Seven new tea places join The Tea Guild!
24th November 2009
The Tea Guild is the UK's only organization dedicated to promoting high class tea venues across the country. They're constantly bombarded with potential new members desperate to join the prestigious Guild! Irene Gorman, Head of The Tea Guild turns down many that aren't up to scratch but a few fine tea places have made the grade. Welcome to these seven new members!
Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire.
The stunning setting of The Turnberry Hotel draws in visitors from around the world. Afternoon tea is taken in The Grand Tea Lounge but can also be enjoyed in the Ailsa Bar where guests can gaze out over imposing Ailsa Craig taking in wild sea-views of the distant isle of Arran while they indulge in a scrumptious Homecoming Tea - the most popular set tea on the menu.
The traditional sandwich course includes treats such as oak smoked Scottish salmon on an oatmeal blini; Arran Cheddar cheese in a granary bap; heather honey baked ham and Arran mustard on a bridge roll and roast Scotch beef in a horseradish bagel. Next up, freshly baked scones and griddle cakes are served with clotted cream and homemade strawberry preserve. Finally sweets - including pineapple cake, Turnberry teacakes, Scotch trifle and cranachan eclairs are served. Manager Catriona Grant notes, "the shot glass of trifle always goes first!" We bet it does! But as well as the mouth-watering food offering, The Turnberry also offers a huge array of delicious teas and the hotel's trained tea sommeliers are on hand to help guests decide on a brew from the thirty-plus blends on the dedicated tea menu. Rare white Butterfly in Love, Taiwanese high mountain Oolong, trendy Puerh, Gunpowder green tea and mint, Russian Caravan, Ceylon and Earl Grey blends are just some of the choices that await you while the hotel's clever tea timers ensure that whatever you choose will be brewed to perfection.
As one of the newest members of The Tea Guild, Catriona revealed why they wanted to be part of The Guild, "We wanted the hotel to be recognized for our afternoon tea and, having seen that our competitors were involved, we wanted to be a member too! Joining The Tea Guild is an obvious way to be able to get the recognition we feel we deserve". Being part of such an elite band of tea places is, according to Catriona, "a great honour and a privilege."
Turnberry Resort, Maidens Road, Ayrshire, KA26 9LT / 01655 334 032 / www.turnberry.co.uk
The Connaught, London
French Chef Helene Darroze's Chic and Shock Afternoon tea brings the traditional into the 21st century at this grand Mayfair hotel. Treats such as smoked salmon and wasabi cream sandwiches; chocolate cake with marinated orange in balsamic vinegar; lemon choux paste with strawberry jelly; and cucumber, lime and mint fusion with mojito foam sit alongside classic lemon cake, scones and chocolate eclairs to entice and delight any visitor to Esplette, the hotel's tea salon. Alexandre Caujolle, Director of Food and Beverage admits that joining The Tea Guild is "an honour" as The Guild is "synonymous with excellence and the quintessential English tea experience." We're sure the hotel's goal of "everyone leaving Esplette with the wish to revisit" will be easily attained.
Espelette at The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL / 020 7499 7070 / www.the-connaught.co.uk
Tiny Tim's, Canterbury
Jo Dench-Owens, co-owner of this welcoming tea room and bakery in the heart of historic Canterbury, has a mission. The Tea Guild is part of her plan! "When we opened Tiny Tim’s we wanted to be the best tea room possible!" Jo revealed to Tea.co.uk. "Becoming a member of The Tea Guild is the ultimate recognition for our achievements with an added bonus of the extra publicity and support we get from being part of The Guild!"
Along with husband Phil, Jo's passion for baking inspired the couple to start their own business in 2007. "We intended to open a small tearoom but when we found the (large and derelict) building on St. Margaret’s Street we immediately fell in love with it and decided to take the risk of such a huge project!" It took a year to restore the building to the glorious 1930s style tea room it is today but it was certainly worth it. As one of Canterbury's oldest buildings Tiny Tim's dates back to the 1600s and as well as the regular daytime visitors who flock to the tea room for warm scones and a cup of tea, according to Jo, Tiny Tim's is also "gifted with three child spirits that roam the building at night causing mischief". There is a dedicated Ghost Room above the tea shop where the public can discover the building's history and learn more about Tiny Tim's past too...
Most weekends see queues of tea fans patiently waiting for a table at the 100-cover tea room. Christmas is being particularly busy! Once seated, Plump Pilgrim cakes are the most popular treat on the menu. "The cake is our own recipe" confides Jo. "It tastes like a cross between a scone and a shortbread biscuit and is stuffed full of currants and orange zest then topped with a plump cherry!" Sounds scrumptious! Tiny Tim's team of in-house bakers make all the tea room's cakes and scones from scratch each morning and use an amazing 40lbs of flour every Saturday - just to make the day's supplies of scones! As it's impossible to have cake without tea, we recommend you try one of the mouth-watering blends on the menu... Classics such as Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong and Oolong are available alongside intriguing Kentish Apple Tea - a black tea flavoured with local apples.
It's Tiny Tim's first year to brave the anonymous inspection of The Tea Guild's eagle-eyed judges so are they ready? "We do our utmost to maintain our standards regardless of imminent inspections or special visits" says Jo. "Of course we are forever trying to remind our staff to swot up on their teas and to taste everything we have to offer (they don’t complain!)." Tiny Tim's is definitely one to watch!
Tiny Tim's Tearoom, 34 St Margaret's Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2TG / 01227 450 793 / www.tinytimstearoom.co.uk
Abbey Tea Rooms, Tewkesbury
As an example of a traditional British tea room, Abbey Tea Rooms in the historic town of Tewkesbury is perfect! The building is over five hundred years old with a charming walled 'secret' courtyard garden, where guests can enjoy a cup of best-selling English Breakfast Tea and a home-baked scone in warmer weather. Good home cooked food is the tea room's USP and co-owner Wendy Brown is a trained chef. According to Wendy, Abbey Tea Rooms is a place where "good manners come as standard". We're glad to hear it!
Open since March 2004 Wendy and husband Ian spent a considerable amount of time updating Abbey Tea Room's premises from something the estate agent described as "a little tired" to the cosy and inviting space it has become today. It was well worth the effort! As one of the newest members of The Tea Guild, Abbey Tea Rooms is an idyllic spot to spend an afternoon (especially if you can nab a garden table!). Wendy and Ian revealed why they decided to become part of The Tea Guild: "All the top tea venues in the UK are members, we visited some and were inspired [to join]!" Wendy continues, "We wanted to be part of The Tea Guild to elevate our tea room [to that level] and put tea drinking truly on the map in Tewkesbury. We are proud to be members."
59 Church Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5RZ / 01684 292215 / www.abbeytearoomsandrestaurant.co.uk
Swissotel The Howard, London
For those in search of a slick, urbane experience look no further than Swissotel The Howard, where afternoon tea has been elevated to an art form. The elegant Mauve lounge offers a contemporary space where guests can indulge in the signature TLSee afternoon tea while listening to relaxing jazz music.
But what's a TLSee tea? Executive Chef Brian Spark was inspired by the hotel's breath-taking views of London's famous landmarks and created a culinary sightseeing tour of the city. TLSee stands for Tea, London and Sightseeing, cleverly combining these three elements in a witty and delicious feast. Start with sandwiches (including smoked salmon and cream cheese; coronation chicken; cucumber and minted creme fraiche and honey roast ham and cheese). Next? Freshly baked scones - both plain and fruit - are served with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry preserve to be followed by delicate pastries. The thought of carrot cup cakes, raspberry financiers, fresh fruit meringues, lemon drizzle and strawberry smoothies is making our mouths water! Finally a selection of quirky cakes and biscuits, inspired by London landmarks, will be served. Fancy biting into Big Ben - made from dark chocolate filled with fresh raspberry ganache? How about a chocolate and butter shortbread biscuit Black Cab edged with white chocolate piping? Or maybe the Crown Jewels - replicated in ground almond and butter shortbread with gold leaf and silver crunches - is more your style?
Marketing Executive Serhan Oezalkan explains why the hotel wanted to be part of The Tea Guild, "The Tea Guild is an established platform representing afternoon teas of [very] high standard. As we are a 5-star hotel located in London serving tea with the highest food and service standards we wanted to be a member! [Now we've joined] we're recognized as a high profile venue for afternoon tea in London and Tea Guild membership is the seal of approval for our produce, service and standards."
It's good to know the whole menu is also available in Japanese for the many Japanese guests that choose to stay at the hotel...
Swissotel The Howard, Temple Place, London, WC2R 2PR / 020 7836 3555 / www.tlsee.co.uk
The Secret Garden Restaurant and Tearooms, Kent
Visiting established members of The Tea Guild was an inspiration for new Kent member The Secret Garden Restaurant and Tearooms. "I visited a few [member] tea rooms in Yorkshire and felt we were offering a very similar experience" revealed owner Stephanie Wanstall who has run the tea rooms since 2006. "Becoming a member is very special!"
The converted coach house which houses the tea room dates back to the 18th century and looks out over the gardens where Stephanie grows luscious produce - which later becomes ingredients for The Secret Garden's kitchens. "All our food is home made on the premises" is the venue's proud boast. We think the tea rooms are the perfect showcase for the all the local produce emanating from the region that has been nicknamed The Garden of England.
The Secret Garden afternoon tea is a popular choice - and rightly so. As well as sandwiches, scones and a wide choice of teas, there is a dizzying array of cakes on offer. Stephanie confided that coffee and walnut is the most popular sweet treat but classic Victoria sandwich, lemon drizzle, carrot cake and apricot loaf cake all grace the menu too! Which will you choose? After you've indulged in too many cakes a gentle stroll around the walled garden is just the ticket.
Mersham le Hatch, Hythe Road, Ashford, Kent TN25 5NH / 01233 501586 / www.secretgardenkent.co.uk
King John's Hunting Lodge, Wiltshire
The exquisitely pretty medieval village of Lacock is home to King John's Hunting Lodge. The tea room's namesake, King John - aka Lord of The Manor of Melksham, hunted in the ancient forest surrounding the lodge in the 12th century and was reputed to make regular visits to the lodge. Today the only visitors to the building are hungry hordes in search of a good cup of tea and homemade cakes. The signature Royal Tea includes sandwiches (smoked salmon and cucumber and game pate), warm scones served with jam and local organic clotted cream and a choice of cakes from the dresser. Fit for royalty, indeed!
21 Church Street, Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 2LB / 01249 730313 / kingjohnslodge.2day.ws/