There are afternoon teas… and then there’s The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea

London is home to many an iconic afternoon tea but there’s only one that’s truly “in fashion”. Ho ho.

The Berkeley, on Wilton Place, has been home to the celebrated Prêt-à-Portea for some time and, as befits a fashion-themed afternoon tea – a surprisingly calorific fashion-themed afternoon tea, as it happens – it launches its new season from November 1.

This season’s cake collection opens with Balenciaga Couture – in the form of a velvety mandarin cheesecake with orange confit on chocolate sablé, topped with a Dulcey cream and oversized chocolate hat. Because, hey, why not?

Then, as a tribute to fashion icon Iris Apfel’s 100th birthday, The Berkeley’s pastry team have created a spiced biscuit iced with Apfel’s trademark red lipstick and oversized glasses.

Stella McCartney’s psychedelic blue jumpsuit also appears on this edible catwalk, as a cassis mousse with blackcurrant jelly and a zigzag of Joconde sponge, while a Pink Lady apple pavlova with Granny Smith apple compote, topped with apple jam and Chantilly cream, is how the tea pays homage to Giambattista Valli’s avant-garde couture. Ganni makes its Prêt-à-Portea debut (hazelnut dacquoise with salted caramel, encased with Valrhona chocolate mousse and finished with a passion fruit crème diplomate and chocolate shard), Fendi are here via a cinnamon chocolate blondie, and Gucci – also celebrating a 100th anniversary – finish the “show” as a cake designed for sharing: red velvet and mascarpone mousse, topped with a hand-painted galaxy chocolate dome, hiding a citrus marshmallow dipped in white chocolate, and topped with a chocolate truffle riding hat filled with dark chocolate ganache.

The Autumn Winter season of Prêt-à-Portea runs from November 1, and is served from 1pm – 5.30pm daily, priced from £64 per person. Click here for reservations…