Cold outside? Cosy up with afternoon tea at the Green House Hotel

With the chillier weather and shorter days setting in, what could be better than freshly baked cakes, a perfect cup of Dorset tea and a glass of something fizzy with friends and family to brighten up an afternoon now and then?

The Danes have a word for it: hygge – which basically translates as “creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people”. Cosy but without the hibernating-under-a-duvet-watching-DVDs connotations, if you like. It’s about warding off the unrelenting darkness together (sorry to get all Star Wars about it). Here in Britain we certainly understand the sentiment, which is why, once the clocks go back, winter becomes a procession of official reasons to put up fairy lights and glowing decorations, set fire to things and dole out sweets. Until January anyway. But outside of the high days and holidays, we northern(ish) Europeans all need more hygge in our lives.

Which is where Winter Afternoon Tea at the Green House Hotel, Bournemouth’s most eco-friendly luxury boutique hotel, comes in. No excuse needed to cosy up with friends and brighten up a dull day by spending some quality time together over hot drinks, cold bubbly and delicious bite-sized sandwiches and sweet treats. Afternoon Tea has a whole magic of its own as the evenings draw in – think glowing lights, log fires, scones still warm from the oven and the clink of china. It’s hygge the British way.

The Green House Hotel and Arbor Restaurant have long been champions of the art of Afternoon Tea (we were, after all, early pioneers of the Afternoon Tea Wedding) – not only because it’s gorgeous and intimate but also because it gives us a chance to express our creativity and add new twists to a fine old tradition. And that’s pretty much what the Green House Hotel and Arbor Restaurant are all about.

So Afternoon tea at Arbor is a grand affair – but in a relaxed setting. All of the delicious bites we serve are prepared fresh to order and arrive at your table (restaurant or bar – you choose!) not on doilies but on a three-tiered wooden tree (did you know Arbor is Latin for tree?). Your finger sandwiches will come with a choice of traditional fillings such as smoked salmon or egg and cress. Cakes prepared from scratch by our demon dessert queen and pastry chef Beth will be fresh from the oven, delicious and as Christmas draws closer, likely with a festive theme.

Choose from our range of ”Dorset Teas” – from traditional varieties such as Earl Grey or Breakfast to a wide range of herb and green teas – and local coffees.

All for £18.50 per person.

You could always, of course, also treat yourself to a bottle of something special, especially if you’re celebrating. Maybe some of our fabulous English sparkling wine from the local Furleigh Estate or for really special occasions, you could always break out the Bolly (that’s extra, unfortunately!).

So while Afternoon Tea is not for every day, here at the Green House Hotel we are great believers in taking the occasional opportunity to just stop, sit back and enjoy something really luxurious and out-of-the-ordinary with family and friends. Especially now because, when it comes to cold, grey days, rain and the wrong kind of leaves, we’re all in this together.

To book your Afternoon Tea in Bournemouth at Arbor, served every day between 2pm and 5pm, click here to  to book online or call us on 01202 498900.