Afternoon tea at Holdsworth House
Finger sandwiches, handmade pastries and scones baked fresh as you arrive, served every day from 1pm to 5pm on a three-tier stand in a house built in 1633. From £32.95 a person, £16.50 for children. Choose a glass of gin and tonic, Prosecco or Champagne if the afternoon deserves it. Twenty minutes from Bradford, Brighouse, Huddersfield and Hebden Bridge, with free parking at the door.
Children's half term treat
Book two afternoon teas and a children's afternoon tea comes free. Their own three-tier stand, scaled down: sandwiches, a scone with jam and cream, cakes and a drink to suit, normally £16.50.
For afternoon teas between 18 October and 1 November 2026. One free children's afternoon tea for every two afternoon teas booked. Not available with gift voucher bookings. Mention half term when you book.
The prices, and what comes with each afternoon tea
Traditional afternoon tea
£32.95a personThe full stand: sandwiches, a savoury bite, sweet pastries, warm plain and fruit scones with Chantilly cream and Yorkshire preserves, and your choice of tea or coffee. Children £16.50.
BookGin and tonic afternoon tea
£40.95a personThe traditional tea with our gin of the month, poured properly over ice with the tonic to match. There are sixty gins behind the bar if you would rather choose.
BookProsecco afternoon tea
£40.95a personThe traditional tea with a glass of chilled Prosecco. The one most birthdays choose.
BookChampagne afternoon tea
£44.95a personThe traditional tea with a glass of Champagne. For the anniversary, the engagement, the news you have been waiting to tell.
BookPrices include VAT. An optional 10% service charge is added for parties of six or more. A cream tea, one scone with cream and jam and a pot of tea, is £17 on the Garden menu when it is on. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free with notice.
Three tiers, bottom to top
Sandwiches
Slender-cut on white and brown, made that afternoon. Typically ham and mustard, smoked salmon and cream cheese, beef and red onion, hummus and red pepper, with a savoury bite alongside that changes with the season.
Pastries
Handmade by the pastry team and changed with the season. At Easter there are spiced hot cross buns and chocolate; in December the flavours turn festive.
Scones
One plain, one fruit, baked as you arrive so they are still warm, with Chantilly cream and our own preserves. Jam or cream first is your business.
Tea, or coffee
Taylors of Harrogate loose-leaf teas and infusions, or a proper coffee. The list is below. Ask for a second pot; nobody will mind.
By the fire, or out on the terrace
Afternoon tea is served in the restaurant, the Hall and the Long Bar, and when the weather is kind on the garden terrace or in the Colonnade Courtyard. Oak panelling, open fires and vintage china indoors; the parterre and the ash trees outside. Say when you book if you have a room in mind.
An afternoon, gift wrapped
Afternoon tea is the present people are pleased to open. Vouchers for our traditional, gin, Prosecco or Champagne teas, for one or for two, personalised with your message, posted in a card or emailed within minutes if you have left it late. Valid for a year unless it says otherwise.
A stand of their own
Children get the same three tiers scaled down, with sandwiches, a scone with jam and cream, cakes, and a drink to suit, served in the same rooms and on the same china. It works for a grandparents' outing, a birthday, or a Saturday when the weather has other ideas. Tell us about allergies when you book.
Twelve in the restaurant, 120 in a room of your own
Book online for up to six. Up to twelve can sit together in the restaurant; for more, or for a birthday, a baby shower or a retirement do, take one of the private rooms and dress it as you like. Afternoon tea parties for ten or more have their own prices: £32.95 traditional, £37.95 with Prosecco or gin, £41.50 with Champagne, plus the room. The room hire covers the set-up and the staff for the room, and is on top of the per-person price.
| Room | Seats | Hire, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| The Ayrton RoomFirst floor. The Beatles slept here in 1964. | 14 | £300 |
| The De Aldworth RoomNext door, where the band took room service on John Lennon's 24th birthday. | 20 | £300 |
| The Abraham Brigg RoomGround floor, the biggest of the dining rooms. | 40 | £400 |
| The Stuart RoomThe banqueting room, with its own bar and the Colonnade Courtyard. | 120 | £550 |
| The Stone GazeboIn the gardens, a table for four. | 4 | £400 |
Taylors of Harrogate, loose leaf
Tea from Harrogate, served loose leaf in the pot, or as a bag if you prefer. Coffee in the usual ways, either full strength or decaf.
- English Breakfastfull-bodied, the safe pair of hands
- Earl Greylight, with bergamot
- Afternoon Darjeelingsubtle, a little muscatel
- China Rose Petalmellow black tea layered with rose
- Organic Peppermint
- Organic Chamomile
- Lemon and Ginger
- Apple and Blackberry
- Sweet Rhubarb
- Flat white, americano, latte, cafetière
The same stand, a different season
The structure never changes; the flavours do. Hot cross buns and chocolate at Easter, a Valentine's tea in February, a Mother's Day tea in March, and from the end of November a festive tea with the house dressed for Christmas and the fires burning brightly. Seasonal teas run on set dates and can be priced a little differently, so check when you book.
Just outside Halifax, and not far from anywhere
Holdsworth House is in Holmfield, three miles north of Halifax town centre, with free parking at the door for 70 cars. Some sat navs direct you to a nearby lane, so use our directions page the first time.
Plentiful, and then some
The afternoon tea was so plentiful that we even took some treats home. The homemade scones were the best we have ever tasted.
Caroline, an anniversary voucher
We particularly appreciated the efforts made so that our two-year-old grandson could also enjoy a delicious afternoon tea.
Jennifer and Michael
Thank you very much for making my mum's 90th birthday so special. The best afternoon tea we have ever had.
A birthday table
Eight afternoon tea questions, answered
When is afternoon tea served?
Every day from 1pm to 5pm. Book a time in that window and the scones go in the oven for it.
Do we need to book?
Yes, please. The scones are baked to order and the pastry team makes the stand for the table, so we need to know you are coming. Online for up to six; for seven or more, call 01422 240024.
How much is it?
Traditional afternoon tea is £32.95 a person and £16.50 for a child. With a gin and tonic or a glass of Prosecco it is £40.95, with Champagne £44.95. A cream tea on the Garden menu is £17. An optional 10% service charge is added for six or more.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free?
All three, with notice when you book. We keep a record of the 14 listed allergens for everything on the stand.
Where do we sit?
In the restaurant, the Hall or the Long Bar, and on the garden terrace or in the Colonnade Courtyard when the weather is kind. Say when you book if you have a room in mind; the Stone Room has the fire in winter.
Is there a children's afternoon tea?
Yes, £16.50: the same idea scaled down for a child, with sandwiches, a scone and cakes, and a drink to suit. Children are welcome at every sitting.
Can we book for a birthday or a bigger group?
Up to 12 in the restaurant, and up to 120 in a private room. Private rooms for ten or more have their own afternoon tea party prices and can be decorated for the occasion. Call 01422 240024 and we will hold a room.
Can I buy afternoon tea as a gift?
Yes. Vouchers for traditional, Prosecco, gin or Champagne afternoon tea are sold online, posted or emailed within minutes, and are valid for a year unless it says otherwise.
Book a table for afternoon tea
Online for up to six, any day of the week. For seven or more, a private room or a voucher question, ring reception.
