The Goring afternoon tea was a wonderfully civilised way to begin our New Year celebrations. This short Roberts London film captures a festive visit, with sandwiches, pastries, tea and a glass of rosé Champagne. First published on 6 January 2018, it looks back at a New Year’s Eve afternoon in London.

The film is a brief visual memory of the occasion. It moves from the hotel entrance and Christmas decorations to the table, before taking a closer look at the food. The photographs below come from that original visit.

Watch The Goring afternoon tea film

A festive welcome at The Goring

First comes the illuminated entrance, with the hotel’s name above the doors. Inside, the Christmas tree is still dressed for the season. A photograph beside it marks the start of the visit, before we settle down for tea.

The warm lighting, patterned furnishings and white tablecloth make the room feel suited to a celebration. It is an unhurried setting for the afternoon, with the festive decorations carrying the Christmas atmosphere through to New Year’s Eve.

Tea, strawberries and rosé Champagne

At the table, yellow-rimmed cups and plates bring colour to the white linen. Strawberries, little dishes of preserves and tall Champagne glasses fill out the scene. In the original account of the visit, I described choosing Bollinger Rosé Champagne alongside the tea.

Sandwiches, pastries and the tea stand

Next, the camera turns to the tiered stand. Finger sandwiches occupy the lower plate, while small pastries and cakes sit above. The close-ups are a chance to see the details that can pass quickly in a short montage.

The original description also records scones as part of the afternoon tea. This was a festive selection, enjoyed during the New Year celebrations, so the photographs preserve that particular spread. They show what we had on the visit, rather than a menu for another season.

An English tradition to start the celebrations

The film ends with a New Year greeting. It is a small record of a happy afternoon: good company, a dressed table and an indulgent start to the celebrations. The Goring afternoon tea gave this London visit its own sense of occasion.

For more from the same period, see January in London 2018, with a visit to Café in the Crypt, the Chandos pub and Lumiere London.