Behind the Scenes at the Dickens Fair: Ale and Tea

Ale and Tea. Two drinks that feature big at the Dickens Fair.

Signs going up The Leather Bottle on setup day.

And the boisterous bartender shouting “God Save Tippers! Tippers go to Heaven!” at the fair. I didn’t try the cherry hot cider, since I had a day of sketching ahead of me.

Afternoon tea goes beyond the beverage, for sure. Plates of dainty sandwiches, (when I see sandwiches with the crust cut off the bread, I see my mum shaking her head at the waste) scones, cakes, and china service are all part of the deal. This red parlor where the tea was served was setup to be Tavistock House, the home of Charles Dickens.

And Charlotte and Lottie graciously served afternoon tea. They never sat down at all. I suspect it was those dresses…

The Dickens Fair runs through this weekend. If you’ve never been, you can still visit.

So far in this series:
Behind the Scenes at the Dickens Fair: Scum, Sweeps and Peelers
Behind the Scenes at the Dickens Fair: Costumes
Behind the Scenes at the Dickens Fair: Building London
Behind the Scenes at the Dickens Fair: Music and Musicians