The renaissance of afternoon tea has demonstrated how we love an excuse to meet friends. We have now reinvented another great British tradition – elevenses.

When our hotels were private houses, elevenses would have been a popular ritual. So it seems fitting that our guests can now enjoy delicious canapé-sized savouries and sweet confections in the perfect setting and atmosphere. We are serving elevenses to guests and visitors; it makes a light alternative to lunch and a savoury option alongside traditional afternoon tea.

Our chefs have researched traditional elevenses recipes and are offering a tantalising mix of miniature sweet and savoury canapés using local produce, served in the traditional afternoon tea format.

Fans of Winnie the Pooh will be delighted to hear that elevenses is now on offer at Buxted Park Hotel, Ashdown Forest, East Sussex. The author A. A. Milne set the Pooh stories in Ashdown Forest and Winnie the Pooh’s favourite meal was elevenses with condensed milk and honey on bread.