Rutland Hall Hotel & Spa is offering guests an exclusive Christmas-inspired afternoon tea to kick-start the yule festivities.

Venturing down from the North Pole, Santa Claus is inviting guests of all ages to join him at the beautiful waterside retreat located in the heart of the UK's smallest county for a truly magical Christmas-themed afternoon tea, which will be taking place from Saturday 18th to Thursday 23rd December.

Served up by Santa's cheeky elves, the tea comprises a variety of homemade tastebud teasers, including delectable cakes and scones, and is served alongside finger-sized sandwiches.

Christmas colouring activities will additionally be supplied to each table, alongside a letter to Santa for children to write. These personalised letters can then be dropped off in the hotel's special post-box ahead of the big day.

It is important to note that although Santa is all-seeing and all-knowing, one of his gaps in knowledge is allergies and dietary requirements. Therefore, if a guest has an allergy, dietary requirement or any other questions about the menu, it is advised they contact a member of staff in advance.

In addition, performance team members of a local theatre group, The Wildcats, will be popping by so that guests can sing along to some classic Christmas tunes. Games and entertainment such as parachutes, hoop games and story time will also be offered on the dancefloor to ensure festive fun for the whole family.

Discussing the exclusive Festive Afternoon Tea, John Higham, owner of Rutland Hall Hotel & Spa, said: "We love Christmas at Rutland Hall, and decided to have a bit of festive fun with our afternoon tea offerings this year.

"We hope the Christmas-inspired afternoon tea will get people into the festive spirit and remind them what this time of year is all about – spending time and making memories with family and friends.

"We will also be offering a variety of other seasonal activities at the hotel in the lead-up to Christmas, so watch this space for more information coming soon."

Although reindeers are strictly prohibited, Rutland Hall would like to remind guests that dogs are indeed welcome on the premises, so all are welcome to bring their furry friends along for the festivities. The Festive Afternoon Tea costs £25 per person and £15 per child, running each day from 3pm to 5pm. For more information and to book, please call 01572 757901.