Inspired by Edward Lear’s poem The Owl and the Pussycat, which was famously penned and illustrated by the writer while he was staying at the iconic stately home in the 1860s, the signature afternoon tea features the charming characters and whimsical adventures from the children’s poem. There are runcible scones brushed with honey from the grounds and cocktails that take their names from some of Edward Lear’s creations – The Light of the Moon, The Jumblies and Nonsense Negroni. The afternoon tea was inspired by Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussy Cat All the ingredients for the afternoon tea are sourced from Knowsley Estate’s farms and private gardens with guests enjoying live music before being taken to their table.
They’ve been curated by in-house chef Alex Makin and he’s worked some magic with the menu. Every element of every part of the afternoon tea was exceptional – from the light and crisp pastry of the cheese and caramelised onion tart served with Parma ham to the lemon and raspberry macaron trifle to the sweet and savoury scones – light and fluffy and moorish - that come with a choice of three jams and compotes, two types of cream and the estate honey. Before the arrival of the afternoon tea, which is a wow moment in itself, guests are invited to create their own personal cocktail or mocktail using Knowsley’s Hall Walled Garden Gin as a base and add their own tea-based tincture with strawberry and watermelon, sour cherry, lychee and rose, and honey.