Afternoon tea on the Isle of Wight, by the sea in Shanklin

There is a particular hour on the Isle of Wight, somewhere after the beach and before the evening, when the light softens over Sandown Bay and the only sensible thing to do is sit down with a pot of tea. We built our afternoon tea around that hour.

The Fig Tree is a 23-room boutique hotel on Queen’s Road in Shanklin, run by the two of us, sisters Wendy and Karen. Our terrace looks out over the bay, the beach is a five-minute walk down the hill, and the lounge bar is the kind of room people settle into and forget the time. If you are looking for afternoon tea on the Isle of Wight that feels unhurried rather than staged, this is what we do.

What is included in our afternoon tea?

We keep it traditional and generous. Every afternoon tea brings a tiered stand of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves, pastries, and a selection of speciality teas, with coffee if you would rather.

What sits on the stand shifts a little with the seasons and with whatever the kitchen has been baking that week, so if you would like the exact fillings and flavours before you sit down, ask us when you book and we will tell you.

Afternoon tea is £25 a head, or £30 a head with a glass of prosecco, and we serve it seven days a week. We do ask for at least 24 hours notice so we can bake for you.

We have also been playing with Isle of Wight-shaped scones. They are as fiddly to cut as you would imagine, and we are not promising them on every plate yet, but if you see one on your stand you will know we have got the cutter working.

When is afternoon tea served?

Every day of the week. All we ask is 24 hours notice, because we bake to order and would rather not serve you yesterday’s scone. Most guests come to us after a morning on the sand or a walk through the Chine, which is later than people often expect, and it suits us perfectly well.

Sittings move a little through the year, so tell us the day you have in mind and we will confirm the times we are serving. Whether you are staying with us or coming up from the seafront, a table booked a day ahead is the surest way to get the one you want.

The setting: terrace, sea view and lounge

On a fine day, take the terrace. It overlooks the bay, catches the afternoon sun, and the sea air does something to a scone that we cannot quite explain. When the weather turns, which it does here without warning, the lounge bar is warm, quiet and has the same view through the glass. If you decide to stay on into the evening, our happy hour runs every day from 5pm to 7pm, with 20 percent off all drinks.

There is a lift to every floor and step-free access throughout, so the terrace and lounge are easy to reach whether you are pushing a pram, a wheelchair or a tired grandparent.

If a full tiered stand is more than you want, our coffee and cake runs Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm, with no booking needed. Just walk in, sit down and have company with your slice. It is part of our events programme, alongside the open mic night and everything else we put on through the year.

Is afternoon tea at The Fig Tree dog-friendly?

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at The Fig Tree, and plenty of our regulars arrive with a sandy spaniel in tow after the beach. If your dog is joining you for afternoon tea, mention it when you book and we will seat you somewhere that suits you both.

If you are staying with us, small, well-behaved dogs are £30 per pet per stay in our selected dog-friendly rooms.

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergies

We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly diets with advance notice. Tell us when you book and we will build your stand around you rather than around a standard menu. This matters more for afternoon tea than almost any other meal, because so much of it is baked, so please give us as much warning as you can.

Tell us at the moment you book rather than on the day, and there is very little we cannot do for you.

How to book afternoon tea in Shanklin

Booking ahead is the safest way to guarantee a table, particularly on the terrace in summer and at weekends.

• Phone us on 01983 241 010
• Email [email protected]
• Or book direct through our website

If you are not sure which is easiest, phone us. It is usually the quickest way to settle a table, and we can answer anything else while we have you.

Make an afternoon of it: seafront, Chine and Old Village

Afternoon tea sits neatly in the middle of a Shanklin day. A few ideas from us, in roughly the right order.

Start on the seafront. Walk the Esplanade with the sea on one side and the cliffs on the other. Sandown is a flat, easy stroll along the front if you want to stretch it out, which also makes us a natural stop for anyone looking for afternoon tea near Sandown.

Climb through Shanklin Chine. The wooded gorge runs from the beach up towards the Old Village, all ferns, waterfalls and dripping rock. It is the sort of walk that earns a scone.

Wander the Old Village. Thatched cottages, small shops and a slower pace. From there it is a short walk back to us on Queen’s Road.

Then sit down. Terrace or lounge, pot of tea, watch the bay. If you have timed it well, the light will be doing its thing.

Afternoon tea gift vouchers

An afternoon tea for two makes a kind gift, and one that gets used rather than put in a drawer. We offer gift vouchers for stays, retreats and experiences at The Fig Tree, including afternoon tea. Get in touch and we will arrange the voucher for you.

Stay the night

Many of our afternoon tea guests are Island residents or day visitors, but if you are coming over on the ferry, it is worth knowing that we arrange discounted crossings for guests who book their stay direct with us. You can look through our rooms and suites before you decide; the suites have private balconies and sea views. Breakfast is included in every room rate and served in the restaurant from 8am to 10am, there is free Wi-Fi throughout, and we have 15 free parking spaces on site. Check in is from 3pm and check out by 11am, and our flexible rates can be cancelled up to 48 hours before you arrive. Afternoon tea on the day you arrive, a walk on the beach in the morning: that is a fairly good weekend.

We say “arrive as guests, leave as friends”, and afternoon tea is often where that starts.

Frequently asked questions

How much is afternoon tea at The Fig Tree Hotel? Afternoon tea is £25 per person, and £30 per person with a glass of prosecco. Please book at least 24 hours ahead so we can bake for you.

When is afternoon tea served, and how much notice do you need? Afternoon tea is served every day, with 24 hours notice, because we bake to order. If you would rather something simpler, our coffee and cake runs Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and needs no booking at all.

What is included in your afternoon tea? Finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves, pastries, and a selection of speciality teas, with coffee if you would prefer it.

Do I need to be a hotel guest to have afternoon tea? No. Non-residents are welcome; simply book a table in advance.

Is the terrace open all year? The terrace is lovely on a fine day in any season, but it is weather-dependent. When it is wet or windy, we serve afternoon tea in the lounge bar, which has the same view of the bay through the glass.

Can you cater for gluten-free or vegan afternoon tea? Yes, with advance notice. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly diets. Tell us when you book.

Is The Fig Tree accessible? Yes. There is a lift to all floors and step-free access, and we have 15 free parking spaces on site.

Can I bring my dog to afternoon tea? Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the hotel. Tell us when you book that your dog is coming and we will seat you accordingly.

Karen Cormack The Fig Tree Hotel, 10 Queen’s Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6AN