If you haven’t been to see the ‘Pre-Raphaelites: Drawings & Watercolours’ at The Ashmolean you’d better get in quick because it finishes on June 20.

The exhibition provides a fascinating look into the progression of the famous art movement as much as the individuals themselves, and complements the permanent Pre-Raphaelite works on display at the Oxford museum.

Benugo in Oxford’s Ashmolean

READ OUR REVIEW OF THE EXHIBITION HERE: https://www.oxinabox.co.uk/i-strongly-recommend-that-you-go-review-pre-raphaelites-drawings-and-watercolours-at-the-ashmolean/

But when you book make sure you take full advantage of the incredible tea available in the rooftop restaurant daily from 12noon–4.30pm.

Because what better way to enjoy an afternoon’s high tea than at Benugo, the acclaimed restaurant on the top floor, whose roof terrace stretches out over the dreaming spires below?

Having reimagined a Pre-Raphaelite tea offering to accompany the exhibition, the results are delicious and great value for money at £25 per head or £30 with a glass of Prosecco.

With vegan and vegetarian alternatives on offer, sandwiches may include a crayfish and creme fraiche on seeded bread, cucumber, dill cream cheese fingers, accompanied by an asparagus and parmesan tart and an Arlington white egg and nasturtium brioche.

Then scones – Earl Grey or mixed, with strawberry jam and clotted cream and then some tiny delicate sweet cakes – a tiny Victoria sandwich with blackcurrant jam and elderflower creme fraiche, the buttermilk and almond sponge with lemon zest, poppy and caraway macaroons. or the iced orange cake with orange zest, almonds and pistachios. A feast indeed.

Tea at The Ashmolean’s Benugo

And while the restaurant isn’t running at full capacity yet because of Covid restrictions, Benugo plans to run complementary menus with all the upcoming Ashmolean exhibitions and to continue its tea offering after the Pre-Raphaelites exhibition closes.

If, on the other hand, it’s too late for tea, on Friday and Saturday nights you can try the newly introduced sharing boards, bursting with goodies from 5pm-8pm with a vegan, fish and meat option,

The sharing boards

Benugo’s Operations Manager Gianmaria Baldassarre is delighted to be reopen and is looking forward to increasing their offerings as and when possible, with lunches starting on June 21.

“The tea offering has been going down very well and has been enormously successful. It’s a chance for people to meet up, get together with friends, relax and enjoy the afternoon – something a bit different,” he says.

Benugo’s Gianmarie Baldassarre

To book, tea, sharing boards and exhibition packages at The Ashmolean go to: https://www.ashmolean.org/cafe-and-restaurant