Review Of Jurassic Afternoon Tea At Apero London

Review Of Jurassic Prehistoric Dinosaur Themed Afternoon Tea


My son had a day off from school so I took him to a  Jurassic themed afternoon tea at the Ampersand hotel.

Jurassic Afternoon Tea
Located at Apero restaurant in South Kensington, London. I ordered a Jurassic themed afternoon tea - minus the fizz and kids vegetarian Jurassic afternoon tea. 

Savouries

On the bottom rack was a chicken pesto and lemon mayo brioche bun, topped with watercress. A mini quiche. Smoked salmon and cream cheese blinis, plus a roast beef sandwich bun. On the second tier were two scones freshly baked - one plain and one with cranberry and white chocolate.  

Scones

If like me, your favourite part of afternoon tea is the scones. You'll be very impressed with the scones at Apero. Not only do they come with all the traditional toppings of delicious clotted cream and strawberry jam. 

You can also try a tube of Aperos very own zesty lemon curd. Plus, with a kids Jurassic afternoon tea you get to enjoy three test tubes full of dried pineapple pieces. Chocolate crispies and freeze dried raspberries. Delightful sprinkled onto scones for that something extra!

Drinks

Should Afternoon tea not be complete for you without the addition of some bubbles - for an additional fee you can choose from a glass of non-alcoholic Wild Idol. Non-alcoholic sparkling rose. Charles Heidsieck brut or rose champagne.

Jurassic Afternoon Tea

Our hour and a half long afternoon tea sitting began with a hot chocolate for my son. Served in a large dinosaur print mug. Kids get to make their hot chocolate themselves by dunking a dinosaur shaped chocolate lolly into hot milk til it melts fully. Then topping with mini marshmallows and chocolate crisp balls. 

Jing Tea

To drink, I chose a hot pot of Darjeeling 2nd flush tea. A large black leaf Darjeeling picked from the organic Makaibari estate. With a muscat-like opening, floral, soft dry finish. Suitable with or without milk. Served complete with a strainer and sugar to taste. 

Guests can choose to have more than one tea refill, along with extra sandwiches at no extra cost.

For my second tea The Jasmine silver needle with its delicate flavours in which light orchard-blossom sweetness combines with flagrant jasmine to soft vanilla effect.

Jurassic themed afternoon tea
Dinosaur shaped jam sandwich for kids

The teas available at Apero are sourced from distinctive single garden teas by Jing. With eight flavours to choose from, including Ampersand hotels very own blend - described as a balanced and full-bodied tea with rich malt followed by a light and flagrant finish. 

The earl grey made of whole leaf Ceylon scented with bergamot and sprinkled with corn flowers. 

Jade sword tea grown in the misty mountains in China Jiande Green tea terroir. A bright and fresh tea.

Rooibos We've gently tangy notes of Seville orange combine with soft-textured hints of vanilla.

Organic Yunnan tea with a beautiful soft texture. Sweet in character with floral notes and violet. 

The premium Genmaicha tea with organic kabusecha green tea combined with roasted brown rice.

Cakes and Pastries 

On the top tier of my tea rack was an amazing array of sweet treats. All dinosaur themed of course! The favourite being what I like to call a reverse mini volcano. Why reverse? Well, it's a baked alaska with a lemon flavour ice cream centre. Coated with sticky, lemon meringue and a vibrant orange coloured lemon sauce flowing out the top. So, instead of the hot lava of an actual volcano - you'll enjoy a frozen lemon treat. 

My dessert platter also included a macaron with a dinosaur footprint. Dark chocolate caramel and red currant dinosaur egg nest. With a chocolate egg and a caramel centre. Even some edible bright green grass, a dinosaur shaped chocolate and realistic looking chocolate mousse in the shape of pre-historic mountain landscapes. 

Children's Menu

The savouries on the kids rack include a mini hot dog that can be ordered as a meat or vegetarian option. A dinosaur shaped jam sandwich and a cheesy baked t-rex footprint. Plus the same traditional scones and almost identical, mouthwatering desserts on the top tier. However Instead of a macaron, a strawberry and orange jelly dinosaur.

All afternoon tea options are able to be customised for vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free and allergen free enjoyment. 

Tea Pot Tails Cocktails At Apero 

Add-ons include Jurassic Park themed cocktails. The Dino sour. T-rex mex or raptor brew. 

Dino sour includes dry gin, white wine syrup, lemon juice, passion, fruit, liqueur, pineapple juice, and angostura. With the non-alcoholic version, including non-alcoholic, gin, passion, fruit puree, lemon and pineapple juice.

The T-Rex Mex cocktail includes hibiscus infused, tequila, red wine syrup, pineapple juice and lemon juice. With the non-alcoholic version including non-alcoholic, tequila, rose syrup, pineapple juice, and lemon juice. 

The raptor brew cocktail includes rum lime, apple juice, sugar syrup, egg white and matcha powder. With the non-alcoholic version including lime and non-alcoholic, tequila, apple juice, egg white and matcha powder.

These cocktails are available to enjoy with or without the purchase of a afternoon tea - and sound delicious, especially on a hot day.

Every attention to detail has been made at Jurassic afternoon tea. The kids Jurassic afternoon tea comes impressively stacked on a green tyrannosaurus Rex shaped tea rack. Whilst mine featured fine bone china plates with dinosaur skeleton bones print.

When afternoon tea arrives, your waiter explains every dish. Then creates an amazing immersive experience with mist bubbling up, covering the table before you and your guests get to tuck in. 

Last but not least for kids to enjoy is a silver tin with a dinosaur print. Children are equipped with a brush and told that there are edible things to find inside their box at the end of their tea. 

*Spoiler alert! Hidden in the box is edible soil covering a fossil biscuit and dinosaur shaped chocolates.

Service from all staff members was warm and attentive during our stay. We even got to take home some of the delicious edible artwork that we couldn't finish. Our take home boxes were a Jurassic shade of green with gold dinosaur head fossil outlines on each box. 

My son and I both enjoyed our time at Apero. I can't usually get my 7-year-old to sit still whilst eating but there was enough going on at this afternoon tea to hold his attention for the whole duration of our stay, with generous portions enough to enjoy some take home snacks.

The bill even arrived with more Jurassic themed treats - Lollies for all guests to take home!


Getting There

Apero restaurant is conveniently located at 2 Harrison Road SW7 3ER - a main road within walking distance of public transport. 

Underground/Tube :

The District Line, Circle and Piccadilly line serve South Kensington Station - a mere 3 minutes walk to the restaurant. 

Buses : 

360, 345, C1, 14, 74

About Jurassic Themed Afternoon Tea

Jurassic themed afternoon tea at Apero was launched in 2022. Designed with the time when dinosaurs roam the earth in mind. If you or any little ones are obsessed with dinosaurs or the shows, this is the afternoon tea for you. Now that there are children's cartoons of Jurassic Park - The Jurassic Park cult franchise has become a family favourite.

Jurassic tea at Apero is inspired by their award-winning science themed afternoon tea. An option still available to book should you so choose.

About Apero Restaurant 

Mediterranean restaurant - Apero. Is Situated on Harrison Road, with its own entrance - separate from the adjoining Ampersand hotel. With an all-day menu into the late evening and a cocktail bar.

The restaurant is located in the Victorian cellar arches basement of the Ampersand hotel. Which features exposed brick walls, leather snugs and spanish tiled floors.

About The Ampersand Hotel

The Ampersand Hotel is a luxury 5-star boutique hotel located in South Kensington, London. Housed in an 1888 Victorian building in Harrison Road SW7.

Ampersands
The hotel has unique character inspired by Victorian values of discovery and wonder. The rooms are themed around astronomy, botany, music, geometry, and ornithology. Drawing inspiration from the nearby museums. Bedrooms feature individually decorated designs with bold contemporary wallpaper and original Victorian features. 

The family friendly hotel features 111 rooms with toiletries by Malin + Goetz. A wine room for private hire. Gym and family games room.

The Ampersand is a dog-friendly hotel. (Up to two pets per room with beds, treats, and bowls provided).


Other Local Places To Stay



About The Area

South Kensington in southwest London is a famous location for tourists and local families alike. Thanks to the globally recognised museums on Exhibition Road. Museums such as the natural history museum and the Royal Albert Museum. 

The affluence of the area is another draw. With South Kensington's popular shopping and dining destinations. Live performance venues and more.

About Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is a cultural phenomenon that spans literature, film, science, and philosophy.

The Novel (1990)

Michael Crichton's novel was a techno-thriller that combined cutting-edge science with adventure. The book is notably darker and more complex than the film:

Scientific Foundation: Crichton meticulously researched genetics, chaos theory, and paleontology. The premise - extracting dinosaur DNA from mosquitoes preserved in amber was grounded in real scientific discussions of the era.

Chaos Theory: Mathematician Ian Malcolm serves as the philosophical voice, applying chaos theory to predict the park's inevitable failure. His arguments about complex systems, unpredictability, and humanity's hubris form the intellectual backbone.

Darker Themes: The novel includes more graphic violence, including children being attacked more severely. John Hammond is portrayed as a greedy, callous businessman rather than the lovable dreamer of the film.

Narrative Structure: Crichton uses computer readouts, genetic sequences, and technical diagrams throughout, giving it a documentary feel that enhanced credibility.

The Film (1993)

Steven Spielberg's adaptation became a landmark in cinema history:

Revolutionary Technology:

Industrial Light & Magic combined CGI with Stan Winston's animatronics to create the most realistic dinosaurs ever seen on screen!

The T-Rex attack sequence used a combination of a full-scale animatronic (which weighed 13,000 pounds) and CGI.

Spielberg initially planned to use stop-motion but switched to CGI after seeing test footage. The film won three Academy Awards for technical achievement.

Narrative Changes:

Spielberg softened Hammond's character, making him sympathetic (perfectly cast with Richard Attenborough)

Increased the focus on wonder and spectacle over pure horror.

Made the children more central to the emotional core.

Streamlined the chaos theory discussions while maintaining their essence.

Cultural Impact:

Grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide (1993 dollars)
Reignited public fascination with dinosaurs, leading to a "Dino-mania" in the 1990s
Changed filmmaking forever - demonstrated CGI's potential for realistic creature effects.

The iconic logo, score (John Williams), and sound design became instantly recognizable.

Genetic Engineering Ethics:

The story explores "playing God" - whether humans should resurrect extinct species. Questions about corporate control of genetic technology. The unintended consequences of manipulating nature.

Chaos Theory:

Malcolm's central argument: complex systems are inherently unpredictable
"Life finds a way" - the theme that nature cannot be controlled. Small variables lead to catastrophic outcomes

Paleontology:

The film popularized the modern view of dinosaurs as active, intelligent creatures. Introduced terms like "velociraptor" to mainstream audiences.
Though it took liberties (Velociraptors were actually much smaller; the film versions are closer to Deinonychus)

Evolution and Adaptation:

The dinosaurs breeding despite being all female (using frog DNA that allows sex changes).
Demonstrates that extinction isn't necessarily permanent.
Questions about ecosystems and whether extinct species have a place in the modern world.

Philosophical Questions
Human Hubris: The park represents humanity's arrogance - the belief we can control nature through technology. Hammond's fatal flaw is thinking that enough money, planning, and security can contain primal forces.

Commercialization of Nature: The park is essentially a zoo/theme park hybrid, reducing magnificent creatures to entertainment. This critiques how capitalism commodifies everything, even life itself.

Responsibility: Grant's arc involves learning responsibility (for the children), while Hammond must face his irresponsibility in creating the park without considering consequences.

Sequels:

The Lost World (1997): Darker sequel with less wonder, more action.
Jurassic Park III (2001): Smaller-scale adventure film.
Jurassic World trilogy (2015, 2018, 2022): Rebooted the franchise with modern effects and new ethical questions about hybrid dinosaurs and genetic manipulation.

Legacy:

Spawned video games, toys, theme park attractions and child friendly cartoons.

Universal's Islands of Adventure features a Jurassic Park-themed area.
Influenced decades of creature features and adventure films.

Jurassic Park remains relevant, because its central questions persist:

As genetic engineering advances (CRISPR, de-extinction projects), the ethical debates are more real than ever.

Climate change and ecosystem collapse make questions about humanity's relationship with nature urgent.

The tension between scientific progress and caution continues in AI, cloning, and biotechnology.

The genius of Jurassic Park is that it works on multiple levels: as thrilling adventure, thoughtful science fiction, cautionary tale, and philosophical meditation on humanity's place in nature. It asks whether we should do something just because we can - a question that becomes more pressing every year.

About Afternoon Tea 

Afternoon tea is one of Britain's most beloved customs. A elegant yet comforting social ritual that combines food, conversation, and a certain civilized charm.

The Origins
The tradition is credited to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, around 1840. During the Victorian era, dinner wasn't served until 8 or 9 pm, leaving a long gap after lunch. 

The Duchess began requesting tea, bread and butter, and cakes be brought to her room in the late afternoon to ward off "that sinking feeling." She soon began inviting friends to join her, and the practice spread among the upper classes.

By the 1880s, afternoon tea had become a fashionable social event. Upper-class ladies would change into long gowns, gloves, and hats for the occasion, using it as an opportunity to socialize, gossip, and display their finest china and linens.

What Makes Afternoon Tea
The Tea Itself: Traditional choices include Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Darjeeling, or Assam - though nowadays, many establishments offer extensive tea menus. The tea is typically served in a proper teapot with loose leaves, accompanied by a strainer, milk jug, sugar bowl, and lemon slices.

The Three-Tiered Stand: The food is traditionally presented on a three-tiered cake stand, eaten from bottom to top:

Bottom tier - Sandwiches: Delicate finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off, typically including:

Cucumber and butter
Smoked salmon and cream cheese
Egg mayonnaise and cress
Ham and mustard
Coronation chicken (curried chicken with dried fruits)

The sandwiches should be thin, dainty, and easy to eat in a few bites.

Middle tier - Scones: Freshly baked scones (pronounced to rhyme with "gone" or "cone" depending on who you ask - a perpetual British debate!) served warm with:
Clotted cream (thick, rich cream from Devon or Cornwall)
Strawberry jam or lemon curd

The "Great Scone Debate": In Devon, you spread jam first, then cream. In Cornwall, cream first, then jam. People are surprisingly passionate about this.

Top tier - Pastries and Cakes: An assortment of sweet treats such as:
Victoria sponge cake
Lemon drizzle cake
Macarons
Éclairs
Fruit tarts
Battenberg cake

Afternoon Tea vs. High Tea
This is a common confusion! They're actually quite different:

Afternoon Tea (also called "Low Tea"):
Served between 3-5 pm
Light meal with tea, sandwiches, scones, and cakes
Called "low" because it was served on low tables in drawing rooms
Associated with the upper classes

High Tea:
Served between 5-7 pm
A more substantial meal - essentially an early dinner
Included meat dishes, pies, bread, butter, and tea
Called "high" because it was served at a dining table.

Working-class meal eaten after a day's labor
When tourists ask for "high tea" thinking they're getting the fancy experience, they're technically asking for the working-class dinner!

The Etiquette
While modern afternoon tea is more relaxed, traditional etiquette includes:
Stirring tea: Move the spoon back and forth (not in circles) without touching the sides of the cup, then place it on the saucer behind the cup.

Holding the cup: Pinch the handle between thumb and forefinger, with your middle finger supporting underneath - no pinkies up! (That's actually considered pretentious).

Eating scones: Break them with your hands rather than cutting with a knife, then add cream and jam to each bite-sized piece.

Napkin placement: On your lap, and dab (don't wipe) your mouth.

Eating order: Savory to sweet, bottom tier to top

More Afternoon Tea Options


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