WHAT better way is there to relax and unwind than enjoy an afternoon tea.

Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling MBE at The Headland offers a Michelin-starred afternoon tea experience.

The restaurant draws on the historical inspiration of Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, who was the trailblazer for the luxury custom of Afternoon Tea.

She believed there was simply too much time between lunch and dinner and desired something to satisfy her appetite, during the afternoon.

The natural course of action was a tray brimming with tea, bread and butter, and cake. Ugly Butterfly uses that historical inspiration to take diners on a curated journey of sweet and savoury, where each bite is a masterclass in texture and flavour.

The appetiser sets the scene for what your tastebuds can expect. A doughnut filled with Wiltshire truffles washed down with a roasted chicken wing tea finished table side with chicken fat and the flavours of stuffing, which offered a comforting, luxurious, and aromatic experience.

The beetroot tart filled with truffle ricotta and fresh marigold was an explosion of flavour.

The savoury snacks included York ham and piccalilli, St Ives smokehouse salmon with cream cheese, cucumber sandwich and a hog’s pudding sausage roll, which were delicious.

The tea choices to accompany the afternoon tea were a revelation. Oolong tea offered a creamy and caramel flavour, Rooibos orange, a nutty and zesty taste but my favourite was the Almond calm, which was a soothing and mildly sweet brew.

The sweet section, which featured a rhubarb custard bun, caramelised apple, chocolate with yoghurt and nutmeg as well as a Cornish lemon tart, was an absolute treat.

The other addition was Chef Adam’s mother’s very own Dundee cake, served table side alongside freshly baked Cornish scones with plenty of cream and Kea plum jam.

The newly created Afternoon Tea Lounge offers a relaxed and contemporary feel while the impeccable service complemented the experience perfectly.

Ugly Butterfly has certainly transformed the afternoon tea experience from being a treat into a ritual I want to revisit as frequently as possible.