T H E AT H E N A E U M H O T E L - S AV O U R T H E

ENGLISH TRADITON OF THE AFTERNOON

TEA

Ghencea Adriana Elena, clasa a IX-a C

THE STORY SO FAR

THE PRESTIGIOUS ADDRESS OF 116

P I C C A D I L LY
HAS
SEEN
ITS
FA I R
SHARE
OF
INHABITANTS
OVER
THEYEARS.
BACK
IN
1850,
IT
STAR TED LIFE AS HOPE HOUSE, THE
ELEGANT
P R I VA T E
ABODE
OF
M P H E N R Y H O P E . T H E M A N S I O N WA S
SAID
TO
H AV E
AT T R AC T E D
THE
ATTENTION
OF
CHARLES
DICKENS,WHO
NOTED
ITS
E X T R AVA G A N T
INTERIORS.

T H I S I S N O T T O S U G G E S T,
H O W E V E R , T H AT M R . H O P E WA S
A N O S T E N TAT I O U S C H A R A C T E R .
I N FA C T, H E WA S R E N O W N E D F O R
HIS ASTUTENESS AND
C O M M I T T E D PAT R O N A G E O F T H E
A R T S. H I S P R I Z E C O L L E C T I O N O F
O L D M A S T E R S, W H I C H H E W O U L D
O C C A S I O N A L LY P U T O N D I S P L AY
T O T H E P U B L I C, M A D E H O P E
HOUSE THE HOME OF ONE OF
E U R O P E S F I N E S T P R I VAT E A R T
C O L L E C T I O N S.

The same rational attributes cannot be assigned,

however, to Henry Hopes son-in-law,the roguish
Henry Pelham-Clinton, the 6th Duke of Newcastle.
When the Duke wedHopes only daughter, Henrietta,
his spiralling gambling debts (around 230,000
aneye-watering 143 million today) were settled and
he acquired an impressive propertyportfolio to boot.
When he died aged just 45, Henrietta sold Hope House
to thefashionable Junior Athenaeum Club.
Gentlemens clubs were all the rage in the Victorian
era, and the Junior Athenaeumsurged in popularity
as it entertained the great and good of London society.
Among theMPs and Lords that passed through its
doors, the club was particularly favoured bygentlemen
connected with literature, science and art.

T H E W O R D A T H E N A E U M
L O O S E LY T R A N S L AT E S A S
LIBRA RY AND IS
DERIVED FROM THE
G R E E K N A M E AT H E N A ,
THE GODDESS OF
WISDOM. THE NOBLE
N A M E S TAY E D AT 1 1 6
P I C C A D I L LY I N
T H E 1 9 3 0 S A S T H E C LU B
DISBANDED AND THE
B U I L D I N G WA S
TRANSFORMED INTO A
LU X U R I O U S A R T
D E C O A PA R T M E N T B L O C K .

F O U R D E C A D E S L AT E R , T H E AT H E N A E U M A N D
ITS NEIGHBOURING VICTORIAN TOWNHOUSES
WERESNAPPED UP BY BRITISH
E N T E R TA I N M E N T G R O U P T H E R A N K
O R G A N I S A T I O N . T H E C O M PA N Y R E N O VA T E D
T H E A PA R T M E N T S I N T O A N I C O N I C H O T E L T O
A C C O M M O D AT E I T S M O V I E S TA R S W H E N E V E R
T H E Y W E R E F I L M I N G A T L O N D O N S FA M O U S
PINEWOOD A ND EA LING STUDIOS. AS A FIVE S TA R H O T E L , T H E AT H E N A E U M H A S L O N G
B E E N A S S O C I AT E D W I T H T H E R I C H A N D
FA M O U S . C H A R I S M A T I C E X E C U T I V E M A N A G E R
S A L LY B U L L O C H H E R A L D E D T H E H O T E L S
H O L LY W O O D G O L D E N A G E I N T H E 1 9 7 0 S,
W H E R E H E R N AT U R A L C H A R M A N D
P E R E N N I A L P R E S E N C E AT T H E H O T E L B A R
M A DE H E R A HI T W I T H GU E S T S.

She was said to have enjoyed a glass of champagne (or two)

withElizabeth Taylor among countless others and once
(gently) admonished RussellCrowe for leaving his room untidy.
Boy band Take That announced their split from thepenthouse
of The Athenaeum, and legendary film director Steven Spielberg
eveninstalled an editing suite in one of the hotels residences
when working onE.T.,CloseEncountersand Raiders of the Lost
Ark. Today, stars, world leaders and the well knowncontinue to
use The Athenaeum as their discreet home-from-home. The

Athenaeum has been family-run since the 1990s and

could not be more committedto its famous five-star
service. An independent spirit remains at the heart
of the hotel,where it continues to welcome everyone
as VIPs and to make their stay individual.

Putting on a good Afternoon Tea is something The

Athenaeum has down to a fine art. Its legendary,
in fact, and award-winning, too. The Galvin
Brothers modern British Afternoon Tea showcases
the countrys very best ingredients: fresh smoked
salmon from Severn & Wye, Cumbrian ham,
Kentish strawberries and Devonshire clotted
cream.

Afternoon Tea and a special Galvin Cream Tea

are served daily in THE BAR, FrontRoom and
our beautiful heated terrace, which is open all
year round.

CHAMPAGNE
Afternoon Tea with a glass of Lanson Pre et Fils Brut, NV
36.50
Lanson Ros, NV 38.50
Lanson White Label Sec, NV 41.00
A selection of finger sandwiches, pastries, cakes, scones &
clotted cream, housemade jam Selection of artisan teas
26.50
Afternoon Tea Dairy & gluten free 26.50
SELECTION OF ARTISAN TEAS
Royal English Breakfast - Darjeeling First Flush -Earl Grey
Assam BOP - Dragon Pearl Jasmine - Sencha Fukuyja
Camomile Flower - Passionfruit & Orange - Ceylon OP
Lemon Verbena - Moroccan Mint - Gunpowder Green Pai
Mu Tan Leaf Tea White
*The menu is designed for the enjoyment of all guests at
the table All prices include VAT at the current rate A
discretionar service charge of 12.5% will be added to your
bill. Please let the manager know of any allergies or dietary