Peacocks Tearoom named as UK's Top Tea Place

20th April 2007

Peacocks Tearoom in Ely, Cambridgeshire has scooped the UK Tea Council's coveted Top Tea Place 2007 award.

It is joined by The Dorchester in London, announced as winner of the Top London Afternoon Tea.

Now in its 22nd year, the UK Tea Council’s Tea Guild inspectors have been scouring the country to seek out the annual winners of the two ‘Top Tea’ competitions. A team of The Tea Guild’s ‘incognito’ tea inspectors have secretly taken tea in tearooms and hotel tea lounges across Britain to find the best tea experience. The anonymous judges award points for service, décor and value for money as well as the range and quality of teas offered.

Tearooms all over Britain are enjoying the increased business that is resulting from the growing interest in tea. Owners of Peacocks , George Peacock and Rachel Lemkov, aim to give visitors a really memorable experience – a warm welcome, a relaxing atmosphere, an amazing range of teas from all over the world and excellent home cooking. Advice about which tea to choose is expertly given and careful brewing makes for a perfect cup of tea every time. Peacocks received top marks in all the tea categories and impressed judges with their interest and knowledge.

Irene Gorman, The Head of The Tea Guild, commented that “Peacocks offer a very special tea experience. The tea menu is extensive with lots of interesting, witty and helpful information. The quality of the teas and the delicious sandwiches, scones and cakes make this a must on any trip to Ely.

“The very warm and welcoming tearoom is attractively decorated with a display of tea memorabilia and pictures and the pretty garden provides a haven in warmer weather. There’s also an entire shelf of books available to anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of tea. All the staff are really friendly and visitors are very well looked after.”

Irene Gorman added, “The UK Tea Council’s annual Tea Guild awards highlight the ever increasing popularity, with all age groups, of both afternoon tea and of tea as Britain’s favourite beverage. The excellent quality and range of teas from around the world, excellent brewing, superb food and attentive service were what impressed judges the most and gained top marks for this year’s winners”.

Notes to editors
• The Tea Guild is part of The UK Tea Council Ltd which is a non-profit making, independent organisation dedicated to raising the profile of tea in the UK.
• Eight establishments won Awards of Excellence in the Top London Afternoon Tea 2007 award they were: The Lanesborough, The Four Seasons, The Wolseley, The Ritz, Brown’s Hotel, The Park Lane Hotel, Claridge’s and The Chesterfield.
• 34 establishments around the UK will also receive Awards of Excellence – for a full list of for details of winners in your area please contact us.
• Previous winners of the Top London Afternoon Tea award include Claridge’s (2006) and & The Lanesborough (2005).
• Previous winners of the Top Tea Place include Hazelmere Café & Bakery in Cumbria (2006) & Ollerton Watermill Tea Shop in Nottinghamshire (2005).
• The AA & Tea Council’s guide book, 'Afternoon Tea – Perfect Places for Afternoon Tea' is available from all good bookshops or online at www.tea.co.uk/shop and www.theAA.com/bookshop and costs £9.99.

For more information or to request images please contact: Shireen Sullivan on 020 7808 9731, shireen.sullivan@nexuspr.com or Lucy Egerton on 020 7808 9737, lucy.egerton@nexuspr.com