You can now enjoy afternoon tea in the scenic lakeside dining domes in Heaton Park - and it really feels like you're on holiday. It's t-shirt weather in the private heated domes, curated by Heaton Park Cafes, which offer up several afternoon tea choices.
The Manchester Evening News went along to try the vegan option. The menu, which includes a vegan scotch egg and vegan scone, comes to £23.99 per person, including a hot drink. And you get to enjoy it all listening to relaxing music and with a a view of swans and pedalos in the boating lake.
It looks like a lot of food when it arrives in the dome and it feels like a lot of food when you're eating it. The vegan sausage roll is packed with flavour, and it might be on the small side, but you'll be thankful for it later on.
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This plate certainly doesn't lack in carbs. But these days, you can get vegan sausage rolls everywhere, from Poundbakery to M&S. It's the vegan scotch egg that we were really interested in.
The verdict? It tastes great but it only resembles a scotch egg when it comes down to appearance. The red pepper centre has the texture of hummus and the outside is a bit like falafel but less firm.
There are two sandwiches on the plate too - pulled barbecue jackfruit and tofu and watercress mayonnaise. Heaton Park's attempt at vegan egg mayo is certainly successful and can easily rival Veggie Pret's offering.
Now, on to the sweet stuff, what we really came for. Victoria sponge, pistachio carrot cake, vegan scone with homemade jam and plant-based cream and fruit jelly with pineapple and passionfruit.
The scone has got to be the most exciting thing. It's afternoon tea, after all, and it's brilliant that the vegans don't have to miss out. The cream may be on the watery side, but the scone doesn't disappoint, and is a decent size.
The Victoria sponge isn't as light in texture as you'd expect it to be and the pistachio carrot cake definitely stole the show. The jelly felt like it was needed because the domes get pretty hot in the sun - especially if the heater is on. The dried pineapple mohawk makes it look fancy and it actually takes good too.
Usually vegans are left with one or two options on a lunch menu. But with this vegan afternoon tea, you're served a whole buffet of food. It's also ideal for the indecisive diner - all you've got to do is decide the order to eat it all in.
The traditional signature menu includes a classic afternoon tea with a selection of delicious sandwiches, a free-range Heaton scotch egg and a homemade signature sage and onion sausage roll. Sweet offerings include indulgent chocolate brownie with salted caramel ganache, homemade Victoria sponge, house scone with homemade jam and vanilla chantilly and a baked meringue with pineapple and passionfruit.
For little ones, there’s a children's afternoon tea served on a decorative wooden boat. Children can choose from fruit juice (apple or orange) or a babyccino. To eat, they can enjoy a Manchester bee sandwich, sausage roll, mini-scone with homemade jam and cream, homemade Victoria sponge and chocolate brownie bites.
To make a reservation for afternoon tea click here.
