Tea and Cake Planet is Coming!

You might remember a little while back I celebrated Charles Grey’s 250th birthday by heading to the top of his monument in Newcastle City Centre, it was a great adventure and one I’d recommend to anyone! 

If you haven’t quite got a head for heights though, don’t worry, because the creative folk behind NewcastleGateshead’s EAT Festival have come up with a more relaxing way to commemorate the man whose name is synonymous with a nice cup of tea…

My first reaction when I heard about Tea & Cake Planet was verging on hysteria! Not only does it involve plans to create a giant edible map of the whole planet made out of yummy home-made cake (wowzers that’s going to make Cake City look tiny!), the event also champions our region’s finest purveyors of tea, including Ringtons, Pumphrey’s and The Teashed.

There’ll be tea dances, tea-themed cocktails, hands on workshops where you can make your own cake stand and some fabulous pop-up tea rooms serving mouthwatering tiers of afternoon tea. It all takes place at one of my favourite North East venues, The Boiler Shop! – Doesn’t it sound like the most marvellous summer tea party you’ve ever heard of?

The more I read about Tea & Cake Planet, the more excited I got, until I discovered when this unique event is planned for – Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 June. The reason for my disappointment? I’m not going to be in the North East that weekend – Massive sad face! I shouldn’t complain really as I’m heading down to London for my company’s annual awards do and as my employer is footing the bill for the train I’ve arranged to make the most of it by visiting a friend for the weekend.

Organisers Carol Bell and Simon Preston at Grey’s Monument

Hopefully there’s still time for you to get the event in your diary and go and enjoy my share of that edible planet! Just so you know, the weekend will be divided in to four sessions, each lasting three hours and it’s recommended that your book your afternoon tea in advance to make the most of your visit. 

Here are the session times:

Saturday 28 June 11.30am-2.30pm
Saturday 28 June 3.30pm-6.30pm
Sunday 29 June 11.30am-2.30pm
Sunday 29 June 3.30pm-6.30pm (this is when the edible cake planet will be devoured)