A last minute decision to go to this lovely hotel on the edge of Bowness on Windermere for afternoon tea.

Afternoon Tea is a tea-related ritual, introduced in Britain in the early 1840s. It evolved as a mini meal to stem the hunger and anticipation of an evening meal at 8pm.

Afternoon Tea is a meal composed of sandwiches (usually cut delicately into ‘fingers’), scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes. Scones were not a common feature of early Afternoon Tea and were only introduced in the twentieth century.

Afternoon Tea was initially developed as a private social event for ladies who climbed the echelons of society. It was only when Queen Victoria engaged in the Afternoon Tea ritual that it became a formal occasion on a larger scale, known as ‘tea receptions’.

The day had improved from the wind and rain I awoke to. It was lovely to sit with the doors flung open.

Can’t have afternoon tea without a glass of fizz.

Afternoon tea was yummy, I do like it when you get sweet and savoury all together.

A lovely to spend a Sunday afternoon.