While afternoon tea is a delightful treat, unfortunately it is now reserved for weekends amongst the hordes or for ladies who lunch and fops who feast. Effectively, anyone who’s wearing trenches throughout Knightsbridge and isn’t a camera-wielding tourist vying to collect  a souvenir telephone money-box or tea towel from Harrods.

While the fashion set isn’t known for its appetite, The Berkeley London offers a designer afternoon tea: Prêt-à-Portea. Not to be confused with the sandwich chain with the miserable-looking fare staring from captivity in their refrigerated prisons, the hotel’s afternoon tea has a menu inspired by the current season’s fashions, refreshed twice annually.

Served in the Caramel Room daily from 1 to 6pm, a selection of savouries are served with teas and sweet treats. With dedications to fashion designers including Tom Ford, Chloé, Victoria Beckham, Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney, cakes are shaped like miniature shoes, bags and garments, including a raspberry and lychee cream jumpsuit with over-sized chocolate flower belt and a strawberry and rhubarb bavarois dress with flattering gold button detail; all served on fine-bone china by Paul Smith for Thomas Goode … naturally.

At £36.50 per person, fashionable afternoon tea at The Berkeley is a fraction of the cost of a splurge in Selfridges. Of course, for those unable to forgo a glass of champagne with their meal, there are two additional tiers: Champagne Prêt-à-Portea, which comes with a glass of Laurent-Perrier for £46.50 per person; or Couture Prêt-à-Portea, which is accompanied by either a glass of Billecart-Salmon Rosé, Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut or Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle for £53.00.

And if you’re trop occupé to make it from the day spa and a credit card work-out, Prêt-à-Portea now comes to you aboard a Vespa in its very own handbag take away box. It’s so ridiculously chic.

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