afternoon tea in Halifax - Calderdale, WeSt Yorkshire
Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at Holdsworth House, a historic country house hotel just outside Halifax in Calderdale, West Yorkshire.
Afternoon tea is served daily from 12.30pm to 5.00pm and includes freshly baked scones, homemade cakes, delicate finger sandwiches and seasonal sweet treats. Our afternoon tea menu changes seasonally and throughout the year we offer special afternoon teas for Easter, Valentine's, Mothers Day and Christmas. We offer a range of different priced options from Traditional Afternoon tea to Champagne Afternoon Tea as well as children's menus.
Choose a cosy table by the fire in winter or sit outside on the terrace or in the Colonnade Courtyard when the weather is kind. Pre-booking is recommended. You can book online or by calling us on 01422240024
If you'd like to book for more than six guests or you're interested in one of our private dining room please call us. You can find more details on group bookings here.
Traditional Afternoon Tea at Holdsworth House
For more than 60 years, Holdsworth House has been a destination for traditional afternoon tea in Halifax and Calderdale, welcoming guests from across West Yorkshire and beyond to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and unhurried afternoons together. Set within our historic Jacobean manor, ther Holdsworth House afternoon tea is rooted in history and tradition, in a setting that is both elegant and timeless.
Afternoon tea is served in the restaurant, hall or bar, each offering its own character and atmosphere. Original wood panelling, open fireplaces, antique furnishings and vintage china create a distinctly British experience indoors, while on warmer days afternoon tea can also be enjoyed on the garden terrace or in the Colonnade Courtyard, with views across the historic formal gardens.
Guests can expect a classic three-tier stand featuring a balance of savoury bites, homemade patisserie and freshly baked plain and fruit scones, served with your choice of tea or coffee. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available with prior notice.
Afternoon tea is served daily 12.30pm to 5.00pm. Scones are baked fresh to order, so advance booking is recommended to ensure everything is prepared perfectly for your table.
Holdsworth House Hotel is located just outside Halifax. You can find parking information and transport details below or on our directions page.
Sample Afternoon Tea Menu
The following is a guide to the style of afternoon tea served at Holdsworth House. Menus vary to reflect seasonality and availability.
Sandwiches
A selection of slender-cut finger sandwiches, freshly prepared by the kitchen and typically featuring a mix of classic savoury fillings.
Ham and mustard; smoked salmon and cream cheese; beef and red onion; hummus and red pepper
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available with advance notice.
Savoury Selection
A freshly prepared savoury element, changing regularly and designed to complement the sandwiches.
Patisserie Selection
A selection of homemade cakes and sweet treats, created by our pastry team and reflecting the season.
Warm Homemade Scones
Freshly baked plain and fruit scones, served warm with Chantilly cream and our homemade preserves.
“We visited Holdsworth House for traditional afternoon tea in Halifax to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The staff were attentive and genuinely welcoming, and we felt truly looked after. Relaxing in the gardens with a complimentary drink made the experience feel extra special.”
Pauline Brown
traditional afternoon tea prices
Afternoon Tea at Holdsworth House
Afternoon tea is served daily from 12.30pm to 5.00pm.
Please advise us of any dietary requirements when booking by calling 01422 240024.
Traditional Afternoon Tea
£32.95 per person | £16.45 per child
A classic three-tier afternoon tea featuring a selection of freshly prepared sandwiches,
homemade pastries and sweet treats, and warm plain and fruit scones served with
Chantilly cream and Yorkshire preserves. Served with your choice of tea or coffee.
Gin and Tonic Afternoon Tea
£40.95 per person
Traditional afternoon tea served with our gin and tonic of the month.
Classic Prosecco Afternoon Tea
£40.95 per person
Traditional afternoon tea served with a glass of chilled white Prosecco.
Champagne Afternoon Tea
£44.95 per person
Traditional afternoon tea served with a glass of chilled Champagne.
What Makes Afternoon Tea at Holdsworth House Special?
There are many places to enjoy afternoon tea in Halifax and across West Yorkshire, but Holdsworth House offers something distinctly different. Rather than a café-style experience, afternoon tea here is served within a historic country house hotel, surrounded by formal gardens and original Jacobean architecture. It feels like an occasion not simply a table booking.
Guests visit us for afternoon tea not only from Halifax, but from Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield, Leeds and across West Yorkshire for a setting that combines heritage, space and attentive service. Whether seated in the Panelled Room, one of our private dining rooms, or in the Colonnade Courtyard during warmer months, the atmosphere is relaxed, elegant and unhurried.
Each afternoon tea is prepared fresh to order, with seasonal variations introduced throughout the year and options ranging from traditional to Champagne and gin pairings. Gluten-free alternatives and children’s afternoon tea are available with advance notice, making it a thoughtful choice for birthdays, anniversaries and festive celebrations alike.
For those searching for afternoon tea in West Yorkshire that feels refined, welcoming and memorable, Holdsworth House remains one of the region’s most established destinations.
Afternoon Tea Gift Vouchers
Traditional afternoon tea makes a genuinely lovely gift. Our afternoon tea gift vouchers are valid for one year from the date of purchase* and can be personalised with your message. Choose delivery by post, or send instantly by email if you need it quickly.
Buy an Afternoon Tea Gift Voucher
*Unless otherwise stated.
“My husband bought a traditional afternoon tea voucher for our anniversary. Holdsworth House is a beautiful old manor in Halifax and it felt like stepping into a charming stately home, especially with the paintings and mullioned windows. We had seen it on Last Tango in Halifax, but it was even better in real life. After choosing our tea, we were served a generous teapot and a stunning cake stand. The afternoon tea was so plentiful that we even took some treats home. The homemade scones were genuinely the best we have ever tasted.”
Caroline Medcalfe
Children’s Afternoon Tea in Halifax
Afternoon tea at Holdsworth House is very much a family-friendly experience. Children can enjoy their own specially prepared children’s afternoon tea, designed to feel just as special as the grown-ups’ version, with child-friendly treats served in our historic dining rooms or gardens.
Children’s Afternoon Tea is priced at £16.45 per child. We are happy to accommodate dietary requirements with advance notice. Please let us know when booking online or by calling 01422 240024.
"We particularly appreciated the efforts made so that our two-year-old grandson could also enjoy a delicious afternoon tea."
Jennifer and Michael Ward
Group Afternoon Tea Bookings in Halifax
Traditional afternoon tea at Holdsworth House can be booked
online
for groups of up to six guests. For larger parties, please contact our team directly on
01422 240024.
Groups of up to 12 guests can enjoy afternoon tea together in the restaurant, while larger gatherings can be hosted in one of our historic private dining rooms, accommodating up to 120 guests. Private rooms may also be decorated for birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers and other celebrations.
Private Dining Rooms for Afternoon Tea
The Ayrton Room (first floor)
A former bedroom with a unique history, used by The Beatles in 1964 and Jayne Mansfield in 1967. The adjoining
De Aldworth Room is where the band celebrated John Lennon’s 24th birthday.
The Abraham Brigg Room (ground floor)
A spacious and elegant room, well suited to larger afternoon tea gatherings.
The Stuart Room
Our principal banqueting suite, featuring a private bar, cloakrooms, dance floor and access to the Colonnade Courtyard. Suitable for afternoon tea celebrations of up to 150 guests.
The Gazebo
A charming and intimate space beside the sunken Parterre garden, ideal for small, special-occasion afternoon teas during warmer months. Seats up to four guests.
Private dining rooms are subject to a room hire fee. For availability, pricing and group bookings, please contact our team on 01422 240024.
"Thank you very much for making my mum's 90th birthday so special.
The best afternoon tea we have ever had. The place is absolute gorgeous. We will be back. Thank you."
How to find us
Holdsworth House Hotel is set just outside Halifax in Calderdale, within easy reach of towns and cities across West Yorkshire. Guests regularly join us from Hebden Bridge, Brighouse and Huddersfield, while Leeds is around 30 minutes away by car. We are approximately seven miles from the M62 (Junction 24), making the hotel convenient for visitors travelling from further afield.
Free on-site parking is available for up to 70 cars. Some Sat Nav systems can misdirect in this area, so we recommend checking our detailed directions and map before setting off.
Halifax Train Station is just three miles away, with direct services from Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Manchester and London. Taxis are readily available from the station, or can be pre-booked by our reception team, for the short journey to the hotel.
We serve a carefully selected range of teas from the Yorkshire-based specialists
Taylors of Harrogate, alongside a choice of specialist coffees.
Loose Leaf Teas
Earl Grey* · Afternoon Darjeeling · English Breakfast* · China Rose Petal
(A China Congou black tea delicately layered with rose petals, offering a mellow, lightly sweet flavour and a fragrant aroma.)
Herbal & Fruit Infusions
Pure Green Tea · Organic Peppermint · Blackberry & Raspberry · Organic Chamomile · Sweet Rhubarb
Alternatively, guests may choose from our range of specialist coffees.
*Also available as a tea bag
SEASONAL AFTERNOON TEAS
Throughout the year, our traditional afternoon tea is subtly adapted to reflect the seasons and key moments at Holdsworth House.
For occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Easter and throughout December, our kitchen introduces seasonal flavours and finishing touches while keeping the classic structure guests love.
Expect details such as spiced hot cross buns and chocolate patisserie at Easter, or warming, indulgent treats with traditional festive flavours at Christmas.
Seasonal afternoon teas are available on selected dates and may be priced differently from our traditional offering.
MORE THAN 60 GINS
Our drinks menu features a carefully curated selection of over 60 gins, with a strong focus on Yorkshire distilleries alongside well-known London Dry, flavoured and international styles.
From classic juniper-led gins to fruit-infused and contemporary blends, there is something to suit every palate. Our bar team will be happy to guide you through the range or recommend a serve to complement your afternoon tea.
The full gin list is available to browse at the bar, with mixers and garnishes chosen to enhance each style.
Cream Tea
A simple and classic cream tea is occasionally available at Holdsworth House, priced at £15 per person.
Cream tea includes a freshly baked scone served with Chantilly cream and jam, alongside a generous pot of tea or coffee.
When offered, tables for cream tea can be booked online. Our full traditional afternoon tea is available throughout the year.
