Afternoon Cheese: The Bonham’s savoury take on a classic

Tucked away in Edinburgh’s leafy West End, The Bonham  has a quietly genteel air at the best of times. But in the soft spring light of the afternoon — when the sun falls in dapples across the dining room and the only sound is the gentle pour of tea — it feels especially serene. The idea of Afternoon Cheese , rather than the more familiar sweet‑and‑savoury spread, had me immediately. I adore cheese, but it so often arrives at the end of a meal — cue the eternal quandary of dessert or cheese first — and by then I’m usually too full to do it justice. An afternoon devoted entirely to cheese feels like the most civilised solution imaginable. I recruited Simone for the day and we settled in. Knowing full well we’d be talking as much as eating, we shared one Afternoon Cheese between two — the perfect pace for a leisurely catch‑up and for the avoidance of food waste. You can add a glass of fizz, of course, but we opted for Earl Grey, deciding it was possibly the most versatile tea to complement all cheeses. Our white‑clothed table was set with a floral plate, a teacup, and neatly wrapped cutlery, all centred around a two‑tiered stand laden with cheeses and their accompaniments. The top tier featured five curated cheeses themed around the Six Nations: a soft Somerset Brie, a hard Welsh Cheddar, a bloomy Irish Coleeney, Scotland’s own Blue Murder, and a washed‑rind French Livarot — with Italy absent. Alongside came dinky scones, biscuits, quince, oatcakes, sweet red grapes and slices of red apple, plus a small dish of butter ready for spreading. We thoroughly enjoyed tasting, talking, and simply taking an afternoon to ourselves. Afternoon Cheese in this beautiful hotel — with its friendly staff and peaceful ambience — rivals a spa afternoon for a gourmet, and this savoury twist on the tradition feels like a quietly genius idea. I’d love to see what themes follow the Six Nations. The Bonham:  35 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7RN Afternoon Tea is £38 per person , with Champagne available for an additional £15 . Hours:  Served daily from 1pm–5pm