Traditional Afternoon Tea & Pimm’s Garden Party Experience

It works very well for corporate groups. In fact, it's a strong fit for summer socials, client hospitality, leadership gatherings, reward events and mixed team networking. Because the format is familiar and low pressure, guests settle in quickly and the event feels social rather than staged.

On its own, afternoon tea is more hospitality than team building. However, once you add hosted lawn game rotations, inter table croquet, tasting moments or light etiquette challenges, it becomes a relaxed team experience that helps people mix and talk more easily. If you want deep strategy or problem solving outcomes, this probably isn't the right event. If you want better connection and a more natural social atmosphere, it fits well.

No. We keep the games simple and the rules easy to follow. Croquet, quoits and similar garden games are straightforward to pick up, so people can join in without feeling behind. We brief everyone clearly, and guests can play as much or as little as they like.

Yes. We can serve tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcohol free summer serves, and we can theme them to match the look of the event. If some guests want Pimm's and others don't, that's easy to manage. The format doesn't rely on alcohol to work.

Most groups book this for 2 to 4 hours. That gives enough time for arrival drinks, some lawn games, the tea service and a relaxed social finish. If you want a half day format, we can stretch it with extra hosted elements, more game rotations or added entertainment.

No, but it is strongest outdoors. A garden, terrace or lawn gives the event its best feel, especially with lawn games in play. That said, we can adapt it for a marquee, orangery, atrium or indoor styled space if the venue doesn't have open grounds or if you want a wet weather backup.

We plan for that before the day. The usual answer is a marquee, covered terrace or indoor backup space, plus a layout that allows the food service and lighter activities to continue comfortably. We don't leave weather decisions to the last minute if it can be avoided.

Usually, yes, as long as we have the details in advance. Afternoon tea menus can be adapted for common dietary requirements, including vegan and gluten free options. As with most catering, there can still be allergen cross contact risks in preparation spaces, so we collect dietary information early and confirm what is possible before final numbers are locked in.

The earlier the better, because catering needs accurate information. In most cases we need final dietary details and confirmed numbers several working days before the event. We will give you a clear deadline during planning, so you know exactly when everything needs to be signed off.

Yes. It works for small hosted groups and it also scales well for large summer parties if the venue has the space. For bigger numbers, we usually spread the event across seating areas, bar points and game zones so guests aren't queuing for the same thing at once.

We can provide full event management, hosts, lawn game equipment, layout planning and coordination with catering and bar teams. We can also arrange furniture, styling and service elements depending on the venue and package. In practice, that means we take the work off your plate and keep the event moving, while your team just arrives and enjoys it.

It can be, and we plan it carefully. This event is often more accessible than high activity formats because there is plenty of seating and guests can join by choice rather than on command. The main thing to watch is the surface, because lawns can be uneven or soft for wheelchair users and some guests with mobility needs. Where possible, we use level routes, mixed surfaces and seating based participation so more people can take part comfortably.

Smart casual is usually right. If the event is outdoors, we'd suggest shoes that work on grass and a layer for typical British weather. Guests don't need to bring equipment or know the rules in advance, because we provide what is needed and explain everything on the day.