“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Henry James

I BLAME myself of course. As a birthday treat many years ago I took my daughter, still in her teens, off to one of London’s swanky hotels for afternoon tea.

It was a rip-roaring success and the start of a very expensive pastime. She loved it. Really loved it. Afternoon tea is now practically in her DNA and she can talk at length about the merits (top heavy on sandwiches) and drawbacks (not enough sandwiches) on this very British passion. Apparently there is an afternoon tea establishment in London with a dressing up box. Who knew?

With Mothering Sunday on the horizon, three of us, including her boyfriend, set off for a recce to Swindon’s Marriott where they serve two sittings of afternoon tea daily.

Its fairly corporate setting doesn’t really lend itself to bone china, bunting or Kath Kidson tablecloths so this was going to be a very different experience. My daughter’s boyfriend is not British and finds this harmless habit of the Brits 'charming.'

He has obviously now had his fair share of afternoon teas, no doubt part of some sort of litmus test of their relationship.

“ We’ll go large on the sandwiches and easy on the cakes then,” daughter said when the waiter arrived.

Although regarded as a quintessential English custom, tea drinking dates back to the third millennium BC in China. It was popularised in England in the 1660s by King Charles II but it was Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford who introduced afternoon tea in 1840.

The Duchess would become hungry around 4pm and as the evening meal wasn’t served until 8pm she would ask for a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake.

Soon she would invite friends to join her and by the 1880’s upper class women were donning long gowns, gloves and hats for the daily event.

We left our ballgowns in mothballs but there was definitely an air of going out for an occasion as we gathered ourselves together for the expedition.

There are two price options at the Marriott for afternoon tea, either £12 or £18 to include a glass of Prosecco. Dietary requirements are also taken into consideration and the two vegetarians in our party were well catered for.

An open sliced baguette came with tomato, mozzarella and pesto and there was a scrum to polish off the last one.

There was also cheese and pickle, egg mayonnaise and the obligatory cucumber sandwiches which for some inexplicable reason seem to taste immeasurably better served with a pot of English tea. Starbucks is on offer for coffee drinkers.

Smoked salmon, ham and mustard and coronation chicken made up the rest of the choice along with Victoria sponge, chocolate cup cakes and a cross between a scone and a tea cake for our jam and clotted cream.

We agreed unanimously that we would have preferred a good old traditional crumbly scone and although a twee rose-patterned tea pot would have looked out of place the steel pots were not only hot to handle but were reminiscent of boardroom meetings.

“Just a couple of tweaks would have given this top marks,” said my afternoon tea aficionado.

But to be honest these were only personal niggles as the rest of the experience was pretty polished.

The staff were attentive without being overbearing and the room with its beach hut style ceiling, large pot plants and soft lighting provided an ambient setting to while away the afternoon.

A small group enjoying a drink in the corner were eyeing our afternoon tea stands with hint of envy

One was overheard to say: “That looks like a good idea.”

And it really is a fine idea. Whether as a Mothers Day treat or just an escape from our busy, bustling lives.

so Pack away the electronic devices, pull on your glad rags and transport yourself to a bygone time when, quite rightly and in an ever so civilised manner, everything stopped for tea.