High Tea of Highgate

High Tea is one of those rare things - a simple concept, mixed with a bit of conceit, that works very well. 

The concept is that everyone loves a decent cuppa and great cake.  The conceit is the 1930s theme that runs from the staff's dress through to the website (ooh the irony) and the music being played on the very funky speaker system - shouldn't that be a gramophone?

Could be very naff, but as I say, it all works well. 

The cakes are made fresh every day by proprietor Georgina Worthington. Georgina can do things with a bit of sponge and butter icing that the rest of can only dream about.  Over the last few months I have tasted a disturbingly wide variety of her produce, including cupcakes (hmm), fruit cake (hmmm), and millionaire's short bread (hmmmm). 

I'm not simply trying to do a Homer Simpson impression.  The produce is seriously good.

I hope that the current financial crisis, which will inevitably hit the restaurant trade badly, will only prove to be a positive for Georgina and her team.  First, there's the theory that in times of economic hardship we revert to comfort food?  It doesn't get much more comforting than this.

Second, there's much less probability of a chancer waving a wodge of readies in Georgina's face and convincing her that what she really needs to do is roll-out the concept.  I appreciate that like any business, she's there to make a profit, but turning it into a chain would make High Tea a very different beast.  That we know all the cakes are made daily by the lady serving us, makes it all the more enjoyable, especially as they're as good as this. 

Google Maps

High Tea, 50 Highgate High St, Highgate, London, N6 5HX, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 8348 3162

What others think

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Comments

[John Whiting]

It's worth mentioning that those signs directing you to the air raid shelter aren't just period decoration: http://www.whitings-writings.com/images/shelter.jpg

[Anthony Silverbrow]

John I can't say I remember seeing those signs - a bit dopey I accept - but interesting to see it's still there. When was the photo taken?

[John Whiting]

Photo taken about a month ago.

[Anthony Silverbrow]

I'm closing comments on this post as I'm getting slammed with spam. If you want to leave a comment, please email me and I'll open it for you.