The next party...26th May...'50's Jubilee Tea Party...Frock and Roll!

So, a lot has been happening at The Secret Tea Party H.Q since the last party. Vintage Sunday was amazing and we were so honoured to have Pearl Lowe there judging the Best Dressed Competition which was won by the gorgeous Gemma.

We've also been running lots and lots of hen parties every weekend which has been fabulous and we have  many more to come over the summer, but that doesn't mean we don't have room for more. So do email secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com if you would like information about private parties. Also, if you fancy buying or hiring any china or snapping up hen party fripperies, pop along to www.mrsstokes.com where Mr Stokes has started giving it a bit of a revamp and will be adding more and more treats and treasures as the months go by.

Finally, I want to tell you about three new parties, one on 30th June in the Bath Society Meeting Room and one in September which is a SECRET location just outside Bath. But the first is on the 26th May at the Bath Society Meeting Room which is a Fifties Jubilee special  - Frock and Roll. Starts 1pm for 1.30pm.

Here's what's included in your ticket price...

*Full afternoon tea on Mrs Stokes' Vintage China 

*Unlimited tea with milk and sugar

*Glass of bubbly per person

*Free Swing and Jive workshop by Hoppin' Mad

*Live music from Fifties combo, The Roadside Roosters (complete with double bass)

*One raffle ticket per person
*Cocktail Bar

And also available will be

*Exclusive, authentic Fifties clothes to buy from Cock-a-Doodle Vintage (pre-book to come and browse at 12.30 and buy your outfit by emailing secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com)

*Vintage hair and make-up from The Pop Up Parlour (£18pp including accessories)

*The chance to buy more tickets for the Right Royal Raffle - prizes include a bottle of bubbly from Green Park Brasserie, two tickets to the Burlesque Expo, a cake-stand from Fairyglass.co.uk and two tickets to the next Secret Tea Party (June 30th).

 Tickets are just £25pp 

Groups of 4+ please email secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com if you would like to reserve a table

March 17th's Secret Tea Party Dance Party!

I can't believe that it's MARCH already! And that our second tea party of the year is coming up fast - on Saturday in fact. As it's the day before Mother's Day there will be complimentary flowers for any lucky mum there, so if you are coming, please do email secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com to let me know so we can reserve a table for you both - or if you are in a group, such as a hen or birthday party, please also email me to set a table aside for you.

Here's a line-up of what we will be doing..

SATURDAY MARCH 17TH SECRET TEA PARTY DANCE PARTY

*Afternoon tea on Mrs Stokes vintage china

*Swing and Jive workshop by Must Dash Dance

*Optional makeovers (payable on the day) by The Pop Up Parlour

*Complimentary glass of bubbly per person

*Talk by blogger Maxine Jones life as part of The 1940's Family

*Complimentary flowers for mothers 

Of course, this party is not just mums and daughters, it's open to all and with our Wartime Glamour theme, we are looking forward to an afternoon of pretty dresses and tea and cake - without the powdered egg! We've got two new dance teachers this weekend - Must Dash Dance - who will be teaching a swing and jive routine and hopefully three jazz singers from Bristol too. The Pop Up Parlour makeover team will be there, so you can get your hair in Victory Rolls if you wish (payable on the day). And finally we have blogger Maxine Jones coming to talk about her blog, The 1940s Family, which should be fascinating. She's bringing her family too and will be telling us all about what it's like to live a 1940's lifestyle in the 21st Century. Here are a few pictures to whet your appetite and if you haven't already bought your ticket, buy them here.

Blogger Maxine

The 1940s Children

The 1940's Family take the train

Day out

Latest film from The Secret Tea Party

Ever wondered what happens at a Secret Tea Party? Here's the latest film of what happened in January 2012. If you fancy coming along we'd love to see you, click here for ticket information. And if you would like us to put on a private party for you, don't hesitate to email secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com. See you soon!

Pearl Lowe judging Best Dressed on April 1st!

OOo the most exciting news is that Pearl Lowe is juding the Best Dressed competition on April 1st at The Secret Tea Party that is part of Vintage Sunday. In case you don't know, Vintage Sunday is part of Bath in Fashion which is a week of fabulous style events in the city including a talk by Manolo Blahnik! On Vintage Sunday (April 1st) there will be a huge vintage fashion fair at Green Park station (the BathVA Vintage Fashion Fair) plus The Secret Tea Party above the Green Park Brasserie with Charleston dancing, Pearl Lowe's Best Dressed Competition and Scarlet Vintage, Bath's best-loved vintage boutique - giving a what-to-wear style clinic. If you fancy tickets they are on sale through this site for a special price of £25 until Feb 1st only after which time they will be available for £30 through the Bath in Fashion website www.bathinfashion.co.uk.


Watch Pearl Lowe talk about vintage in Bath and Vintage Sunday here. Film made by Bubblehead Media @bubbleheadmedia

Christmas Secret Tea Parties

It occurred to me the other day that The Secret Tea Party wasn't just for summer and hen parties..because in fact they make unusual and affordable Christmas parties too. So I am launching my special Christmas Secret Tea Party service this week, with dainty turkey sandwiches and slices of fruit cake all served up on vintage china. The price will be from £16.50 per head for catering and china so if you or your friends or your office is interested in a posh party rather than cheap paper hats and a rubber roast, get in touch secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com. OOO I'm dreaming of a White Cakey Christmas...

The Secret Christmas Tea Party Package

2 rounds of the following sandwiches: Turkey and Cranberry Mayo, Blue Cheese, Pear and Chutney, Ham and Honey mustard, Egg and Cress or Cucumber and Cream Cheese or Cheddar and Chutney

Fruit Scone with butter

One choice Orange Chocolate Fudge Slice, Cherry and Almond Slice, Victoria Sponge slice, Lemon Iced Gingerbread slice, Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese filling

Iced rich fruit slice

Mini Christmas Iced cookie (choice of Golden Ginger, Citrus or Chocolate)

Glass of bubbly per person

Full china hire

Bottomless tea with milk and sugar

Minimum 6 people. Discounts for large parties (over 20)

Please email secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com for more details

A Secret Tea Party on the farm

I spent a wonderful afternoon down on the farm today - running a Secret Tea Party for a group of hens who were staying in Bathampton near Bath. They'd booked holiday cottages at New Leaf Farm which is just before Bathampton Mill and the toll bridge or just after depending on where you're coming from - either way you probably have to go over it at least once when you stay there. I nearly missed it on the drive there as the sign is quiet small but now I know where it is it seems simple to find.

There was a cute three-legged black cat there when I got out of my van and the owner Steve told me that  it doesn't belong to the farm but to someone down by the post office. It's a very friendly cat - and black - and what with its colour and lack of a leg I think that must be a good omen. I took a pic of it rolling on the ground - it looks like it's brown but it's black - promise.

The cottages are all converted Georgian farm buildings renovated to a modern standard and seem perfect for a group. Today's party was for nine and they managed to just about squash round the kitchen table in the cottage called "The Stables"

The hens didn't really know each other, so after a morning at the spa, the tea was the next chance to get to know each other. They ordered "Package A - The Audrey" - a classic menu of egg and cress dainty sandwiches, chicken and rocket finger sandwiches, lemon polenta cake, chocolate brownies, scones with jam and cream plus Victoria sponge fingers, all prepared this morning and served on vintage china from Mrs Stokes Vintage China. Plus they had unlimited tea and had also asked for a glass (or two in some cases) of bubbly each.

They seemed to bond during the afternoon. To start, they played a quiz all about the bride that the chief-bridesmaid had devised and after they'd feasted on the sugary fancies, they decorated cupcakes using cakes and decorations they brought themselves while I washed up. And by the end of the afternoon it felt like the group were well on their way to forming friendships that are going to last them well beyond the wedding. I like to think it was the chocolate brownie that did it...but I suspect the Prosecco helped!

Charleston and Cake - the film

Mr Stokes made this film of what happened on the 4th June at the last Secret Tea Party! Have a look to see what they are all about and sign up the mailing list to be kept up-to-date about all the future events. Don't forget I can arrange private parties too...Love Mrs Stokes (that's me in the turquoise and pink dress)