Festive afternoon tea

Newmarket wedding venue the Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa is getting into the Christmas spirit with its new festive afternoon tea.

Running throughout December, the menu features a variety of traditional delicacies with a Christmas twist, made using the finest ingredients from across East Anglia. Perfect for a pre-wedding get together with your best girls or boys to relax and unwind.

Served in the cosy setting of the 4 red star luxury hotel's award-winning restaurant Squires, the festive afternoon tea features a sumptuous sandwich selection including traditional roast turkey with cranberry sauce, Suffolk honey roast ham and piccalilli, and, adding a festive twist to an old favourite, egg mayonnaise with shredded and fried sprout tops.

Tuck into warm scones with clotted cream, strawberry jam and zingy lemon curd and enjoy a flavour journey through Christmases past and present with rich Christmas cake, white chocolate éclairs filled with mince pie cream, a Baileys macaron, shortbread Christmas trees, mini gingerbread men and many more festive fancies.

Executive head chef Sean Melville says, "The team and I had great fun creating this menu and wanted to ensure we celebrated every festive flavour. We hope it will give guests a welcome taste of Christmas and a touch of luxury too."