, a scone which incorporates cheese, Colman’s Mustard and chive, new to the Norwich dining scene. Served with butter and topped with apple and ale chutney

Guests will be sat on communal tables of 8

Tickets cost £60pp, avoid the EventBrite fee by calling 01603 626402