This year, Britsburgh invites you to celebrate the season with a twist of mystery: our annual Christmas Tea gets a Victorian crime flair with a Sherlock Holmes theme. Sip your expertly brewed tea, savour classic English treats, and delight in tales of deduction, intrigue, and Christmas cheer.
What Awaits You
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Elegant Afternoon Tea — enjoy perfectly brewed tea, delicate finger sandwiches (cucumber, ham, cheese, chicken salad, egg salad), freshly baked blueberry & cranberry scones with jam & clotted cream, and classic English shortbread.
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Sherlock Holmes–inspired dessert — a festive treat with a twist inspired by the great detective himself
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Get to know Sherlock — Pittsburgh's Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers (Pittsburgh's own Sherlock Holmes scion) will present dramatic readings and interactions around Holmes, Watson, Moriarty, and more
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Festive ambiance — Christmas décor, Victorian flair, and a touch of old‑London mystery
Our guests from the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers include:
Anne-Marie Nelson read The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes for the first time as a tween (many years ago) and became hooked. For five years, she was Brigadier of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers, the Pittsburgh scion of the famous Baker Street Irregulars, devoted for nearly 100 years to studying and enjoying stories of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. She is now the editor of the Fusiliers' newsletter.
Jim Zunic was a founding member of the Fusiliers in 1974 and has spoken and written about Sherlock Holmes for more than 50 years. He has had two articles published in The Baker Street Journal: "The First Greek Interpreter," 1978 was in the Selected Sources list in The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes 2005. "Some Reflections on Indoor Target Practice 1988, presenting evidence that an Alexander Pushkin short story may have influenced one of Sherlock's most famous traits, was included in a bibliography "Pushkin Studies in the West" in the Pushkin Journal 1993.
Tickets
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Members: $40
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Non‑members: $55
Seating is limited and tends to sell out quickly — be sure to reserve your spot early.
Why You Shouldn't Miss It
The Britsburgh Christmas Tea is one of our signature holiday traditions — elegant, warm, and full of camaraderie. This year's Sherlock Holmes theme adds a layer of theatrical delight: you'll drink tea, indulge in festive treats, and step into a world of mystery and storytelling. It's perfect for Anglophiles, literature buffs, families, or anyone who enjoys a refined afternoon out with a dash of intrigue.
Give the gift of a memorable holiday experience — tickets make wonderful presents, too.
Join us for this cozy, clever, and joyfully British holiday celebration. Reserve your seat today!