The Green House Hotel has always had a very good reputation and I know their afternoon teas are legendary which is why this outstanding review won’t come as a surprise.

We visited on a very dreary wet day which was a shame because the garden looks beautiful but I wasn’t too disappointed with us dining in the Arbor restaurant which has a feature tree as a centrepiece.  Since we are still in pandemic times we had a temperature check on arrival and there was an appropriate one way system in place plus the tables were nicely spread out so no one was on top of each other.

Our waiter was very friendly and attentive and asked us if we would like a glass of English Oak Rose before or during our afternoon tea.  After a hectic morning we opted to have it asap and I’ve now made a note to look out for this delicious wine which is actually made on the English Oak Vineyard in Lytchett Matravers.

We didn’t have to wait long before our sandwiches and English Breakfast tea arrived.  We had a lovely choice of sandwiches with cheese and pickle, ham and mustard, tuna and cucumber and egg mago which were on a mix of fresh white and brown bread.

Then came the wow factor! Our afternoon tea was delivered on a stunning wooden stand with the scones, jam, lemon curd and clotted cream on the side.  Our waiter was very professional and explained that we had a potted crème brulee, millionaires cheesecake, lemon tart and that the one of the scones was plain and the other dark chocolate chip.

I have always had a sweet tooth and after we finished our sandwiches we started with our favourite treats and I was pleased that the portions weren’t tiny but equally not massive so that I could enjoy each one without having to be rolled out the door.  I started with the millionaires cheesecake which was divine with caramel so sweet and slightly salty, I've never tasted anything like it before before.  I’ve actually found myself thinking of that piece of cheesecake far too much since our visit and I’ve considered tracking the chef down and holding her to ransom for more!

The dark chocolate chip scone was lovely and I topped it with lemon curd and the plain scone was equally as light and fluffy and tasted delicious with lashings of strawberry jam and cream.  The crème brulee cup had a hard crispy sweet shell which cracked open to reveal the silkiest crème underneath.  Last was the lemon tart which was equally as pleasant as the rest and all washed down with several cups of refreshing tea.

I literally couldn’t fault one thing, our waiter checked back to ask if we were ok a few times and offered us more tea which we politely declined since the pot first given allowed for several cups.  When we finished I asked if everything was homemade and I was informed that they have 2 very talented pastry chefs who make a number of cakes and desserts daily and therefore each visit would probably see you try something new each time.

All diets can be catered for with 24 hours notice which includes dairy free, gluten free, vegan options and allergies.  During the pandemic they even offer a collection service for anyone who would like to have a party at home or a posh picnic on the beach or park nearby.

The Green House Hotel is a luxury boutique eco-hotel which is located on Grove Road just a few minutes from the beach.  The Arbor is a multiple award winning 2 rosette restaurant with the Head Chef Andy Hilton specialising in seasonal cooking using local, organic, Fairtrade produce from artisan suppliers.

Whether you book for lunch, dinner, afternoon tea or even hold a large celebration there (when things are back to normal) then I know you will receive a first class experience.

For more information or to book your table please visit The Green House Hotel.

Dorsetmums was invited to The Green House Hotel for the purpose of a review however all words are my own.

Sid and Nancy The Cooking Academy is a new subscription-based cookery academy, with boxes designed to get the whole family in the kitchen.

Hi, I’m Nic, Sid & Nancy’s Mum from Bournemouth!

As a family we love to cook and eat!  We hope that through our cooking boxes we will teach you to have a fun, healthy, happy approach to food.

Why I started the Sid & Nancy The Cooking Academy.....

Since my first attempt at cooking with Sid & Nancy, involving a huge amount of mess, food colouring and cake gloop in my hair I have been listening to, and observing, what kids say about cooking — they love it!  When it is hands-on and they are free to explore their thoughts and ideas, who knows what creations they will conjure up!

Unleash a love of cooking!

Along the way, I have gathered together some of our favourite family recipes and some new ones (all tested by us at home) for you to make in your own.  I’ve packaged up my mission into a humble box, ready to unleash a love of cooking in your home.

Our cooking club in a box has something for all ages; young children can work alongside an adult; kids and tweens can indulge their culinary curiosity; and home cooks of all skill levels learn new ways to cook.

Every recipe and activity has been designed to get the whole household involved.  The table conversation starters and jokes are really popular and mums/parents are seeing their picky eaters become more open minded to trying the food they’ve prepared.

What’s inside the box?

Every month your child will receive: 
• Welcome note introducing that month's theme.  Throw your first dinner party in Septembers box!
• Three tried and tested recipe cards presented on a laminated, wipeable card, with step-by-step illustrated methods.  Every box includes recipes for a starter, main course or side/snack dish, as well as a sweet treat/ dessert.
• A scavenger hunt style-shopping list - designed to inspire a fun lifelong love of learning about good food.
• A kitchen creative challenge - different every time, these creative challenges encourage food themed hands-on-arts and craft activities and games for fun at the table.
• 5 ‘kids collectables’ presented as cards and an illustrated colourful iron on embroidered apron badge - each month the box will include ‘bonkers food facts’ to encourage learning, ‘just for laughs’ jokes to share with the whole household and ‘chatter time’ conversation starters for meal-times.  All three cards help children spend more time at the table, in a relaxed way.

Sid and Nancy are offering four subscription levels: monthly, three months, six months or an annual subscription.  Prices start from £14 per box, including P&P, with a reduction to ‘1 box free’ for the ‘annual subscription’.  For more information please visit Sid & Nancy Cooking Academy. 

I truly hope you find that the Sid & Nancy cookery box delivers that warm feeling of family time well spent, a niggling need to ask questions and, most of all, the confidence your children need to start doing their own cooking!

Have fun making delicious memories together!