Wonder what to do with your time and your babys monthery? I ended up booking afternoon tea with my daughter using wowcher, groupon, and bookatable. Here is my review on the baby friendlyness of the places we went too. On 2 occations the only baby was my daughter on the other two we had my almost 2 year old Godson as well, and if you know boys and terrible twos, you'll understand the test.
The Leonard Hotel
Booked on wowcher as a 2 for 1 deal. Went with my then just turned 2 month daughter and mother. The hotel is just off oxford circus and easy to get too. There is a small step to get in, but the door man is more then happy to help you.
This was our 1st afternoon tea, and we enjoyed it. It was quiet and cosy, the staff were great and helpful and even talked to us and cooed at Mia. The decor is old british which reminded me a little of christmas.
Food was good and we were even offered more tea.
Baby friendly.. yes and no. Yes the staff did make us feel like it was okay to have a baby (trust me some places really don't) The hotel doesn't have a baby changing facility but the staff were good enough to get some towels and put it on a table in the toilet for us.
Over all experience 8/10
Will recommend if your looking for something nice and quiet from the busy shopping.
The Hilton Park Lane - Podium
After the 1st tea for plus 0.5 being a nice experience. I thought to try out the lavish and well known Hilton Park Lane. The offer was on Groupon for a Chocoholic afternoon tea.
I was late to arrive but they seemed okay about it. The restaurant wasn't as lavish as I thought it would be, it kind of felt like a caffe in Knightsbridge rather then a 5 star hotel. Non the less, food and staff were again nice and the atmosphere was busy with people but no problems. As we couldn't finish the food (after all most of it was chocolate) they offered to pack it up in a nice box to take home.
Baby friendly.. Yes, there is a baby change up on one of the floors in the hotel, step free entrance, and no one gave us the "how can you bring a baby out" look that some do.
Over all experience 7/10 Food was great and the chocolate idea was yum, happy they offered to let us take it home. But its a 50/50 on bringing the little one. Mia was about 4 months at this stage.
The Waldorf Hilton
Mia was turning 6 months and we brought along my Godson Myles who was 1yr and 9months. This was probably the worse of the 4 afternoon teas.
The entrance had to be opened as the step free entrance was locked, and even worse was the flight of stairs to the restaurant, which okay they helped us carry the buggys up, but on the way down we had to find someone to help us.
The hotel decor in the restaurant was as expected from the Waldorf. Was airy with a harpist playing. There wasn't that many customers, so you would have thought customer service would have been better. Yes one of them was attentive, but just one of them, if you saw them. The atmosphere from other customers where as if you're not allowed to go out and eat because you have a child, as they looked at us with disdained frowns. From the last 2 experiences most of the customers would have been from the voucher deals as well, so I am to assume so were these women, who gave us looks as if to say afternoon tea had to be a quiet affair.
The food was good just like the other 2, but nothing stands out from this experience.
Baby friendly? I think it's safe to say no.
A. stairs and hardly any help.
B. atmosphere was as if we were not too welcome
C. no baby changing facilities.. and if there was, there was no staff to say otherwise.
D. on that note when we left there was no staff to say goodbye too or ask if we liked the food.. which we didn't finish. We actually just walked out (vouchers are paid for in advance, it's not like we didn't pay the bill)
Over all experience 3/10. Would not recommend it unless your stuck up and hate kids.
This time we were early. Mia was almost 7 months, and again I brought along my toddler tester Myles. One step entrance was no problem, yes the step free access was locked but the step was low and not a problem for buggys. The decor and space was great in the lobby for both adults and kids. Myles had fun running around the large space as we had fun taking pics on the different furniture. Reception seemed to have no problems with us enjoying ourselves, as we were early.
Food was different, and nice. The speciality teas and the different types of sandwiches were all nice and we actually finished the food. The theme had us snapping away at the food and decor and customers next to us were all too happy offering to take pics of us as well. Bare in mind it was a half term when we went and they too had their toddler with them. However when they left the next set of dinners were not as baby happy. But the venues atmosphere made it less noticeable and not so irritating to myself.
There is a service charge of 15% added to the bill which I really did not want to pay (of course I did but reluctently) The waitress hardly explained the teas, it was just "these are the speciality teas unless you would like the normal ones in the menu" The guy was who brought out the food explained what we were eating which was fine. Again we noticed the girl ask other dinners if they would like more sandwiches, to which we were not offered, and nor were we offered jelly from the cart.
The experience was booked with bookatable.com and frankly when I saw the bill the discount was actually only £6 for 2. So if you are to tell me that because we got a 10% discount we do not get the quality of service or extra food then you are having a laugh as it really was a measly £3 each, thats 5% discount each. Plus pay 15% for a service we didn't even get, when all it was, was giving us the food?!
It is a shame but The Sanderson would have been my fave if it were not for the poor quality of service. Even when I asked the reception for the baby change (they had to unlock the disabled toilets) he asked us how was my day but not sounding at all sincere, he had that "I can't be bothered to make conversation with you, but I am walking you to the locked toilet so I have too" look to his clenched smile.
Overall experience 7/10. Yes the food, theme and decor was so much fun. Baby friendly yes, just don't understand why things like the toilet need to be locked. Major points deducted for service. As it is the service that makes you FEEL like you are welcome there, bad service makes good food look bad.
