Can you go to a fancy afternoon tea alone?

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Dependent_One6034@reddit

Ofcourse you can, You can do whatever you like. As demonstrated by your use of a load of emojis.

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They said it would be weird because afternoon is a social occasion, unlike any regular meal. But that shouldn't stop you from living your best life, these fancy afternoon teas are a visual experience.

Curious, which one(s) would you fancy going to?

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Additional-End-7688@reddit

I’ve done it myself loads of times. Loved it! Highly recommend tea at the Berkeley. Go a random Monday or Tuesday afternoon , if you feel self conscious. The staff are super nice and the tea and food is sooo lovely

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drPmakes@reddit

Who cares what someone thinks? Go and enjoy your tea. The staff won't care....they'd only think it was odd if you took your imaginary friend with you for tea...

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No-Extension-2378@reddit

If I can go for tapas alone then you can definitely go fit an afternoon tea alone!

Treat yourself!

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Bksudbjdua@reddit

As someone who travels for work, I am alone in 99% of the restaurants. Why deny myself good experiences just because I don't have someone to go with.

These views hold people back from living their life. Don't listen to your "friend".

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vestibulepike@reddit

I love eating alone! My only advice for afternoon tea-ing alone is to go hungry, as they tend to feed you.

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bekcy@reddit

Omgg go to your fancy afternoon tea. Enjoy!

I used to take myself on dates. Had an obsession for testing out different local spots English Breakfasts' but couldn't be bothered to take anyone with me in this endevour. It was a blast!

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Rubberfootman@reddit

Who is this “someone” who is telling everyone that doing stuff on their own is weird.

Everyone - stop listening to them.

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roxieh@reddit

Yeah absolutely fuck that person (except don't). Life is too short!

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Goatmanification@reddit

Yeah, whoever that person is is not a good friend. Before I got into a relationship my thought process was always that I'll just take myself out. Being on my own shouldn't mean I'm limited in what I can do, I'd be miserable if I lived life thinking 'I can't do this alone'

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Gold-Creme-9597@reddit

Nobody will think it's weird, I have been to these places on my own a lot and it's always a really nice experience, the staff love you because you're not going to be a pain in the ass so you'll get great service. Whenever I see someone on their own my only thought is how mysterious, cool and confident they appear just doing their own thing!

I'm all for dating yourself, so get your glad rags on and go, hope you have a great time OP!

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

Your friends have strange ideas about it.

Do it alone; there's nothing finer. It's not even slightly weird.

maybe bring a nice book

A nice big newspaper is good, too. Chill out doing the crosswords.

I recommend The Ritz. It's stupidly expensive, but it's the place - if you're gonna do it maybe once in your life.

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MissKoalaBag@reddit

Just go. There's no 'person' limit on fun. I go to movie's all the time as a single aro-ace woman who'll likely never have a partner to go with. You can do anything by yourself, be it going to the cinema, a fancy tea, a restaurant. Go to a trampoline park if you want. Live your life and have fun.

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garlicandherbsauce@reddit

of course you can go alone!

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Nuo_Vibro@reddit

you can do anything alone if youre brave enough. Except riding a tandem bike I suppose

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bowen7477@reddit

It's actually quiet wonderful, all the beautiful things you can alone when you don't give a flying fuck what anyone thinks of you.

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joe_ally@reddit

During my stint as a solo traveller I once ate out alone on Brazilian Valentines Day (dia dos namorados) in a tiny town in the middle of the countryside. It's is on a different day there so I didn't know. When I asked the waitress for a table for 1 she really made me confirm it was only for one person which I thought was odd. Later it dawned on me as I looked at the decorations what had happened and had a laugh with the waitress about it.

Another thing I would say is that London is an incredibly busy and anonymous place full. Someone eating alone would hardly be noteworthy even without armies of business travellers who will often eat out alone.

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IkeTurn@reddit

The staff don't care.
You do your afternoon tea thing. Bonus points if you also read a book by Nietzsche whilst having said tea.

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ukegrrl@reddit

No one will think it is odd at all! I go out all the time on my own. I bring a book. I am married and I have friends but I also like having alone time.

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YouSayWotNow@reddit

The person who said it would be sad and others would think it sad is projecting their own rather pathetic insecurities and concerns. Just because they don't have the confidence to eat out alone, doesn't mean you can't do so.

Staff should not have any problem with you being alone, as long as the menu doesn't ONLY have a sharing afternoon tea, but they are usually by person, even if combined for serving.

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catwoman42@reddit

Absolutely! I used to work away from home and ate by myself a lot. It felt odd at first, but it's very liberating! Take a good book, or newspaper, or people watch. Most of all, enjoy,! And don't listen to anyone saying no.

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coffeewalnut08@reddit

Well, why not?

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TheDoorDoesntWork@reddit

Just dined at Claridge’s for afternoon tea solo, staff treated me very nicely (kept checking in to see if I needed more tea or sandwiches), no difference in treatment. As for other people’s opinion of me, I couldn’t care less. Highly doubted they gossiped about me anyway, most of them were in their own world.

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Segat280@reddit

Oh yeah, the service in Claridges is God- like ❤️ they're really sweet. I had the best solo- tea in there x

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Segat280@reddit

Your friend is talking absolute breeze.

I LOVE going to fancy afternoon teas alone. It's WONDERFUL. Take your favourite book and just enjoy yourself ❤️ I've been to Claridges, The Georgian at Harrods (fabulous), F&M, and a few lesser known but very fancy places, and there are always people sitting by themselves, enjoying the peace and the piano 😉

Do it. I wish I could do it more often x

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ocularius61@reddit

Go go go. The only potential problem anyone would encounter is if a place has a'noon teas for 2 and not single serves. Your 'someone' should shut up. If they feel 'weird and sad' doing things they want to do on their own, that's their problem.

Staff are professional and all they care about is that the customer has a good time. It's not exactly in the business' interests to alienate actual or potential customers. Quite apart from it being rude, it could mean a poor review online or potential loss of future patronage if for e.g. you (or anyone) has a bad time and will not return with a bigger dining party.

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LolaWithTheGreenEyes@reddit

Go. Take a book, but depending on where you go, I wouldnt use headphones. Just not the done thing.

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miffyonabike@reddit

Yes headphones would also discourage everyone from talking to you, and random chats with strangers can be one of the best things about going out solo!

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LolaWithTheGreenEyes@reddit

Completely agree.

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Positive-Mud-11@reddit

I was thinking about this earlier weirdly enough. When i was in my twenties i often went out for tapas alone because its my fave food, and people thought i was weird and i eventually stopped doing it. Why?! I enjoyed it, so what does it matter? If you take a book and get a nice drink it makes it even better. I’m going to start doing it again. You should do your fancy tea and cake thing too!

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Farlic@reddit

outsourcing free will to reddit

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BBDominoes@reddit

Do it. If in doubt, just take a spare phone or camera with you and sit it on the table pointing at you and no one will bat an eyelid 😂

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thethirdbar@reddit

the idea that it might be less weird to 'rent a friend' is more acceptable than going to something alone it just a bit concerning really.

go on your own, enjoy the lil sammies and cakes. genuinely nobody cares or notices what other people doing outside of their own personal bubble. we're all our own main character, you're just someone else's NPC. :)

also i've seen two posts like this this morning, what's going on guys? just do the stuff you wanna do!

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bopeepsheep@reddit

I've done it. The older you get the easier it is. I look forward to the point where I can pretend to be Miss Marple, observing everyone, or one of Bertie Wooster's eccentric rich aunts who DGAF.

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freddiepoos2025@reddit

Go go go !!!!

Don’t let anyone steal the enjoyment from your day. I regularly do things on my own as I don’t want to waste life just because none of my friends are available.

And go as far as your budget will allow! If you can’t stretch to one of the big hotels, try a smaller one, or a chain, to get the experience. Then go to one of the big ones next time!

30 years ago a group of friends and I went to the Dorchester for afternoon tea. We were all backpackers etc but put on fresh clean clothes out of respect. You’d have thought we were wearing the poshest of frocks! We were treated like royalty and that’s stuck with me all these years later. Don’t remember what I ate, but I do remember how I was made to feel.

Please enjoy yourself and let us know how it goes!

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peppermint_aero@reddit

"30 years ago a group of friends and I went to the Dorchester for afternoon tea. We were all backpackers etc but put on fresh clean clothes out of respect. You’d have thought we were wearing the poshest of frocks! We were treated like royalty and that’s stuck with me all these years later. Don’t remember what I ate, but I do remember how I was made to feel."

This. This is proper hospitality.

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Election-Usual@reddit

If anything people will think your cool af

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peppermint_aero@reddit

It's worth knowing that at these places part of the hospitality is making you feel welcome and comfortable.

Chances are the staff won't care whether you're alone or in a group, but even if they do have opinions about it, they will be as nice to you as they are to the other guests because that is their job.

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Midnightraven3@reddit

If I saw someone having a fancy afternoon tea alone I would think "How decadently wonderful of you"

No one will think twice, enjoy your afternoon tea!

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AnonyCass@reddit

It will 100% depend on the restaurant, a lot near me have minimum table sizes for afternoon teas

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mdmnl@reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/TZhsqtmAGk

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james_t_woods@reddit

Fuck it, just go and enjoy it for you.

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TheRiddlerTHFC@reddit

I used to worry about going to a restaurant alone. Would I be thought of as sad or weird.

Then I started travelling for work, and didnt want to always socialise, but still needed to eat. So I used to go to restaurants with a book / phone and do my thing.

Most people dont care about others. And if someone thinks "oh look at that saddo", why do I care, I'll never see them again (plus I have a wife and kids at home).

In short, if its not illegal or immoral, dont spend you time worrying about what strangers may or may not think about you.

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Busy-Doughnut6180@reddit

I do many things on my own by choice, for example going to the cinema or a concert. People who have an issue with how other people do things that isn't hurting anyone are simply insecure big mouths.

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Thin_Sheepherder_584@reddit

Absolutely! But bring a book, don't listen to a podcast. Otherwise you'll miss all the delightful conversations going on around you. Have fun!

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

Where do you live?

Im sure another kind soul will jump at the chance of afternoon tea with an internet stranger 🥰

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the_wally_champ@reddit

a) go for it b) pan pacific, near Liverpool st station

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SianBeast@reddit

I don't know. I wouldn't think it was weird. Take a book, enjoy your tea and fuck anyone who judges you for it.

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phlex77@reddit

i would, i love a meal out on my own (esp. when travelling) i decide where and when, the cuisine and what price point i wanna go for,,,, what's not to love

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Ultimate_os@reddit

If you go to a more lively place you get good atmosphere as well.

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Time-Reindeer-7525@reddit

Go for it! Life's too short to listen to party poopers knocking solo people's fun.

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TepacheLoco@reddit

I used to travel solo quite a bit, so spent plenty of times in restaurants on my own. It is a little odd, and the predominant question I got was whether I was a critic, but really nobody cares and sometimes the wait staff appreciate a little bit more chit chat. Sometimes life is best lived on the odd side. Appreciate your eccentricities!

Generally when people say it's sad or weird for people to do things they're projecting their own insecurities.

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phlex77@reddit

i think the travelling solo thing help's, you just get used to doing things yourself, and agree, the wait staff are usually real nice

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Ultimate_os@reddit

The only thing you sometimes find is they'll place you right next to the kitchen or toilets, or actually at the bar. 🫤 Which isn't the most pleasant, I ask to sit at a better table when they try that as a solo traveller.

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anchoredwunderlust@reddit

I don’t think it’s weird or sad! And screw what anybody else thinks anyway. I’d only be concerned that high tea type things usually have too many cupcakes for one person so you’d probably just be ordering individual ones

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Adventurous-Shoe4035@reddit

I do bits like this alone all the time! Climbing the O2, afternoon tea, cinema, theatre, a meal tasting session at a 5* restaurant.

You can do most things alone and it’s very therapeutic honestly!! People that say it’s weird don’t like being alone, you should be content to spend time with yourself

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Ultimate_os@reddit

Someone told you total nonsense. Of course you can do afternoon tea solo if you want to. The staff won't find it strange, particularly if you go to one at a hotel. The other guests won't be looking at you anyway.

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Miss_Adelie@reddit

Definitely go and do it! I don't think the staff will treat you any differently or find it odd. I haven't done a 'fancy' afternoon tea alone, but I did go to Whittards in Covent garden for a solo afternoon tea before going to the ballet. I brought a book and had a great time. Although that wasn't my first time dining alone at a restaurant either. Don't be afraid of what others think, most people won't pay attention to you.

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Afurryorsomething@reddit

Do it lmao, I eat at restaurants and cafes and all sorts alone all the time. Takes too long to find a friend who’s available and can afford it and is interested and can commute and get time off work etc etc

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LeFuzzyOtter@reddit

I've done it on my own.

No one will judge on that. Stop worrying what others will think and just do you.

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pointlesstips@reddit

The one in Houses of Parliament is quite nice, as it's the only way you can try their house wines and their house champagne.

It is also so incredibly busy that no-one will take note of you being on your own.

Other than that, the Dorchester one is absolutely excellent. (Best eggsalad ever!)

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burneritiswhatitis@reddit

In Japan, my husband and I went to an omakase which is basically a fancy sushi chef tasting experience, and everyone was there on dates. But one girl came by herself, and let me tell you, the aura she had going by herself. I lowkey kept watching her because I was so intrigued by her cool girl mysterious vibe. I’ve been in a relationship (27F) since I was 20, but I just thought damn if I was single I hope I would be as cool as her. I think there’s nothing cooler than someone who goes after the experiences they want like that. Go OP and go aura farm

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simmyawardwinner@reddit

yes. u can do anything u want by urself!

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_ThePancake_@reddit

I don't see why not? If you can have a coffee and some cake alone you, can have an afternoon tea alone. Its just coffee and cake but replace the coffee with tea (unless you want coffee) and the single cake with lots of little cakes on a tiered stand.

The only thing to be aware of is some places will have "afternoon tea for two" deals.

Don't worry about looking sad, most British people are a little depressed as a base line due to the lack of sunlight anyway :)

I'm not from London, so my recommendation afternoon tea just Harrods lol. BUT then (once you've been to see the famous London landmarks etc.) get on an LNER zoom train for 2 hours and then a northern rail connection from Leeds to York hahaha. There's a place called Betty's Tea Room which has been serving afternoon tea for a over 100 years. Also there's nice hills up north and the people are much friendlier.

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IguanaDog@reddit

If you want to go, go. Whoever said that is nuts and it says more about them than about you!

I do things on my own all the time because I want to and I love people watching. I don’t always want someone chatting away the whole time and not everyone can be quiet when with someone else.

Go and enjoy your afternoon tea experience!

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Super-English@reddit

I’m the kind of person to make an afternoon tea just for myself, so why not? Enjoy yourself, keep yourself occupied with something, you wouldn’t wanna stare into the abyss for an hour or so 😅

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EasyCheesecake1@reddit

I often do things on my own, sometimes because no one else is interested and sometimes because I choose to and it's good not to have to compromise or complicate plans. Go for your fancy tea and be marvelous! Indulge yourself.

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notthatbluestuff@reddit

Eventually you get to a point where you stop caring what other people might think. Worst case, some busybodies look at you and wonder why you're alone. Meanwhile, you're still having a nice time. More likely, though, people will be too focused on themselves to realise or care that you're alone.

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minnie548@reddit

Go and enjoy your afternoon tea. As others have said, take a book but enjoy! If you're like me, I love people watching so you could make up stories about your fellow diners. Have a great time.

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Zealousideal_Fold_60@reddit

Happens all the time

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AnonymoseHoratio@reddit

just go and look like the queen you are

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Necessary_Money_9757@reddit

It wouldn't be weird at all.

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psj3809@reddit

I used to hate going out to dinner alone when i was working away but loads of people also work away. To me it doesn't look that weird at all. Shame you haven't got any nearby friends though or family to go with.

But yeah go for it and enjoy

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