# Whimsical Family Tea Parties The Sanderson Hotel Turns Afternoon Tea into a Kid-Friendly Affair By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2017-01-11 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sanderson-hotel References: [londonist](http://londonist.com/2016/10/londons-best-afternoon-tea-for-kids) & [morganshotelgroup](https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/originals-sanderson-london/eat-drink/mad-hatters-afternoon-tea) While afternoon tea is often thought of as a somewhat stuffy affair, London's Sanderson Hotel is turning the daily ritual into a family-friendly event. With a whimsical [Mad Hatter theme](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alices-adventures-collection) and a delicious selection of desserts, the event is sure to inspire a sense of childlike wonder in guests of all ages. The Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea is an ongoing event that invites parents and children "to tumble down the rabbit hole for the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland." Every element of the event is designed to be fun for children, with menus hidden in vintage books, [music boxes filled with sweets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tea-for-two-collection) and red velvet cakes shaped like tiny ladybugs. Even the tea served draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll's famous novel, with each one named after a beloved character. While designed to appeal to children, the Sanderson Hotel's afternoon tea party is sophisticated enough that adults will also be able to join in the fun. As such, the tea party is the perfect outing for families looking to spend quality time together. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 31% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Family-friendly Afternoon Tea:** Opportunity for other hotels to offer a whimsical, child-friendly afternoon tea experience. - **Novelty Tea Menus:** Opportunity to create unique menus that are hidden in vintage books or other creative packaging. - **Themed Tea Parties:** Opportunity to create tea parties with themes that appeal to both children and adults. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Hospitality:** Hotels and restaurants can offer fun tea menus and experiences to attract families. - **Event Planning:** Event planners can create themed tea parties for various occasions like birthdays, weddings, and corporate events. - **Food and Beverage:** Tea houses and cafes can attract families by offering child-friendly tea menus and unique themed parties. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Fantastical Brewing Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cauldron-nyc.md) - [Parisian-Themed Afternoon Teas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-dilly.md) - [Bee-Themed Afternoon Teas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hilton-palm-jumeirah.md) - [Regency-Themed Tea Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/afternoon-tea-experience.md) - [Spring-Inspired Tea Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/astors-floral-afternoon-tea.md) - [Seasonally Inspired Tea Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/melon-afternoon-tea.md) - [Holiday-Themed Tour Buses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grinchmas-afternoon-tea.md) - [Mexican-Inspired Afternoon Teas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/afternoon-teaquila.md) - [Painter-Inspired Afternoon Teas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/david-hockney-afternoon-teas.md)