Tea gardens and tea dances

As the popularity of tea spread, it also became an essential part of people’s entertainment outside the home. By 1732, an evening spent dancing or watching fireworks in Vauxhall or Ranelagh Gardens would be rounded off by serving tea. Tea gardens then opened all over the country on Saturdays and Sundays, with tea being served as the high point of the afternoon. Dancing was included as part of the day’s festivities so from the tea gardens came the idea of the tea dance, which remained fashionable in Britain until World War II, when they lost popularity. Tea dances are still held in Britain today.

Share / Email