Tea at The Berkeley, London

A selection of cleverly wrought pastries and cakes look set to make The Berkeley's Pr&#233t-&#226-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 cr&#232me 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 Pr&#234t-&#226-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 Pr&#234t Vespa. The pistachio green and pink scooter zips delivering pretty boxes of biscuits to homes and private tea parties in the local area.