02/11/26

Review of Once Upon a Villain: A Wickedly Wonderful Afternoon Tea at London Hilton on Park Lane

Afternoon tea has always had a fairy-tale quality, but at London Hilton on Park Lane, the story takes a deliciously dark turn. Forget the princesses for a moment, this autumn, it's the villains who are taking their turn. Following the hotel's popular Disney Princess-inspired afternoon tea, Park Corner Brasserie has introduced Once Upon a Villain, a new experience inspired by some of Disney's most notorious characters. Created by Head Pastry Chef Sam Leatherby, winner of Bake Off: The Professionals, it's a playful reimagining of the traditional afternoon tea, with mischievous references and imaginative patisserie.

We went along to experience it for ourselves and discover what deliciously wicked surprises were in store. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, Park Corner Brasserie has a designated area for its Disney afternoon tea, where we were shown to a cosy table and settled in for the afternoon. The savoury selection arrived first, with a series of cleverly named sandwiches, each inspired by a familiar fairy tale. There's Don't Forget to Warn Him About the Cat!, a comforting combination of cheese and sweet onion marmalade, while Ma Chérie pairs smoked salmon with cream cheese. The Carriage Awaits brings chicken and pumpkin butter together in a nod to Cinderella's enchanted carriage, and From the Bayou offers roast beef with mayonnaise and lettuce.

What we particularly liked was that, despite the playful theme, the sandwiches were genuinely delicious and beautifully prepared, refined enough to keep the grown-ups just as happy as younger guests with a slightly more adventurous palate. After the savouries, the patisserie arrived, bringing a little more of the Disney storytelling to the table.

Presented in an elegant white chest of drawers, the cakes were revealed one layer at a time, each little drawer concealing another imaginative creation. It's a charming touch, and certainly a departure from the usual tiered afternoon tea stand. For younger guests, there's the added fun of discovering what's hidden inside each drawer. Among the collection of delicacies, our favourite was the Enchanting Apple, a delicate combination of apple crumble sponge, caramelised apple and custard mousse. Beautifully presented on a Sleeping Beauty-style antique hand mirror, it was as lovely to look at as it was to eat, with a pleasing balance of flavours that wasn't overly sweet.

Elsewhere, Between Two Thorns combines blueberry compote with vanilla cheesecake and chocolate biscuit, while Deep Sea Swirl brings together chocolate shortbread, salted caramel crémeux, blackberry gel and vanilla mousse. The Fairest of Them All is a richer affair, pairing dark chocolate ganache with cherry compote, while Mystic Top Hat offers black velvet cake, banana ganache and toffee.

The cakes are undeniably indulgent, leaning towards deep chocolate flavours, dark fruits and rich, creamy textures. Beautifully presented, they offer a more sophisticated take on the usual afternoon tea sweets for little ones, with flavours that may particularly appeal to older children and those with a slightly more adventurous palate. Of course, no afternoon tea would be complete without scones, and here they arrive as The Scones of Mischief. Alongside the traditional plain scones are rather dramatic black cherry and blueberry versions, their darker colour perfectly in keeping with the theme. And just when we thought the afternoon's little surprises were over, our waiter appeared carrying a Tiffany-blue velvet cushion, upon which sat a delicate glass slipper filled with chocolate truffles. A lovely finishing touch and one of the more memorable moments of the afternoon.

What makes Once Upon a Villain enjoyable is the way the Disney references are woven throughout the menu and presentation, with clever little details that bring the stories to life. It's a charming interpretation of the theme, allowing the food itself to take centre stage. For families and Disney fans, it's an appealing way to spend an afternoon in London, with plenty to capture younger imaginations while the grown-ups enjoy a rather sophisticated afternoon tea. A little Disney magic, a few delicious surprises and a lovely excuse to spend some time together.

Available: Daily, 12.30pm–7pmPrice: £70 per adult | £45 per child

Address: 22 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1BE

For more information or to book, click here.

Written by Claire Bloom

Photography courtsey of London Hilton on Park Lane

Review of Once Upon a Villain: A Wickedly Wonderful Afternoon Tea at London Hilton on Park Lane

15 hours ago

3 min read

Afternoon tea has always had a fairy-tale quality, but at London Hilton on Park Lane, the story takes a deliciously dark turn. Forget the princesses for a moment, this autumn, it's the villains who are taking their turn. Following the hotel's popular Disney Princess-inspired afternoon tea, Park Corner Brasserie has introduced Once Upon a Villain, a new experience inspired by some of Disney's most notorious characters. Created by Head Pastry Chef Sam Leatherby, winner of Bake Off: The Professionals, it's a playful reimagining of the traditional afternoon tea, with mischievous references and imaginative patisserie.

We went along to experience it for ourselves and discover what deliciously wicked surprises were in store. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, Park Corner Brasserie has a designated area for its Disney afternoon tea, where we were shown to a cosy table and settled in for the afternoon. The savoury selection arrived first, with a series of cleverly named sandwiches, each inspired by a familiar fairy tale. There's Don't Forget to Warn Him About the Cat!, a comforting combination of cheese and sweet onion marmalade, while Ma Chérie pairs smoked salmon with cream cheese. The Carriage Awaits brings chicken and pumpkin butter together in a nod to Cinderella's enchanted carriage, and From the Bayou offers roast beef with mayonnaise and lettuce.

What we particularly liked was that, despite the playful theme, the sandwiches were genuinely delicious and beautifully prepared, refined enough to keep the grown-ups just as happy as younger guests with a slightly more adventurous palate. After the savouries, the patisserie arrived, bringing a little more of the Disney storytelling to the table.

Presented in an elegant white chest of drawers, the cakes were revealed one layer at a time, each little drawer concealing another imaginative creation. It's a charming touch, and certainly a departure from the usual tiered afternoon tea stand. For younger guests, there's the added fun of discovering what's hidden inside each drawer. Among the collection of delicacies, our favourite was the Enchanting Apple, a delicate combination of apple crumble sponge, caramelised apple and custard mousse. Beautifully presented on a Sleeping Beauty-style antique hand mirror, it was as lovely to look at as it was to eat, with a pleasing balance of flavours that wasn't overly sweet.

Elsewhere, Between Two Thorns combines blueberry compote with vanilla cheesecake and chocolate biscuit, while Deep Sea Swirl brings together chocolate shortbread, salted caramel crémeux, blackberry gel and vanilla mousse. The Fairest of Them All is a richer affair, pairing dark chocolate ganache with cherry compote, while Mystic Top Hat offers black velvet cake, banana ganache and toffee.

The cakes are undeniably indulgent, leaning towards deep chocolate flavours, dark fruits and rich, creamy textures. Beautifully presented, they offer a more sophisticated take on the usual afternoon tea sweets for little ones, with flavours that may particularly appeal to older children and those with a slightly more adventurous palate. Of course, no afternoon tea would be complete without scones, and here they arrive as The Scones of Mischief. Alongside the traditional plain scones are rather dramatic black cherry and blueberry versions, their darker colour perfectly in keeping with the theme. And just when we thought the afternoon's little surprises were over, our waiter appeared carrying a Tiffany-blue velvet cushion, upon which sat a delicate glass slipper filled with chocolate truffles. A lovely finishing touch and one of the more memorable moments of the afternoon.

What makes Once Upon a Villain enjoyable is the way the Disney references are woven throughout the menu and presentation, with clever little details that bring the stories to life. It's a charming interpretation of the theme, allowing the food itself to take centre stage. For families and Disney fans, it's an appealing way to spend an afternoon in London, with plenty to capture younger imaginations while the grown-ups enjoy a rather sophisticated afternoon tea. A little Disney magic, a few delicious surprises and a lovely excuse to spend some time together.

Available: Daily, 12.30pm–7pmPrice: £70 per adult | £45 per child

Address: 22 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1BE

For more information or to book, click here.

Written by Claire Bloom

Photography courtsey of London Hilton on Park Lane