Because supporting the community should taste this good!
Local charity, LifeCare Edinburgh is thrilled to announce a brand-new Sweet Partnership Afternoon Tea in collaboration with one of the city’s most celebrated bakeries, Lannan.
Taking place on Monday 20th October at 3:30pm this special event offers guests the rare opportunity to savour Lannan’s exquisite cakes and pastries in comfort – all while supporting LifeCare’s vital community services for older people across Edinburgh.
Sarah van Putten, Chief Executive of LifeCare Edinburgh, said: “This event is a chance to enjoy Lannan’s truly special famous treats without the wait – and, even more importantly, to know that every slice and every sip is helping to support older people in our community.
“LifeCare has been providing care, connection, and companionship across Edinburgh for over 80 years. Partnerships like this allow us to continue that work, reach more people, and remind our city that community care is something we can all be part of.”
Darcie Maher of Lannan said “We’ve always been humbled by the incredible support and loyalty from our customers in our local community. Partnering with LifeCare Edinburgh felt like the perfect way to give something back.
We’re excited to bring our bakes to this special Afternoon Tea, knowing that together, we’re not only creating a delicious experience but also raising vital funds to support some of the city’s most vulnerable people. Cake really can bring people together, and this time it’s for an important cause.”
Spaces are limited for this special fundraising event, and early booking is strongly advised. Tickets go on sale on Sunday (28th September), priced at £50 per person.
Guests are invited to bring their own drinks (BYO), and every penny raised will support LifeCare’s vital services — from delivering freshly prepared meals, to offering companionship, classes, and care for older people across Edinburgh.
Following a sell-out success in March, local charity LifeCare Edinburgh is delighted to announce the return of its popular Afternoon Tea at the LifeCare Hub on Cheyne Street on Thursday 4th September.
Guests can look forward to a delicious spread of homemade cakes, savoury treats, and endless cups of tea and coffee, all served in the heart of one of Edinburgh’s most loved community spaces. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy a relaxed afternoon with friends, family, or neighbours – all while supporting a fantastic local cause.
But this event is more than just tea and treats – every ticket sold will directly support LifeCare’s urgent fundraising appeal to keep the Hub running. With rapidly rising costs, the charity is calling on the community to help protect the services so many people rely on.
Sarah Van Putten, CEO of LifeCare said: “The LifeCare Hub is a lifeline for thousands across the city. Whether it’s classes for isolated older adults, support for unpaid carers, or just a welcoming place to connect, the Hub brings people together.
“This Afternoon Tea is a chance to enjoy a lovely afternoon whilst helping us secure the Hub’s future.”
The Hub, which first opened in 1975 as ‘Stockbridge House’, now welcomes over 47,000 visits a year, offering 80+ weekly activities for all ages. As a charity, LifeCare works hard to ensure that its services are affordable or free, so no one is left out.
This October and November, Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting customers along to its trio of enchanting autumn events at the Edinburgh store, helping kick-start the season. There’s something for everyone, with events for dogs, kids and families, and a brand-new autumn planting and afternoon tea experience.
Pup-kin Patch
The Pup-kin Patch at Dobbies will be a fun outing for dogs where they can dig into treats, toys, and tail wagging fun. With activities from picking their own autumn themed toys, to enjoying a puppuccino from the restaurant, furry friends are bound to have a paw-esome outing. The event will also have a free digital photo opportunity for dogs to pose in front of an autumnal backdrop at the Edinburgh store, for a beautiful pet ‘paw-trait’.
Tickets to the event will also include special offers in the pet department, one free hot drink and puppuccino with the purchase of any cake from the restaurant, and £5 off £25 spend in store. Dobbies’ Pup-kin Patch will be taking place on Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £12.50 per dog. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.
Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats
This Halloween, children and families can get ready to take part in some scarily fun activities and afternoon tea at the Edinburgh store Little Scare-lings event. There will be three tiers of savoury sandwiches and sweet treats for the children and spook-tacular tea and cake offers or afternoon tea add ons for adults.
Little ones will get to take part in slime and magic potion making to embrace their inner witches and wizards, alongside other magical activities and games. Dobbies is encouraging attendees to dress up in their spookiest costume as a prize will be awarded during a costume contest.
The Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats is taking place on Saturday 18, Sunday 19, Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £15 per children and from £7.50 for adults. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.
Planting and Afternoon Tea – Autumn Harvest Terrarium Workshop
Guests can enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea and autumn themed planting experience this October at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store. Dobbies’ Green Team will show attendees how to make their own seasonal terrariums with mini autumn decorations to take home and care for, starting with a demonstration, followed by a Q&A session and the chance to get hands-on and give it a go.
The experience will be followed by a three-tiered Traditional Afternoon Tea in the restaurant, including sweet and savoury treats, and unlimited tea and coffee refills.
The Planting and Afternoon Tea – Autumn Harvest Terrarium Workshop will take place on the 11, 17, and 18 of October. Tickets are £45, and prosecco or a Luxury Afternoon Tea is available as an optional upgrade at an additional cost. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.
Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is looking forward to welcoming customers, from families, dogs and planting enthusiasts, to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this autumn. She said: “It’s fantastic to have such a variety of events on offer and there really is something for everyone to enjoy, with fun for all ages.
“Tickets are selling fast for our planting and afternoon tea event, as it’s the perfect afternoon out for couples and friends who love to be creative. Our Little Scare-lings event is a firm favourite for families, with plenty of action-packed activities, and the Pup-kin Patch is back by popular demand, this year in more stores after it was such a hit last year. We can’t wait to celebrate autumn and Halloween with our customers this spooky season.”
Tickets to all autumn events at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store are now available to book at www.dobbies.com/events.
Residents from Strachan House care home in Blackhall, Edinburgh, were delighted to visit Ratho Canal for an afternoon with The Seagull Trust Cruises.
Residents were able to engage in some nature spotting and enjoy a brief history of the canal, including its bridges and famous aqueduct. Residents were able to spend the day cruising along the canal, and enjoyed an incredible afternoon tea provided by the home’s hospitality team.
Fran Fisher, General Manager of Strachan House, said: “Our residents have enjoyed their day out on the water.
“Trips out in the homes’ mini bus are a regular event for the residents, and we always ask for ideas on where they would best like to go. The day was so much fun. Residents were delighted to see such a diverse range of wildlife. ”
Strachan House Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential, nursing and dementia care for short and long-term stays.
This May, Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a new hands-on planting and afternoon tea experience at its Edinburgh store, combining an exclusive afternoon tea with a seasonal planting workshop, inspired by the RHS Chelsea Garden Show and Dobbies’ 160-year heritage.
The Heritage Planting and Afternoon Tea will take place during the week of RHS Chelsea Flower Show, on Tuesday 20 May and Saturday 24 May. Taking place in the Edinburgh store, this event will give guests the perfect opportunity to create their very own bespoke planted container and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea.
Attendees will enjoy a 90-minute experience where they will join Dobbies’ Green Team in the plant area for a seasonally relevant planting demonstration and Q&A session. Each guest will receive a limited-edition 160 heritage Dobbies’ pot and a selection of seasonal plants, carefully chosen to reflect the spirit of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which they will plant up and take home.
Customers at the Edinburgh store will then make their way to the restaurant to enjoy a traditional Heritage Afternoon Tea, which has been carefully curated in honour of celebrating Dobbies’ 160th birthday, and features three tiers of sweet and savoury delights, including Dobbies’ famous scones, plus unlimited tea and coffee refills.
Claire Bishop, Dobbies’ Senior Houseplant Buyer and Chair of Assessors at the RHS Chelsea Garden Show, said: “We are excited to be celebrating 160 years of helping British gardeners to grow by bringing this new event to our Edinburgh store.
“Our planting and afternoon tea events have been really popular with our customers, and it’s been fantastic to have one that celebrates RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I’ve loved selecting the plants and hope those attending enjoy creating their own seasonal containers that they can take home and enjoy.”
Tickets for the Heritage Planting and Afternoon Tea experience at the Edinburgh store are £45 per person.
For more information and to book on Dobbies’ events, visit:
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with one of the city’s most beloved attractions, Edinburgh Zoo.
Together, they are set to launch a roarsome Afternoon Tea experience, taking inspiration from the cherished children’s book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea. This family-friendly event will debut on Friday, 18th of October, perfectly timed to coincide with the October school break.
The collaboration aims to provide a truly unique and unmissable experience for both locals and visitors to the capital. The event will take place in the hotel’s stunning Oculus Lounge, combining the opulence of the hotel’s popular Afternoon Tea service with a playfully wild twist for its younger guests.
Those who attend can expect a fun and immersive experience, hosted by one of Edinburgh Zoo’s talented Discovery Rangers.
The Ranger will kick off the event with an exciting storytelling experience, which allows guests to learn about the resident tigers at Edinburgh Zoo.
But that’s not all: the specially themed Afternoon Tea menu will also include a carefully curated selection of treats for children, ensuring that the whole family has a roaring good time.
Guests can enjoy a stylish Afternoon Tea menu of exquisite pastries paired with savoury treats and finely brewed teas, while the younger ones enjoy special treats like tiger cookies, milk chocolate pandas, scones and more! Pricing begins at £35 for adults and £15 for children, with two sittings available at 1pm and 3pm.
Adding to the excitement, guests will also get a glimpse straight into the ‘Tiger Den’ at Edinburgh Zoo on the day through a live stream.
Following the event, guests will be invited to the Scarlett Lounge for an exclusive screening of The Tiger Keeper Who Came to Tea animated film, giving adults the opportunity to relax with refreshments at Eve or Commons Club Bar.
Mafalda Albuquerque, General Manager at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh said: “We’re thrilled to offer our guests this unique family Afternoon Tea experience.
“Our collaboration with Edinburgh Zoo for this themed Afternoon Tea allows us to craft a memorable and educational day out, perfectly aligning with our mission to deliver family experiences that can be enjoyed by all.”
You can find out more information about this partnership here. Reservations can also be made by emailing afternoontea@virginhotels.com
For October, Dobbies Garden Centres has launched a brand new autumn edition of its hands-on planting experience, combined with a tasty Afternoon Tea in its Edinburgh store.
Planting and Afternoon Tea: Autumn Edition is taking place on Tuesday 8 and Saturday 12 October, offering attendees the chance to create a seasonal style piece that can feature as a home or front door decoration.
Attendees at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will get to participate in a hands-on 90-minute workshop led by one of Dobbies’ horti experts with a demo, Q&A session and the opportunity to craft your very own succulent planter, made from a pumpkin, to spook-ify autumnal decor (worth £40).
Dobbies will provide a terracotta pot, pumpkin and a mix of succulents such as Echeveria elegans, Aloe artisata and Graptopetalum pentadrum, all selected by Dobbies’ Senior Buyer, Claire Bishop, who featured as a judge at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year.
Attendees will be invited to carve out a pumpkin to display the terracotta pot in, and then have the joy of picking succulents with a variety of colours and textures. Once Halloween is over and the pumpkin starts to fade, it can be recycled and the succulents can be used in the terracotta planter for an all-year-round display.
Before creating the seasonal succulent pumpkin, attendees at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store can enjoy a Traditional or Luxury Afternoon Tea, delving into three tiers of sweet and savoury delights. There are unlimited tea and coffee refills and the chance to upgrade the hot drink, or enjoy a glass of prosecco.
The Traditional Afternoon Tea offers an assortment of freshly made finger sandwiches, including smoked salmon with cream cheese, egg mayonnaise with watercress, and ham with rocket and wholegrain mustard.
Customers can also enjoy Dobbies’ famous scones, served with Cornish clotted cream and a pot of jam, and a delicious selection of sweet treats, including a rainbow meringue kiss and lemon mousse. The upgrade to the Luxury Afternoon Tea is an additional £4 extra per person.
Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is excited to see what centrepieces customers at the Edinburgh store craft during this workshop. She said: “Our Planting and Afternoon Tea experiences have been hugely popular and this version with an autumn twist is the perfect opportunity to create a seasonal decoration that could be styled in your home or entrance way.
“Whether you’re a novice and have little experience with plant styling, or are looking to have some interior fun this autumn, this experience in our Edinburgh store is a great way to try something new. Plus our Afternoon Tea in the restaurant is a great way for attendees to enjoy a delicious array of sweet and savoury treats.”
The Planting and Afternoon Tea: Autumn Edition is priced at £45 per person and is now bookable at dobbies.com/events.
Dobbies offers a programme of autumnal events. Families can get involved in Dobbies’ Little Scare-lings, a frightfully fun Howl-o-ween party taking place across various dates throughout October, priced at £10.99 per child and £7.40 per adult.
If you’re looking for a pumpkin picking experience, Dobbies’ Pumpkin Patch is kicking off on Saturday 19 October across 20 stores, offering children the chance to enjoy some activities, seasonal treats and pumpkin of their choice to take home, priced at £9.99 per person.
Known for its love of dogs, Dobbies has also introduced a Pup-kin Patch for those who want their pooches to join in the fun. Priced at £8 per pup, this event allows dogs at Dobbies to explore the Pup-kin Patch and pick out a Halloween-themed toy to take home before getting their photo taken in an autumnal setting by a Dobbies colleague.
To learn more about the autumnal events and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events.
Celebrate the spirit of British summer sports with The Caledonian Edinburgh’s latest afternoon tea, featuring a variety of innovative sandwiches such as Squash, Chilli & Coconut Quiche; Hoisin Duck Crème Fraîche Wrap; and Steelhead Smoked Trout & Pear Chutney.
The pastry chefs have hit it out of the park with selections including the baseball Yogurt & Mango Compote Macaron; football Mint Buttercream & Lime Ganache Battenberg; and tennis Coconut Paste & White Chocolate Crunch Pepite – for sport fans and pastry lovers alike.
Standing proudly at the West End of Princes Street, this former Victorian railway building hotel nestles in the shadow of the imposing Edinburgh Castle. Its reputation for style and excellence has attracted generations of locals, internationals, and notable personalities for over one hundred years.
Formerly the station concourse and ticket office, The Lounge represents the historic heart of the Caley – the perfect setting for an unforgettable afternoon tea.
The British Summer Sports afternoon tea is available in The Lounge, The Caledonian Edinburgh daily from 12:30 – 4pm. Gluten free, vegan, and children’s menus are also available. The menu can be viewed here.
Bookings can be made by emailingdining@edinburghcaledonian.comor calling the reservations team directly at 0131 222 8832.
New menu is inspired by Edinburgh’s famous authors, their words and wisdom
One Square, The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa’s award-winning bar and brasserie, has unveiled a unique Afternoon Tea menu inspired by Edinburgh’s best storytellers and their famous tales.
Each dish will take guests on a journey of escapism through different chapters of history inspired by Edinburgh’s greatest stories, poetry and prose.
From Robert Burns to Irvine Welsh and many in between, the new afternoon tea menu draws inspiration from each storyteller’s depiction of our city and each dish represents a different chapter, fact or fiction, that will leave guests wanting to return time and time again.
One Square’s expert chefs have spent months researching both flavour and infamy to curate this one-of-a-kind menu.
The inventive menu consists of everything from Robert Burns’ Haggis Bon Bons with soured neeps chutney, to Irvine Welsh’s Lind & Lime Gin cured salmon, citrus brioche and smoked poppy seeds.
Edinburgh’s Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is represented on the new menu through a flavour-changing cucumber based sandwich with both hot and cooler taste profiles.
Other storytellers found on the sweet section of the menu are J.K Rowling and a wizard inspired Jelly Bean tart, Arthur Conan Doyle’s raspberry cranachan and an ode to Rob Roy with a dark chocolate sweet vermouth-laced sponge.
From £59 per person, guests can enjoy One Square’s afternoon tea from 12:30pm-5:00pm, Wednesday to Saturday. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available upon request.
Nick Durham, Director of Food and Beverage at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, explains:“Edinburgh – the world’s first UNESCO city of literature – is home to some of the greatest storytellers in the world, past and present.
“At One Square, we’re proud to have Scotland, and its stories, at the heart of everything we do. We wanted to create a menu that reflects and celebrates our deep-rooted culture and creativity. We’ve had a lot of fun designing our Afternoon Tea and believe the end result is unmatched and like no other.
“Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or simply fancy a relaxed afternoon with friends, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Residents and guests at Strachan House care home in Blackhallenjoyed a morning of quizzing and a classic English High tea as they hosted a virtual quiz with Goodson Lodge care centre in Trowbridge.
Residents in the Goodson Lodge Care centre were treated to irn bru, whisky and shortbread as both teams battled it out to see who would be crowned quiz master champion.
Teams from both the English and Scottish homes provided quiz questions about their country whilst the other side aimed to guess the answers with mouthfuls of their countries’ finest fare.
General Manager, Fran Fishersaid, “Our residents had a wonderful morning and were really excited to meet new people and learn lots of amazing new things.
“It’s always great to connect with others in the care industry and we hope we can continue for many years to come”.
The quiz held on Earth Day was a true celebration of community and coming together. The Scottish team took the win this year but, with this now being an annual event, we will see if the English team can make it a draw next year!
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides Nursing and Dementia carefor 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
