Le Chandelier

The next stop on the tearoom tour is located at 161 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, SE22 8XH. Having never ventured into the area before, I was pleasantly surprised by the relaxed and quiet high street, as well as the enticing array of restaurants, cafes and boutiques to be found in the district. A particularly interesting shop was called Mrs. Robinson (http://www.mrsrobinsonshop.co.uk/), offering a large selection of retro-style goods that made me wish I wasn’t a poor, struggling student. Opposite the shop was the tearoom itself, and just like its website (http://www.lechandelier.co.uk/) it is simple, elegant and appealing; just like the tearoom itself.

The front is finished in rose and mushroom, boasting an outside seating area, occupied with a scattering of delicate wrought-iron garden seats. Le Chandelier itself has a very homely - though stylishly contemporary – interior, satisfyingly crammed with a myriad of chairs, sofas and tables. The patisserie near the entrance was loaded with enticing cakes and the signature symbol of the tearoom, the upside-down ballerina legs, decorated many of the goods. The staff were wonderfully welcoming, and the thinly disguised South London twangs were only faintly amusing.

The establishment is much bigger than it looks from the outside, and we were quickly seated at our reserved table. The crockery spread over the wooden surface was a delightful array of floral patterned antiques, contrasted with the rather modern glass tea strainers that replaced teapots. Near our table a large watercolour illustration of the tea party from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland emblazoned the wall.

The food and drink itself was more than satisfactory, and I myself sampled the vanilla flavoured black tea. It was very sweet and certainly didn’t require the entire sugar cube I dumped in it. The scones were fresh, warm from the oven, and though the helpings of cream were a little meagre the friendly waitress lost no time in topping us up with a whole bowlful upon request.

I consider this my first authentic afternoon tea experience in London, which captures the piquant and yet serene atmosphere so integral to a good tea. Very different from the austere opulence of the historical Dorchester hotel, at £7.45 for scones and tea it offers reasonably good value for money and the unbeatable taste of nostalgia for a time in which you've never lived.