Ahigh old teatime was had by all

In truth even her far more lackadaisical dad made something of a sartorial effort because, as is well known, Wynyard Hall is no ordinary venue but one of the most luxurious and historic hotels and stately homes in the North.

Erin was impressed, to put it at its mildest, with the red carpet leading into the hall but it only got grander from there. There were the beautiful stained glass windows and vivid blue, patterned stained glass in the ceilings, the plush carpets and stunning views from the windows.

Even the grand Victorian toilets made our little event on what was otherwise a run-of-the-mill Thursday seem special.

And yet it didn’t seem too formal. Groups of women (there was only one other man in the fairly full Wellington Restaurant, named after the Duke of Wellington himself, a regular visitor in days gone by) sat on comfortable, plush chairs and settees and chatted.

The atmosphere was relaxed. In fact a key to the enjoyment was a lack of rush. All the people who were there when we arrived were still there when we left nearly an hour later.

We had been greeted by friendly staff at reception and then again in a large, exquisitely decorated ante room which in a lesser hotel would surely have been a feature room itself. The staff were all smiles, super smart but friendly, ready to chat if prompted. We were ushered into an even fancier dining hall replete with ancient books and ornate chaise longues.

The classic afternoon tea was invented in the early 1800s by the Duchess of Bedford who, finding the fashion for late evening dining was leaving her hungry, would order tea, bread and butter and cakes to be served in her room and the idea caught on. It would probably have been copied in this 19th century stately home, once owned by the Londonderry family of super-rich mine owners and now by Sir John Hall, himself the son of a humble working coal miner.

The afternoon tea costs £18.95 and I was able to buy an extra plate of dainty sandwiches for Erin for an extra £5 with averagely priced hot chocolate.

There was plenty – and I mean plenty – for both of us.

The sandwiches were classics – roast salmon and cucumber, Yorkshire ham and mustard, coronation chicken and cheese and chutney.

Moving up to the next tier, there was a fruit scone for Erin which she sliced in three to take advantage of the three different jams and the cream on offer, and a cheese scone for me. The top tier had a selection of delicate cakes, pink meringue, pistachio cake, carrot cake and a soft, sweet mouse affair that was heavenly but defies explanation.

It must be experienced.

Other options for tea are equally tempting, especially the Gentleman’s Tea at £24.95 which involves pies, scotch eggs and whisky. Also on offer is a champagne tea at £28.50, similar to the classic but with champagne, or the reasonably priced cream tea at £9, a chance to enjoy scones, strawberry preserve and clotted cream with tea in beautiful surroundings.

The interior of Wynyard Hall

I’d booked earlier in the day, careful to give the age of my daughter, and received no hint that she wouldn’t be welcome. My concerns were raised again when she was the only child in the room, but I needn’t have worried.

Our waitress could not have been more accommodating to her, and we were both made to feel welcome. Other diners even sneaked a smile at the girl with the shiny shoes ever-so-carefully slicing her scone and spreading as much jam as possible on each bit.

On leaving staff, on request, offered knowledgeable information about the hall and surroundings and were happy for us to explore a little and enjoy the place. Outside, we felt free to walk round the building. I drank in the view from the front of the house while Erin took the chance to muddy her dress rolling down the bank toward the river.

There’s a terraced area outside, open for high tea on sunny days. I promise myself a return visit.