Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge Unveils “London by Lily Vanilli”

From this spring, Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge is joining forces with renowned East End artisan baker Lily Vanilli to launch a new “aperi-tea” concept that takes the quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea and reinvents it for modern Londoners. London by Lily Vanilli will be served in the beautifully grand Rotunda Bar and Lounge, and as day turns to evening, the lights will dim, and the menu will shift to entice guests with an aperitivo-style service and a distinctive night-time energy.

Described as a pioneer of the modern bakery revival, Lily is renowned for her spectacular cake designs and colourful creations. Lily has worked with the brand-new team at the Rotunda Bar and Lounge to create an afternoon tea that goes beyond just tea and scones and speaks to the discerning Londoner. The result is an experience that promises divine cakes, decadent bakes and moreish savoury bites, all paired with mini cocktails. As the early evening draws in, the Afternoon Tea menu will evolve into an aperi-tea offering - set to become London’s own version of aperitivo hour. Aperi-tea is all about taking the best bits of the English afternoon tea, adding more cocktails and mirroring the shift in ambience as day turns to night.

A world away from tiny cakes and crustless sandwiches, The Rotunda Bar and Lounge’s new afternoon tea will feature some of London’s most on-trend dishes, reinvented in Lily’s unique style. The accompanying playful drinks menu will feature mini-cocktails, including the Lily Royale, a blend of Beluga Noble vodka, cacao blanc, raspberry cordial, and Champagne, garnished with a fresh raspberry dipped in white chocolate, and the Salted Espresso, a twist on the classic espresso martini with Patrón tequila, Los Siete Misterios mezcal, fresh espresso, Pedro Ximénez, and salted caramel syrup, finished with a crunchy sesame tuilé, as well as classic cocktails and mini martinis.

Changing seasonally, the opening menu will pay homage to the pastel colours and sense of renewal that spring brings. It will include Lily Vanilli’s extravagant Celebration Cakes adorned with her renowned decadent icing, a deliciously creamy Creme Brulée Basque Cheesecake served with sour cherry compote and a Tiramisu Tart with coffee and brandy-soaked sponge, oozing custard mascarpone cream and coffee caramel in a crisp chocolate tart. Lily will also be serving up her infamous, delicate cake-like scones, with clotted cream and seasonal fruit compote.

Bite-sized savoury delicacies will perfect the aperi-tea hour moment. This includes the house Gilda, with anchovy, green olive and pickled chilli, the original bar snack hailing from the Basque region, light and airy Parmesan goujères, drowning in freshly grated parmesan (a nod to Samuel Pepys who once lived around the corner and buried his beloved wheel of parmesan under the building during the Great Fire of London), cheddar, feta and spinach savoury scones with pickled cucumber and dill, and crispy, crunchy and salty confit potatoes topped with smoked salmon, creme fraiche and lime.

Victoria Lebedeva, Director of Food and Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge, says, “London by Lily Vanilli promises a feast for the senses with delicious bites, perfectly paired cocktails and a stylish vibe. Whether it’s a mid-afternoon graze, late night tipple or special occasion blow out, this is the only afternoon tea date you need in your diary. The Rotunda bar will ooze Lily’s signature style all year round as the menu evolves with the seasons, bringing Londoners trending tastes and flavours from spring to winter.”

Lily Jones, owner and founder of the Lily Vanilli brand and café, says, “I am so excited to bring my take on the perfect afternoon tea experience to Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge. The Rotunda Bar and Lounge is a truly special backdrop to our menu of sweet and savoury delights. Guests can expect a contemporary spin on both the Lily Vanilli and English classics, all served with a slice of grandeur only Four Seasons could provide. The aspect I’m most looking forward to seeing come to life is how the vibe evolves over the course of the day, with the evenings bringing great music, dimming lights and a fabulous menu of sweet and savoury bites that perfectly pair with champagne and cocktails. We will also offer a mini version of the menu for anyone who wants a smaller selection - this is an afternoon tea for Londoners - somewhere you can come for drinks after work - or even after dinner!”

London by Lily Vanilli is priced at GBP 48 per person and will be available from Thursday to Sunday, with reservations open from 2:00 until 7:00 pm. For an extra GBP 33, guests can add on a cocktail pairing option.