The Royal Opera House’s Alice in Wonderland tea

A gastronomic trip down the rabbit hole

Take a classic book, a dazzling ballet and a sumptuous tea and there couldn’t be a better way to introduce children to Wonderland.

To heighten The Royal Ballet’s colourful and imaginative interpretation of Alice’s trip down the rabbit hole at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the Alice Afternoon Tea (from Saturday December 6 to Friday January 16) will take place during the six-week spectacle.

A sumptuous take on the legendary tea party from the novel, the Alice Afternoon Tea features an Eat Me elderflower and gooseberry Victoria sandwich, a Mad Hatter’s teapot-shaped lemon and thyme sponge encased in white chocolate, the Knave’s stolen jam tart and a blue caterpillar teacake, all served with sandwiches, blinis and scones, and tea or Drink Me blackberry and apple lemonade (£18.75 for children, £37.50 for adults, or £47.50 with a glass of R de Ruinart champagne).

All dietary requirements have been considered, with vegan and vegetarian teas and gluten- and dairy-free menus available. On Alice non-performance dates, the tea will be held in the glass-vaulted Paul Hamlyn Hall, and on performance days it will be served in the cosy and Christmassy Crush Room.

“Alice in Wonderland is an iconic story that everyone has a connection with,” says the designer of the tea, pastry expert Claire Clark. “I took inspiration from traditional British classics, like a Victoria sponge, teacakes and jammy biscuits, and put a slight twist on each of them.”

A glorious seasonal outing, the story of Alice’s adventures as interpreted by dance, food and music will be a sensory treat – for all ages.