Afternoon Tea

We are thrilled to bring back our sell-out afternoon teas at House of Books & Friends. Dine in our elegant  ‘Gladstone Room‘ – the former cloak room of the Reform Club. Constructed in 1870, in the Venetian Gothic style, it was originally built as the club house  for Manchester’s Liberal Party and was frequented by Prime Ministers William Gladstone & Winston Churchill.

Enjoy a selection of finger sandwiches, luxury scones with jam & clotted cream, alongside decadent desserts.

We have a choice of Traditional, Vegetarian & Vegan Set Menu options.

We host our afternoon teas on Sundays, with timeslots being updated seasonally. You can find our availability here, and hear about new seating releases through our newsletter or on social media.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read these frequently asked questions regarding Afternoon Tea before booking.

Can I join the waitlist?
We have also reached maximum capacity on our waiting list – due to the limited number of spaces available per session it is very unlikely you will be offered a spot on an upcoming session unless somebody is unable to make it. We have therefore closed the waiting list and will not be adding additional names to avoid any disappointment.

Why are the spaces so limited?
We hold our Afternoon Teas in the Grade II listed Gladstone Room. We are not currently extending the Afternoon Tea service to the rest of the bookshop as we want it to remain an open and welcome space for both our regular guests and those strangers who magically stumble upon us! Our goal as a bookshop is to provide a space for connection and kindness, and so we want that to remain as accessible as possible. Whilst Afternoon Tea is definitely exciting, it is not the only event we hold in the bookshop – you can find out more about other events taking place within the bookshop on our website and in-store.

Can I buy a gift card with the intention of purchasing afternoon tea with it?
We do not advise people to buy gift cards with the intention of purchasing afternoon tea with it. You can only use a gift card to purchase in-store, and as we take bookings online there is no guarantee you would be able to book a place in-store before we have sold out. You can still redeem your gift card on books and our café items, but we would not be able to refund your gift card if you are unable to purchase afternoon tea with it.

What if I want to gift somebody else an Afternoon Tea?
You can still book an Afternoon Tea on somebody else’s behalf by booking for one of the available sessions. Just let us know that you are purchasing the Afternoon Tea as a gift – please email bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.pro as soon as your booking is complete. This requires you to know the date and time this person would prefer, as well as any dietary requirements or allergies this person may have. Alternatively, you can book online for a set date and time, including making payment, and then you can tell the person you are booking for to give us a call with the dietary requirements for your booking. Please be mindful that if it is a surprise, it will be revealed if we have to chase them for their dietary information.