Lifestyle: Afternoon tea back on Virgin Atlantic

The quintessentially English practice of having Afternoon Tea is making a comeback in Ghana – at 35,000 feet. People from Accra influenced by the British Queen’s Jubilee, are now asking for the same genteel style as soon as they board the plane to Britain.

So great is demand that airline Virgin Atlantic has now decided to bring back the tradition which for centuries was the hallmark of an English gentleman. Each passenger travelling in the Upper Class cabin will even have finger sandwiches, scones and cakes served in their own purpose-made dainty cake stand. The re-emergence of Afternoon Tea was confirmed earlier this month when The Queen, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duchess of Cambridge all went to afternoon tea at Fortnum and Masons.

Virgin Atlantic’s Regional manager in Accra Mr Nick Taylor comments:“People travelling to the UK want to start their British experience as soon as they step onto the aircraft. Introducing Afternoon Tea onboard is part of our drive to put the glamour back into flying and provide people with lots of treats”

Every year Virgin Atlantic serves four million cups of tea on board which is approximately 1.5 million pints. And so popular is the trend with smart London hotels that The Ritz, The Langham and The Savoy now regularly have queues to attend their traditional afternoon teas. Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class passengers will now be able to choose from Breakfast or Earl Grey tea, served with sandwiches, scones, cream and jam. Delicate cakes will also be served.