By Katrina Doran.

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast celebrated the official launch of the hotel's delicious and decadent Afternoon Tea with a feast for the taste buds as well as for fashion.

The design-led hotel's Afternoon Tea offers a modern slant on the traditional tiered afternoon tea. The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast's expert pastry chef uses locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients, keeping quality high and food miles low.

Guests at the launch event enjoyed a luxurious Champagne Afternoon Tea, including sandwiches of Givan's Belfast ham with homemade Armagh apple and pear chutney, Walter Ewing's Shankhill smoked salmon and dill, cucumber and Antrim sour cream, and Fermanagh free range chicken and tarragon.

Traditional Irish scones baked from Odlum's Irish flour were served with homemade Wexford strawberry and rhubarb jam, preserves of Armagh damson and Ballycastle pear and pine nut. Indulgent sweets included citrus drizzle cake, chocolate fudge cake and County Tyrone berry tartlet, all accompanied by a glass of perfectly chilled Louis Roederer NV champagne and a selection of teas such as Japan Classic Green Tea, Ceylon and Lemon Verbena.

Keeping with the theme of design, guests at the launch event were then treated to the inside track on the latest designer accessories and trends for the forthcoming Christmas party season from House of Fraser's in-the-know personal shopper Samantha Cousins.

Penny Thornberry, hosting the event at The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast, said: "It's wonderful to launch our Afternoon Tea in such a fitting way - enjoying luxurious surroundings and delicious food and drink, whilst receiving style tips from those in the know and the fun of dressing up."

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast's Afternoon Tea is priced at £17.50 per person or, for maximum indulgence, £25 per person for a Champagne Afternoon Tea with a glass of Louis Roederer NV.

For more information on the Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast, please visit www.fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com