Celtic Manor Resort

Fellow Foodies, it's been a while but here we are almost at March 2013 and I can hardly believe this is my first post of 2013.

The Celtic Manor Resort is located just off the M4 on the edge of Newport, South Wales. Approaching from the east it is an imposing sight on the top of a hill overlooking the motorway. This may not sound the most stunning of views but really this venue is all about arriving at the main entrance portico with views of one of its golf courses.

Valet parking is available should you wish to arrive in style or alternatively you can park in the underground facility which offers direct access the the hotels main reception.

We had intended to sample the delights of afternoon tea here for my wonderful mother in laws birthday back in December but for one reason or another it ended up being postponed until February.

At the outset allow me to say, the wait was worth it!

There are currently three options to choose from which are the Resort tea, Champagne tea and a childrens option. On this occasion we chose the Resort Tea.

Resort Afternoon Tea

On arrival your waiter/waitress will introduce you to the range of teas available.

These include camomile, blackcurrent and Earl Grey plus others. The option we selected was tea for two persons and at £36 was on a par with hotels of a similar status.

The sandwiches were delicate and very tasty however for someone like myself with a more savory pallet I felt it was quite heavy on the sweet side.

Served on simple but elegant white crockery the tea stand set off the food beautifully.

The selection of sandwiches was, in my opinion, topped by a wonderful prawn with marie rose sauce served in a brioche roll.

The smoked salmon was a delight and there was coronation chicken which was nothing like the yellow stuff you may be used to.

Savory Selection

While the tea and coffee was now flowing freely we moved on to the sweet selection. Dainty but like the beautiful Jilly perfectly formed they were a veritable taste sensation. Not being a particular lover of mango I was very pleasantly surprised by the mango cup, full of flavour while not being overpowering.

Sweet Selection

The lemon meraigne tartlet was light but for my liking slightly lacking in lemon flavour. This being said don't let it put you off.

For the younger members of the family a childrens option is available at £11.95 which proved ideal for our pair.

Childrens Tea

The service is excellent and at no time did we feel rushed or pressured. The experience was completed with freshly made scone with strawberry conserve and cream.

For those looking for a little extra the Champagne Tea comes in at an eye watering £65 for two. The addtions are a selection of canape's, stawberries and cream and a glass of fiz to finish. Make your own mind up on whether you think those additions are worth the additional cost.

I decided to ask each of those present to rate the experience and while I was leaning towards 4 T's the average came out at 3.5 T's.

To sum up the best part of £100 for tea for six may seem slightly on the high side but remember as well as the food you are paying for the experience and I would challenge you to try and get the same sort of value in somewhere like London.

Contact Details

The Celtic Manor Resort
Coldra Woods
The Usk Valley
Newport
South Wales
NP18 1HQ
UK
Tel: +44 (0)1633 413 000
Fax: +44 (0)1633 412 910
Call Toll Free - USA: 1-866-789-5779 | Canada: 1-877-354-2003
www.cletic-manor.com