Afternoon Tea as it was meant to be taken
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
– Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady
The Invitation
Have you ever wondered what afternoon tea is really like in a grand English private house?
Afternoon tea began not in grand hotels but in the private drawing rooms of the English aristocracy. Regal Afternoon Tea by Julius returns to those origins: an intimate, unhurried experience hosted in the manner of a private house, by a butler who served the late Queen Elizabeth II.
A private tea experience that returns to the very origins of a great British tradition
Be among the first to receive an invitation.
The Setting
Tea in a private drawing room
Afternoon tea, as an institution, began not in a restaurant or a hotel but in the private rooms of an English country house. It was intimate, unhurried, and wonderfully comfortable. Regal Afternoon Tea by Julius returns to those origins. Your tea is served in the drawing room of Keythorpe Hall, a private estate in the Leicestershire countryside, or a Georgian townhouse in the heart of London. The setting is domestic, the atmosphere one of genuine hospitality, and the occasion entirely yours.
The Service
Served by a former Royal butler
Julius Smith spent over thirty years as a butler to international royalty and titled families across Europe and the Middle East. He served Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and has personally attended to more than twenty Heads of State. He brings to every guest the same quiet attentiveness, the same instinct for detail, and the same warmth of welcome that defined his years in Royal and private service.
The Menu
Prepared by a former Royal Household chef
The menu follows the traditions of a grand private household. Finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and preserves, cakes and seasonal specialities, and (for those who are curious) crepes Islandaise, which was a particular favourite of the late Duke of Edinburgh. Every course is prepared by a former chef from the Royal Household, who brings the same exacting standards to your table that he once brought to theirs.
A distinguished career in private service
Private. Authentic. Served by a former Royal butler.
There is a particular art to private hospitality. It is not quite the same thing as professional catering, and it is a world away from the bustle of a busy dining room. It lies in a hundred small things: the way a cup is presented, the timing of each course, the warmth of a genuine welcome rather than a rehearsed performance.
Julius Smith learned these distinctions over three decades serving in the private apartments of palaces and country estates. His career has been defined by three principles: attention to detail, commitment to quality, and belief in discreet service. Working alongside him is a former chef from the Royal Household, who shares those same standards.
Together, they recreate the authentic experience of afternoon tea as it was taken in England’s grandest private homes. It is a tradition that stretches back to the 1840s, when the Duchess of Bedford first took tea and cake in her rooms at Woburn Abbey to ease that famous ‘sinking feeling’ between lunch and dinner. The custom spread, the rituals accumulated, and a great British institution was born.
Now, for the first time, Julius is bringing that tradition, with all its charm and comfort and quiet ceremony, to a small number of private guests.
A word from Julius
Before we open our doors, Julius would like to introduce himself and tell you a little about what awaits.
Private Waitlist Now Open
An invitation awaits
Be the first to know
Regal Afternoon Tea by Julius is opening its doors for the first time. Join the waiting list and you will be among the first to receive an invitation, before dates are released to the public.
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