The Dorchester Wins Top London's Afternoon Tea Award

19th April 2007

The UK Tea Council announces that The Dorchester has scooped The Tea Guild?s famous Top London Afternoon Tea 2007 award.

Many world famous hotels including Claridge’s, The Ritz, The Four Seasons and The Lanesborough were all in the running for this renowned annual London Tea award, which is the “Oscar” of the tea world, and with an ever-increasing focus and popularity of top afternoon teas in the capital, the competition has been more robust than ever before. The overall standard in this year’s London competition was so high that The UK Tea Council has awarded special Awards of Excellence to The Lanesborough, The Wolseley, Claridge’s, The Four Seasons, The Ritz, The Park Lane Hotel, The Chesterfield and Brown’s Hotel in recognition of their outstanding quality and consistency.

Now in its 22nd year, The UK Tea Council’s Tea Guild inspectors have been touring 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 in London and across Britain to find the best tea experience. The anonymous judges award points for service, décor, ambience and value for money as well as for the range and quality of the teas offered.

In London, Tea Guild members are busier than ever serving afternoon teas to increasing numbers of enthusiastic local and foreign visitors and to more groups who enjoy holding business meetings over tea.

The Dorchester impressed judges with the very high standard of their delicious food and their excellent range of teas that are beautifully brewed and expertly served by very knowledgeable staff. The “exceptional, attentive yet discreet” service and the “excellent selection of teas” won the hotel top marks.

Irene Gorman, Head of The Tea Guild, commented, “The sumptuous elegance of The Promenade at The Dorchester sets a perfect theme for a very special afternoon tea. The tea list is well selected and the staff are delighted to advise guests with their choice of tea and then proceed to brew the many different varieties perfectly and to bring fresh pots whenever guests require them. Guests are made to feel very special here and nothing is too much trouble. The discreet piano music, the charming service and the palatial setting make this an experience to remember.

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.
• The winner of the national Top Afternoon Tea 2007 will be announced on Friday 20 April at noon.
• 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