Tested by Us:
Shaun, Founder & CEO, has an afternoon out in Covent Garden with his better-half
Real experience, tested by the people who actually run Indytute — no marketing gloss, just what happened when we tried it ourselves.
Tested - September 2026
We partnered with Champagne + Fromage in September 2026 and Shaun got the job (someone’s got to do it), of trying out their Cheese Afternoon Tea avec Fizz.
A slice of laid-back France with expert guidance and seriously beautiful food.
The Experience
- What is it?
- Cheese Afternoon Tea for Two at Champagne + Fromage London
- Duration
- 1-2 Hours
- Group size
- 2
- Price
- £89
- Location
- Covent Garden
A gastronomic tour of several French cheeses as key ingredients in an Afternoon Tea. Think homemade cheese scones with French butter, little brioche buns, mini-quiches and seriously fattening finger-sized desserts. All accompanied by expert chat and guidance from the knowledgeable host so you know what you are eating and drinking – in as much depth as you want!
So what actually happened?
Lanna and I stumbled our separate ways to the little French cheesy tea-shop just to the Royal Opera House side of Covent Garden Piazza. A good tip to easily locate – a bright red postbox is directly next to the front door…can’t miss that! It’s a bijou establishment with inside space for no more than 20 people at a time. The music is chilled and service personal.
We were welcomed by the bon viveur host, Angus. Not a French name, because Angus is Anglo/Irish! He was, though, extremely welcoming and keen to make sure we had a lovely time. He also seemed to have advanced qualifications in the relative merits of Champagne and French cheese – very handy.
We started with the best cheese scone I have ever tasted with an expertly tutored glass of Champagne. All the Champagnes on offer are from family-style independent growers and I must say the two glasses I had (Demi Sec and Brut) were first class. Now, I’m very fond of Champagne, but the quality of the food which was set out a la Anglais, on a traditional 3 tiered cake-stand, even outstripped the fizz. Tier 1 - Brioche buns with delicate cheese fillings accompanied by sweet fig jam or salty salami-style meats; Tier 2 – goats cheese and asparagus mini quiches; Tier 3 - 3 types of finger desserts (chocolate, lemon and a cute little bakewell tart).
All washed-down with an individual pot of tea each – 6 different blends to choose from, and as a “builders’ tea” man myself, a reassuring breakfast tea. This bit is truly English…L’Entente Cordiale in action.
All exquisite.
The only negative was that because we chose a Friday lunchtime, there were very few other people at the venue. It was Work-at-Home Friday after all. and a sunny day at that. London can be a bit of a ghost town on sunny Fridays. So, if you like a bustling vibe, don’t book a Friday; if, on the other hand, you like one-to-one service and attention from Angus, Friday is your day!
Enjoyed most:
The pure Frenchness of the experience; not a plastic Bertrand to be seen.
Top tip:
Have a second glass of Champagne of a different style to appreciate truly the breadth of flavours possible from the region. You have to pay extra for that on the day, but it’s so worth it. Why stop at two?
The Verdict
Not just for Francophiles, but perfect for all ages and styles, as long as you love to taste your food rather than treat it purely as fuel.
Shaun and Lanna.
Founder et l’epouse
Questions, answered
How long does the Cheese Afternoon Tea take?
Around 1–2 hours. There's no set finish time — Angus keeps the pace relaxed, so it runs as long as you're enjoying it.
Do we need to book in advance?
Yes — space is limited to around 20 people at a time, so this isn't a walk-in experience.
Is there enough food to count as a meal?
Yes — a full three-tier stand (brioche with cheese and cured meats, savoury mini-quiches, and three desserts) plus a huge cheese scone with lashings of tea each. It's a proper meal, not a snack.
What's included in the price?
One glass of Champagne each, the full three-tier food stand, and a pot of tea from a choice of six blends. Additional Champagne styles are available on the day at extra cost.
Is it worth going on a weekday?
Depends what you want. Friday lunchtimes are quiet — great if you want one-to-one attention from the host, less so if you like a buzzy room. Weekends will be busier.
What else is worth doing in Covent Garden?
Plenty — our Covent Garden London Knowledge guide covers the neighbouring patch, and the London Knowledge hub has nine more across the city.
Author Bios
Shaun & Vicki
Founders of Days of Your Life Group.
We Founded Days of Your Life Group in 2006 and in April 2025 we acquired Indytute from Calypso Rose, who had built something we’d admired for years. She didn’t want Indytute to be swallowed-up by a massive company that lists thousands of near identical supercar experiences, so she decided to pass the Indytute baton to us!
We’ve spent two decades giving people better days out rather than more stuff, and we’re still independent by choice. Indytute will not change – no filler, no hype and dedicated to independence.
When we’re not obsessing about gifting, Vicki walks/runs with her black lab and hubby Dean in all weathers; Shaun manages family chaos with Lanna, his wife, created by two under 7 year olds…
