Town centre bar serves up award-winning afternoon tea treats

How about a savoury one with pastries, cheese and crackers?

These tasty treats at The Grand have just scooped our latest Best of 2023 award – Warrington’s Best for Afternoon Tea and the hard-working team at the town centre venue couldn’t be happier.

Each week, we will be searching for the best Warrington has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 18 awards for 2023.

The winners so far:

Best for Hair – Ashleigh Hair and Beauty

Best for Pies – Tomlins Bakery

Best for Nails – Bamboo Hair & Beauty

Best for Roast Dinner – Heaths Kitchen

Best for Cocktails – Dead Eyes

Best for Breakfast -Café Blu

Best for Fitness – Daniel Warburton

Best for Fish and Chips – Fish Net

Best for Tattoos – Danny’s Tattoo

Best for Pizza - Donatello

Best for Pets – Victoria Park Vets

Best Independent Shop or Business – The Phone Whisperer

Best for Dessert – White Lace Bakery

Best for Beauty – Bella You

Best for Kids – TinyTalk Warrington, Newton and Lymm

Best Gym – Ryfields Gym

Best Beer Garden – The Ferry Tavern

Voting for Warrington’s Best for Burgers is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best Café or Coffee Shop.

Next on the list was the search for Warrington’s Best for Afternoon Tea and The Grand took the latest Best of 2023 crown.

Bottomless prosecco afternoon tea is popular with visitors

Ellie Allen, from Burtonwood, is the marketing and events manager at the Bridge Street venue and James Glover and Mike Mason, from Great Sankey, are the owners.

The Grand, which opened in 2021 when Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, is a premier cocktail bar that plays host to tribute nights, live singers and entertainment.

They recently opened as a café during the day serving cakes, scones and the now award-winning afternoon tea.

There’s a traditional afternoon tea and one which includes bottomless prosecco and there’s a sweet option, which includes scones and cakes, and a savoury option, which includes pastries, cheese and crackers.

At Christmas, they offer a festive afternoon tea served with mulled wine, mince pies and other festive treats.

Fruit scones are top treats on the afternoon tea menu

Customers love the homemade Victoria sponge cake and the homemade brownies, which come say are the best they’ve ever tasted.

You can hire the venue for private events and celebrations like birthdays and baby showers, hen dos and weddings, and they offer a cocktail masterclass where customers can learn the art from world class bartenders.

Ellie, who is 22, said: “We provide a luxury service like no other bar in Warrington.

“We offer fine table service throughout the night.

“We wanted to add something different to the other bars in the area and hoped to attract a different crowd to lower Bridge Street.

“It’s not been an easy task and it’s still a work in progress but we remain positive and we are learning something new every day.

“It’s different to anything else on Bridge Street and rather than opening another disco bar we thought we’d try a premier cocktail bar with table service instead.

“It gives the people of Warrington a chance to stay within the town rather than having to venture to other towns and cities for an experience like this.”

The Grand can be hired for private events and celebrations

Ellie runs the marketing and events for MTJ Group which includes Block1 and Louie’s Pizza on Warrington Market and she owns a catering company called Everything Platters, which provides the afternoon teas for The Grand.

James and Mike also own other venues in Warrington including nightclubs, pubs and restaurants.

Ellie said: “Unlike many of the bars in Warrington we offer a luxury service.

“We are all about the customer experience, whether they come for an afternoon tea or just a drink, we want them to leave feeling like they have just been to a world class bar.”

But what did customers say about The Grand when we asked for nominations for our latest award? Why did they think they should win Warrington’s Best for Afternoon Tea?

“The Grand serves the best afternoon tea,” said one diner.

Another said: “The Grand on Bridge Street is my first choice now.

“It is just perfect and the staff are so friendly and helpful.”

There's a cocktail making masterclass at The Grand

When Ellie and the team heard they’d made the shortlist they were thrilled and “incredibly grateful”.

She said: “We have worked so hard to make our afternoon teas the best in Warrington.

“A lot of time and research has gone into making sure we use the best catering team with the best products.

“We wanted customers to enjoy every last piece of their afternoon tea which is why we went down the homemade, traditional route as there is something for everyone.

“We’re over the moon to win the award.

“We know there are so many great afternoon teas offered across Warrington but to hear that we are the best is just amazing.

“We would like to thank all our customers for each and every one of their votes.

“It means the world to us and without them The Grand wouldn’t be where it is today.

“It just shows that all the hard work that our staff put into their jobs every day is worth it.”

For more details, go to facebook.com/TheGrandWarrington

Delicious breakfast treats on the menu