An afternoon tea parlour and gin pop-up bar inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be hosted at Swan, Shakespeare’s Globe. Opening the Balcony Room exclusively from the 23rd of July until the 2nd of September, the venue will be transformed into the realm of Fairyland, lavishly decorated with flowers, trees, toadstools and butterflies.
The afternoon tea will be served at Titania’s Tea Garden, offering sandwiches, cakes and scones on bespoke crockery designed by Annika Wester. The menu features savoury options of Buttermilk poached chicken, grain mustard mayo, amaranth; Scottish smoked salmon, citrus cream, watercress, granary bread; Clarence Court egg mayonnaise and cress salad; and Wild mushroom and leek quiche. Sweets follow with Poire William and salted caramel Opera; Blackcurrant jam and violet macaroons; Rhubarb and custard chouquette with angel wings; Elderflower jelly, hedgerow berries and vanilla infused cream; and Mulberry scones and plain scones served with clotted Devon cream and midsummer berry jam.
Puck’s Gin Emporium will take over the space in the evenings with a selection of cocktails and sharing plates to be enjoyed either inside surrounded by floral interiors or on the private balcony looking onto the river and the iconic view of St Paul’s Cathedral. The cocktail list features Homie Negroni (Bombay Sapphire gin, Belsazar red vermouth, Campari), Sting (Star of Bombay gin, Monkey Shoulder, ginger, honey, lime) and Passionfruit and chilli martini (Bombay gin, passion fruit and peach), as well as a selection of mocktails.
There will also be a variation of several G&T’s including Seedlip (Fentiman’s pink grapefruit tonic, grapefruit), Bombay Gin (Fentimans tonic and grapefruit), Star of Bombay Gin (Double Dutch cucumber and watermelon tonic, cucumber ribbon), Oxley Gin (1724 tonic water and rosemary) and English rhubarb gin liqueur (Fentiman’s tonic and mint), as well as sparkling wines and beers. Bar snacks will be served to complement the drinks including sharing boards of British cheeses and charcuterie plus Old Spot sausage rolls and potted chicken liver pate.
The afternoon tea is priced at £35 per person and is available every day between 12pm and 5pm, with reservations being made via email at [email protected]. Meanwhile, Puck’s Gin Emporium can be booked here, where £10 tickets can be purchased in return for a free cocktail upon arrival.
