The Pump Room Bath will launch a new Jane Austen–inspired afternoon tea alongside a more immersive “Pride and Prejudice” experience on April 1st 2026, offering locals and visitors a new reason to revisit one of the city’s most iconic historic venues.
Set within the Georgian salon where Austen herself once observed Bath society, the new experience translates the rituals of Regency life into a modern format, combining traditional afternoon tea with literary storytelling and seasonal British produce.
At its core is “The Jane Austen Afternoon Tea,” featuring a progression of finger sandwiches, savoury bites and pastries designed to reflect both the elegance and indulgence of the period. Dishes include cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, poached salmon with caper butter, and Somerset cider-roasted gammon with spiced chutney, alongside savouries such as smoked mackerel rillette and St Ewes egg salad. The experience culminates in classic scones served with West Country clotted cream and strawberry jam, alongside pastries such as raspberry and vanilla Battenberg, chocolate croustillant with white chocolate Chantilly, and seasonal fruit tarts.
Tea remains central to the offering, with blends developed in partnership with Gillards of Bath, including the “Jane Austen Blend,” designed to echo 18th-century tea profiles, and “Lady Whistledown’s English Rose Tea,” a floral infusion of rose petals and blackberry leaf. The experience extends beyond tea through a literary-inspired cocktail list, including “The Darcy,” blending Earl Grey tea, spiced rum and citrus, and “The Elizabeth,” combining elderflower liqueur with English sparkling wine.
For those seeking a more immersive experience, the “Pride & Prejudice Experience” expands the format into a multi-course occasion. Beginning with aperitifs, guests can then choose from starters including smoked salmon with horseradish, heritage beetroot with goat’s curd, or British charcuterie boards, before progressing into an enhanced afternoon tea designed to mirror the structure and sociability of Regency dining.
The launch reflects a broader shift towards experience-led dining in Bath, positioning The Pump Room not only as a historic attraction but as a living part of the city’s cultural and culinary scene. By combining heritage, narrative and food, the venue aims to encourage repeat visits from local audiences while offering tourists a more meaningful way to engage with Austen’s legacy.
“The Pump Room has always been part of Bath’s social fabric, but we wanted to give people a new reason to come back,” said Searcys Executive Chef Thomas Piat. “This menu brings that Regency world to life through food and drink, from the teas and cocktails to the structure of the experience itself. It’s about making the space feel relevant again, whether you’re local or visiting.”
Live music continues to play a central role in the experience, with performances from the resident Pump Room Trio accompanying service. With a repertoire spanning classical compositions, operatic pieces and modern arrangements, the ensemble continues a musical tradition dating back more than 300 years, when daily performances formed part of Bath’s social ritual.
The Pump Room has hosted generations of visitors from Georgian high society to modern-day travellers. This new menu marks a contemporary reinterpretation of that legacy, bringing the rituals of the past into a present-day dining experience.
The Pump Room’s new afternoon tea experience is available from April 1st 2026 and bookings are now open on the restaurant website. Follow along on Instagram to stay up to date.
Image credit: The Pump Room
