Find your home this summer at The Arbour.

Your Guide to Summer Cooking
As we approach the longer, warmer days, we’ve been thinking about how to host the perfect outdoor lunch – the ultimate summer weekend activity!
From summer salads to a refreshing cocktail, we’ve listed our top tips for hosting this summer, including sourcing produce grown close to our homes at The Arbour.
It’s all in the preparation…
It’s always best to shop local, and Chelmsford has plenty to offer. Head to The Manor Farm Shop to pick up some fresh and delicious local produce, just a 12-minute drive from our homes at The Arbour. Think strawberries, baby-new potatoes and cloudy apple juice – the perfect ingredients for a tasty summer spread!
Once you’ve ticked off your shopping list, set the scene for your guests. Many of our homes at The Arbour benefit from private gardens, ideal for soaking up the summer sun, and meals alfresco. Before your guests arrive, set your outside table with your favourite tablecloth and lay out plates, cutlery and glasses. To really make things feel special, decorate with a bunch of summer blooms.
Summer tipple, anyone?
To kick off your summer lunch, serve up a delicious, ice-cold cocktail to help guests cool off. A fruity jug of Pimm’s is always a good choice, and really celebrates summery flavours. Mix together Pimm’s and lemonade with plenty of fresh mint, cucumbers and strawberries for the perfect summer tipple. For an alcohol-free option, reach for a bottle of cloudy apple juice from the Manor Farm Shop and garnish with mint.
Serve both drinks alongside Fairfields Crisps – hand-cooked crips made from potatoes grown in the Colne Valley, just half an hour’s drive from The Arbour!
The main event…
Your guests are admiring all the work you’ve done in your garden with a glass of Pimm’s in hand – it’s time for lunch! We suggest a summer spread bound to cater to every taste.
To really take advantage of the sunshine, fire up the BBQ and get grilling. Marinate your choice of meat and fish in your favourite flavours and achieve that unbeatable chargrilled taste. For the vegetarians, try halloumi, large portobello mushrooms or these butternut squash skewers to really impress.
To accompany, serve up a fresh and zingy salad. With no cooking required, an epic summer salad is the perfect pairing for BBQ food. Packed to the brim with chopped tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, fresh herbs and creamy avocados, this salad is finished with a tangy dressing that is easy to whip up and will go down a treat. An easy-to-make tray of crispy potato wedges is also a great summer lunch accompaniment. Oven baked with the skins on, this delicious side dish requires only four ingredients – potatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper. What could be easier? Don’t forget to finish off with a generous sprinkle of Maldon Salt – harvested right here in Essex.
Room for dessert?
To really celebrate locally grown, English strawberries, throw together a crowd-pleasing (and simple!) Eton Mess. Freshly whipped double cream meets sweet strawberries and homemade meringue – this is a classic for a reason. Don’t be put off by making the meringue from scratch either – kitchens at The Arbour have plenty of surface space and come with integrated appliances, meaning you can achieve all your baking goals with ease.