Strand Palace has teamed up with traditional toyshop Benjamin Pollocks to launch a great value, family-friendly Christmas afternoon tea, packed with vintage fun and games to delight children and make nostalgic adults smile this festive season. Pollocks is a renowned London institution, famed for selling Victorian-style toy theatres since 1856, with a store in Covent Garden’s Piazza hall just a 4min walk from the hotel.
Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop Christmas Afternoon Tea starts from just £39 for adults and £19 for children (up to 12 years) and includes seasonal finger sandwiches, freshly baked plain & fruit scones and pastries inspired by traditional fairy tales and folklore such as ‘Sugar Plum fairy’s gold dusted chocolate and praline éclair’ and ‘Toymaker’s strawberry and vanilla yo-yo macaron’. For an extra sweet treat children will also receive a goodie bag to take home including a themed colouring sheet and pencils, a miniature Pollock’s cut-out theatre, plus a surprise toy to continue the play experience at home worth up to RRP £10.00 (examples include a traditional wooden tea party biscuit set or play theatre tickets). Also included in the goodie bag is a ticket that can be redeemed at Pollock’s Covent Garden toy store for a lucky dip (children) or a 20% discount (adults). Vegan and gluten-free menus will also be available as well as the option for adults to upgrade to a glass of bubbles for £8.
Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop Christmas Afternoon Tea starts from 7th November until the 31st December, served daily from 12:00 to 17:00 (last serving at 16:00), and will take place in Haxells Tearoom, situated within Strand Palace, located on the Strand. The art deco themed tearoom will be decked out with festive designs, including traditional nutcrackers, pop-up theatre-style menus and a Christmas tree tea stand. Hotel guests and passers-by alike can also enjoy the Pollock’s themed fun with a pop-up theatre selfie booth in the lobby which guests are encouraged to share on social media tagging @StrandPalace and @Benjamin_Pollocks_Toyshop to be in with a chance to win prizes of afternoon tea for two or a night at Strand Palace (subject to T&Cs).
Any guest who books a Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop Christmas Afternoon Tea will also have the option to enter into a grand prize draw to win the ultimate Pollock’s treasure box of games and goodies, worth RRP £60.00, plus a night’s stay at the hotel in a family/studio room worth £450 (subject to T&Cs).
In an effort to spread a little Christmas cheer beyond the hotel, Strand Palace will donate any excess goodie bags or toys that older children might like to re-house to The Toy Project’s ‘No Present Too Small’ drive. This charity initiative provides Christmas gifts to children in care and families in difficult circumstances across London.
A destination toyshop unlike any other, Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop brings theatre to life through play. Originally founded by Mr Pollock over 150 years ago, having moved around central London, it found its home in the Covent Garden Piazza hall and is now one of the few remaining traditional toy shops in the West End. Customers can re-live their childhood memories or make new ones through the classic toys, music boxes, puppets, books or the shop’s own range of theatres and paper models designed by contemporary artists. Pollocks are most famous for their Victorian toy theatres, known back then as ‘Juvenile Drama’, and originally made as souvenirs of live theatre to create further entertainment at home. Pollocks also specialise in shadow boxes, 3-D pictures to cut-out inspired by vintage toy construction sheets. Families will get a real ‘taste’ of the charm, history and magic of Pollocks through the many enjoyable elements of this afternoon tea experience.
The iconic Strand Palace hotel has been welcoming guests since 1909 in the heart of central London, only a stone’s throw from Covent Garden making it the perfect place to experience a merry afternoon tea after a spot of Christmas shopping, or before catching a nearby pantomime or musical.
For more information, to view the full menu or book Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop Christmas Afternoon Tea at Strand Palace visit https://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/strand-palace/christmas-afternoon-tea.html
