Prior to the world going into lockdown to combat coronavirus, Dormy House near Broadway launched a new afternoon tea and our own Kylie Taylor was invited to sample the experience.

Located in the expansive Cotswold Farcombe estate, Dormy House is a luxury hotel and spa that also offers a top-rate restaurant. So a new afternoon tea experience, overseen by culinary director Martin Burge, was one delicious treat not to miss out on.

My mother and I visited as a pre-Mother’s Day treat and we both can say this is the best afternoon tea variation we have ever had – forget soggy sandwiches and hard scones, Dormy House brings nothing but its usual level of excellence to this traditional favourite.

The ‘Back Garden’ menu offers an adaptation of banoffi tarts, lime macaroons, lemon drizzle cakes and chocolate Jaffa Cakes all finished off with the perfect scones.

On the savory side, the sandwiches were fresh and ample with a varied choice of chicken, cheese and tomato chutney, and smoked salmon so fresh you could have been eating it by the sea.

No afternoon tea is complete without the tea itself and what a choice with over 12 loose leaf options – I must recommend the ‘Vanilla Chai’ - all from the lovely Hoogly tea brand.

All details are carefully executed as you would expect. Even the timers for the tea carried the excellence and prestige of the estate.

But a little on the pricey side, one would expect? Absolutely not… £29.50 per person with the option of a Delamotte Brut to be added for just £13.

Given the crazy current situation in the world, how I long to be once again sitting back in the beautiful surroundings of Dormy House looking into the herb garden and feeling utter escapism.

Rates to stay at Dormy House start from £269 per night visit www.dormyhosue.co.uk or call 01386 852711. Please check with the hotel regarding opening during the coronavirus lockdown.