The X Factor

6th April 2009

You've seen the winners and know what goes into making the ultimate afternoon tea... Now, Alexandra Fullerton meets the people who made Brown's English Tea Rooms and The Bridge Tea Rooms the Top Tea venues for 2009.

Click on The Tea Guild channel for more information on the awards.

The English Tea Room at Brown's

Being told that you've just won the Tea Guild's coveted award for Top London Afternoon Tea 2009 is enough to make anyone whoop for joy but for Leyla Mussaud, Manager of The English Tea Room at Brown's Hotel, her response was the opposite: "I was speechless!" Leyla told Tea.co.uk.

Tea is a passion for Leyla and her team of 15 front of house and 8 kitchen staff and she freely admits that "being acknowledged by The Tea Guild is wonderful. The staff all feel very happy - and I'm so proud of my team". Stuart Johnson, General Manager of Brown's echoed Leyla's sentiment, "The award means so much to all the staff, who have put their hearts and souls into creating the best possible experience for our customers" The beautiful Mayfair hotel was founded in 1837 and was London's first hotel. Following a refurbishment and relaunch in December 2005, it's back in focus as one of the capital's most prestigious places to stay - and take tea of course! In the past a string of kings, queens, presidents, emperors and literary luminaries have graced Brown's and although the hotel is far too discreet to list the celebrities that have been guests in recent months, a quick scan of the papers reveal that Kate Moss, Donatella Versace and Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld are all fans...

Leyla has worked at the hotel since it's re-opening and thinks the reasons Brown's scooped the prize are three-fold, citing "the food, ambience and welcoming, personalised service". The Tea Guild's band of anonymous inspectors were particularly impressed with the venue's elegant atmosphere, the staff (who were praised for their "extreme efficiency") and reverence for tea. The most popular blends of tea, from an extensive menu, are Brown's Afternoon and Morning blends (exclusive to the hotel), Margaret's Hope Darjeeling and Organic Dragon Well Green Tea and Jasmine Pearls blends while delicious cakes, pastries and sandwiches are available too.

For a birthday, anniversary or because-you're-worth-it treat, traditional afternoon tea at Brown's is the ultimate way to spend a leisurely afternoon in London. And, as it's been awarded The Tea Guild's top accolade you can sit and relax, safe in the knowledge that you're taking the best tea in town!

Afternoon tea, from £35 per person.
Brown's Hotel, Albemarle Street, W1S 4BP.
020 7493 6020 / www.brownshotel.com

The Bridge Tea Rooms

Being awarded The Tea Guild's Top Tea Place Award 2009 isn't an easy achievement. In fact, as Roy Hayward of The Bridge Tea Rooms testifies, it takes a lot of hard work! But having your hard work acknowledged "by an establishment such as The Tea Guild is very exciting" Roy revealed to Tea.co.uk. Roy and wife Alison, who have run The Bridge for the past two and a half years, couldn't wait to tell their staff that they were now working in The Tea Guild's Top Tea venue 2009 and was sure they will all be "delighted"!

Alison and Roy made a move from their previous jobs (in catering management, lecturing and running a Bath-based guest house) to take over The Bridge. "When The Bridge came on the market we saw it's potential and made a move." Both self confessed tea (and cake) fans Alison and Roy "spotted a growing demand for afternoon teas" and now offer an "experience that goes beyond tea and cakes to create something our customers will treasure."

It's this level of care that elevates afternoon tea at The Bridge Tea Rooms to the UK's #1 spot. There's an eclectic mix of elements, all brewed to perfection, which contribute to the tea experience too: The tearoom's venue in a former Blacksmiths' cottage, dating from 1675, is unusual and original and you can sip tea from more than 30 loose leaf varieties. The waitresses all wear Victorian costume and their knowledge of the different blends and brews on offer at The Bridge was praised as "the best ever encountered" by one of our incognito inspectors. Jonathan Ross, Ardal O'Hanlan and Jane Seymour have all popped in in the past.

English Breakfast and Earl Grey teas are the most popular on the menu but, as well as a wide range of specialty loose teas (including the Jane Austen tea - a recreation of a tea the tassophile might have enjoyed), The Bridge also offers two authentic Oriental Tea Drinking Experiences. Guests can sample either a white China tea (Pai Mu Tan) or a Japanese Secha Fukuyu (a rare steamed green tea) using traditional tea-pots and drinking bowls.

The food that accompanies traditional afternoon tea played a big part in the fact that The Tea Guild's judges awarded such high marks to The Bridge. Alison Hayward does all the baking at The Bridge herself, helped by two other cooks. When the Haywards bought The Bridge, they inherited some scone and cake recipes from the previous owner... self-taught chef Alison has perfected them and we can reveal they're now spot-on. Although we do recommend trying a second slice of homemade gateau, just to be sure... As well as classic cream and afternoon teas, children are spoilt with the Master or Mistresses afternoon tea £6.50. Those with a savoury tooth can indulge in the Savoury Afternoon Tea £8.25 (which includes a homemade cheese and herb scone, celery, grapes and cheese).

The Bridge Tea Rooms, 24a Bridge Street, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1BY.
01225 865 537 / www.thebridgeatbradford.co.uk

All prices correct at time of writing.