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Enjoying afternoon tea while perched on a gilded hotel armchair is a fine British tradition, but hardly sustainable as a regular pursuit. Throwing your own afternoon tea party means you can stick to your own budget, plus you can select your favourite finger food. We have some suggestions for throwing a soiree in style. The basic kit

If you own a tiered cake stand, dust it off and use it as the centerpiece of your table. Otherwise, use your best crockery and make it a little more special with lace-like doilies, folded napkins and name place signs.

If you want to go all out, charity shops are a good source for reasonable floral Chinaware - don't worry if the patterns are mismatched. Don't forget your teapot, teacups, cutlery and cake slices for serving.

Extend your table and throw on a table cloth - if you don't have one handy, fabric shops sell cheap spotted, floral and striped material by the metre. String up some bunting or, if you're feeling ambitious, bake up some edible bunting biscuits.

While you're at it, you could make some place-name cookies and ice them with your guests' names. Pop them in paper bags so your guests have a little present to take away - or just snaffle them as an entre. Coconut & cinnamon place-name cookies Edible name place biscuits

Make sure the sugar and milk is set on the table ready to pour your guests a cuppa as they sit down. Try to provide a variety of tea - Earl Grey, peppermint, camomile, fruit, herbal and, of course, English Breakfast.

Iced teamakes for a more refreshing tipple in warmer weather, and adding a touch of Pimm'swill really break the ice. You could also crack open the fizz and serve up asloe gin royaleor orange juice-basedmimosa- all the better if you have time for a nap before dinnertime.

There aren't any rules when it comes to the food, but a standard afternoon tea comprises a layer of sandwiches, a layer of cakes and a layer of scones or teacakes. However, you could also throw in pastries, petits fours or biscuits.

Don't wear yourself out by taking on too many ambitious bites, but if you feel like a challenge make sure you get your timings right.

These require minimal effort, but get ahead by preparing your fillings in advance and assembling just before proceedings begin to avoid the dreaded soggy sarnie.

Selection of summer sandwiches Carrot & raisin sandwiches Salmon club sandwich Best-ever crab sandwiches Smoked salmon & avocado open sandwich on rye bread

Scones are best eaten on the day and don't take long to whip up but if you want to get ahead, freeze a batch and defrost them in a low oven. Serve warm with lashings of jam - decant a pot of homemade preserve into a pretty bowl.

Scones:

Classic scones with jam and clotted cream Lemon drizzle scones Walnut scones Cherry scones

Jam:

Keep it simple:

A little effort:

Sugared flower shortbreads Carrot cake cookeis Ginger cookie sandwiches with lemon mascarpone Coconut nice Strawberry & cream roly polys

Just the mere mention of Parisian-standard pastry is enough to send shivers down the spine of your average home cook. If you're willing to take them on, prepare the pastry or biscuits the night before.

Raspberry millefeuilles Mini eclairs Chinon apple tarts Salted caramel & popcorn crumble choux buns Creme brulee tartlets

Individual portions are the key here, so avoid making a large cake and bake up something dinky.

Coffee & walnut flapjacks Blood orange & poppy drizzle muffins Little pistachio cakes Coconut chai traybake Strawberry & polenta cupcakes

Pull out all the stops and serve up something really special.

Blood orange & dark chocolate madeleines Star anise meringues with mango coulis Apple rose tart Raspberry, lemon and frangipane tart Iced vanilla & caramel profiteroles

Lemon bars Doughnut muffins Gypsy tart with lemon cream Lingonberry & ginger cheesecake pots Seville meringue pie with pomegranate Quick & easy tiramisu Bourbon, black cherry & bacon brownies

Have you thrown your own afternoon tea party? Share your tips with us below. Or if you still need inspiration, take a look through our afternoon tea recipe collection.

Read more from the original source:
How to throw an afternoon tea party | BBC Good Food