Afternoon Tea at MacDonald Inchyra Hotel, Falkirk, Scotland

We have just come back from a lovely Afternoon Tea at MacDonald Inchyra Hotel (http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk) in Falkirk, Scotland.

It was not a nice day, a little bit wet and grey at around 3 degree outside however considering that it is approaching mid January we should not complain about the weather.

I have been to this place a long long time ago but they must have done refurbishment, I thought the reception was quite welcoming and cosy with the decor being almost like someone's living room rather than cold, impersonal and business like.

We are a party of four - my mother-in-law Mary, my younger daughter Maria, my husband and me. Our table, that could seat 6 people, was already set for four of us so there is some extra room on the table, which was good.

As soon as we were seated, Mary spotted brown sugar cubes and popped one into her mouth like a candy.  There is also a big jug of cold water with ice cubes and a slice of lemon on our table, which I thought was a very nice gesture. It was also nice to get proper cloth serviettes instead of paper napkins.

Once someone came to take our orders for tea, our Afternoon Tea stand arrived in good time.

I phoned in advance that half of us would like vegetarian option. When the stand came to our table, we thought half of sandwiches on the bottom layer was vegetarian; it turned out that we got a separate plate for vegetarian options, along with another plate of cakes!!

Wow, what a spread!

Selections of sandwiches for standard one are smoked salmon, egg mayonnaise, ham, and cheese with pickles, along with mini canapés with brie cheese and caramelised onion chutney and sausage rolls. 

For vegetarian option, we got selections of egg mayo, cheese with pickles in white, brown and poppy seeds (?) breads as well as canapés of brie cheese with caramelised onion chutney and also smoked haddock (don't know why smoked haddock for vegetarian option but we are happy with this as we do eat fish; we just order vegetarian as it would be easier than explaining that we don't eat meat but we eat fish and seafood).

There were 8 scones - 4 plain ones and 4 with currants (or sultina?) which came with raspberry jam and cream.

Cakes were also delicious - lovely soft sponges including chocolate orange, fruit cake and ginger ones as well as mini tartlet with custard cream filling with strawberries. There were also boozy cherries too. 

This was actually itson voucher deal and we did not expect this much selections of sandwiches and cakes as well as generous portions. We got two teapots which they happily replenished for us right away when we asked and it was really a good brew. 

I saw other people having afternoon tea and they all seemed enjoying themselves too. The Bar/Restaurant area is very nice and relaxing with soft lighting. The place was busy enough but not too busy, staff let us take our time to enjoy our afternoon tea in a relaxing atomosphre and we never felt being rushed. 

I then notice there were few people coming into the bar in their fluffy white robes and slippers ordering drinks. The Hotel has spa facility and their Luxury Afternoon Tea Spa Day package includes fluffy robes, slippers and towels, 1 x 60 minute treatment such as stress-away muscle massage or hot stone full massage, use of spa facilities, afternoon tea and glass of fizz. Wow, that sounds really relaxing already. Just think -  having a lovely hot stone full body massage and then sauntering into the bar in a fluffy comfy robe and slippers for a glass of bubbly and later on, have a relaxing and lovely afternoon tea. It sounds like a lovely way to spend your weekend!

There were so much food and we could not finish all. We asked if we could take away cakes, which was no problem for them to arrange. 

We really enjoyed our Afternoon Tea experience at Macdonald Inchyra Hotel.  The hotel is located in Grangemouth area, which is primarily known for the large petrochemical industry including oil refinery. It's not a sort of place you think of coming unless you got business here, that being said, it is central to Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh to visit as tourists; it is also easy access to the Kelpies, the largest equine sculptures of 30 meters high. And from our house, it is probably around 30 minutes drive. You never know. We may come back to this hotel again for spa break with afternoon tea....

We have had a lovely afternoon tea today and it was a great way to start our weekend ....

That's all forks!