Tea at The Berkeley, London

A selection of cleverly wrought pastries and cakes look set to make The Berkeley's Prét-â-Portea afternoon tea - which launches today - something of a destination event.

Each delectable bijou pastry is inspired by the season's latest runway collections; and so, for this autumn/winter, the three-tired cake stands are sprinkled with bite-sized chocolate biscuits topped with red icing and gold piping in homage of a Valentino red coat, a canary-yellow Smythson Maze Bag-inspired banana Madiera cake, a Valrhona dark chocolate crème recalling fine Prada lace and even a shoe-shaped biscuit by Christian Louboutin complete with red-lined soles.

see more images of the catwalk-inspired cakes at The Berkeley

To complement the range, Anzu

's stationery maven Ellen Gregory McGrath has designed Prêt-â-Portea gift cards to slip into thick envelopes lined with pink-tissue.

And to ensure that the joy is spread beyond its Caramel Room where the afternoon tea is served, the Berkeley has just launched the Prêt Vespa. The pistachio green and pink scooter zips delivering pretty boxes of biscuits to homes and private tea parties in the local area.

24 November 2008 | Lifestyle