Blog

Food
General
Lifestyle
News
Property market

Afternoon tea in Salisbury

We don’t ever need an excuse for a cuppa and slice of cake, but it’s Afternoon Tea Week and our city has a variety of scrumptious options!

Here are some of our favourite places to indulge in afternoon tea in Salisbury.

Milford Hall Hotel

Milford Hall Hotel is one of Salisbury’s finest places to stay, and it’s only fitting that it offers an indulgent afternoon tea to match.

At the hotel’s Sarum Brasserie, you can enjoy a classic afternoon tea including home-baked scones, a selection of finger sandwiches, cream cakes, brownies, carrot cake and lemon drizzle for £24 per person. Upgrade your experience with a glass (or bottle) of prosecco or champagne.

They cater for everyone with “The Gentleman’s Tea” for £35 per person, which includes a selection of cakes, ciabatta sliders and home-baked buttered cheese and paprika scones, mini pork pies, stilton cheese and crackers and tomato and chive quiche bites – plus a glass of fizz or beer!

The Red Lion Hotel

Just a five-minute walk from Salisbury city centre is the 13th-Century Red Lion Hotel. Here, you can enjoy traditional afternoon tea throughout the year in the pretty outside courtyard or the cosy 800-year-old lounge.

Served every day from 12pm until 4pm, the afternoon tea is prepared using locally-sourced ingredients and served with your choice of tea or coffee. A traditional tea of scones, miniature cakes and fresh sandwiches will cost £22.50 per person, or you can add on a glass of prosecco for £28.50 per person.

Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan afternoon tea is available, but 48 hours’ notice is required to guarantee availability.

Quick tip – if you book online before August 17, save 20% off!

Boston Tea Party

If you’re after a modern twist on the traditional afternoon tea, Boston Tea Party is the place to go.

You can choose four fillings from egg mayo and cress, smoked salmon and cream cheese, ham and English mustard, English cucumber, vintage cheddar cheese and Branston pickle, hummus and spinach and avocado and tomato.

Sweet treats include home-made scones, lemon drizzle cake, blueberry Bakewell, morello cherry blondie and dark chocolate brownie.

Afternoon tea is served from 2pm daily. For bookings of two or more people, they need 48 hours’ notice – this includes baby showers, birthdays or just a get-together!

Caboose

Caboose, the 1920’s-inspired boutique hotel, serves cocktails by night in its Parlour bar and afternoon tea by day.

From £21.95 per person you can enjoy a selection of sandwiches – egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon, cheese and chutney and Wiltshire ham and mustard. Plain and sultana scones come with mini victoria sponges, lemon curd macarons, apple crumble choux buns and dark chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis.

Treat yourself to a glass of Deutz Champagne for £29.95 per person!

Rifleman’s Table

This independent café located in the magnificent Cathedral Close gives you great views and great food, including an afternoon for two, for just £22.50.

It includes a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, cake of the day and a pot tea – no frills, just all the good stuff!

Fisherton Mill

Salisbury’s Fisherton Mill is a bit of a hidden gem, but it’s the largest independent art gallery, café and studios in Wiltshire. The Gallery Café has been recognised in The Local Food Guide 2025 and seven times in the Observer’s National Food Awards.

There are always mouth-watering treats on offer from chef Michael Fox, including the freshly baked cakes. While you can’t find traditional afternoon tea here, we had to include it in our list because of the vast range of tea, cakes, tarts, muffins and meringues available. The list changes daily!

The café operates on a first come, first served basis and it’s closed on Sundays and bank holidays.