The Royal Hotel in Ventnor holds a unique and storied place in British history. More than just a luxurious escape, it was here, in these very gardens, that Queen Victoria herself helped popularise one of Britain’s most beloved traditions, afternoon tea.
In 1844, while visiting the nearby Steephill Castle, the young Queen Victoria made a stop at the Ventnor Hotel. So enchanted was she by the peaceful seclusion and mild climate of Ventnor that she often returned during her stays on the island. On such occasion, she hosted intimate tea gatherings at the hotel, decades before afternoon tea became a fashionable fixture of court life at Buckingham Palace and Osborne House.
These early tea parties were simple, elegant affairs. A selection of delicate sandwiches, seed and fruit cakes, and fine teas shared in good company amid the verdant surroundings of the island. It was during these moments that Queen Victoria began to embrace and refine what would soon become a defining ritual of the Victorian era.
INTERESTING FACT: The Victoria Sponge cake was originally baked for the children to enjoy instead of the seed and fruit cakes. It was only later that it would make its way onto the adult menu.
Inspired by these delightful gatherings, the tradition of afternoon tea soon found its way into the social calendar at Osborne House, her palatial retreat on the Isle of Wight, and Buckingham Palace. But it was at The Royal Hotel that the seeds of this tradition were first planted.
The Queen’s fondness for the Ventnor Hotel was so profound that it was soon granted the rare honour of being renamed The Royal Hotel, a mark of royal favour that endures to this day.
Today, guests can still indulge in an afternoon tea at The Royal Hotel, enjoying a spread not unlike the one Queen Victoria once favoured. Freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, fine teas, and exquisite pastries. In every cup poured and every treat enjoyed, one finds echoes of royal history and a tradition that continues to delight.
So as you sip your tea on the Isle of Wight, know that you are partaking in a ritual that began right here,where a Queen once sat, charmed by the simplicity of tea, cake, and conversation.
If your preferred dates show as unavailable online, please call our Reservations Team on 01983 852186, who will be happy to assist with your enquiry.
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