Afternoon Tea - The Tea Guild Awards - 2009
About The Tea Guild
The Tea Guild is a prestigious and unique organisation that represents and encourages those outlets who are dedicated to both brewing and serving tea to the high standards desired by the United Kingdom Tea Council.
The United Kingdom Tea Council founded The Tea Guild in 1985, after we commissioned an independent survey which discovered that, out of the thousands of outlets serving tea, very few were, in fact, achieving these high standards. The Tea Guild was thus created to recognise and promote those establishments, both large and small, in city, town or village, who were doing so and thereby increase the business of its members through the implementation of a public relations programme and affiliation to the United Kingdom Tea Council and its high profile, wide resources and reputation.
Source: The Tea Guild
The Tea Guild Top London Afternoon Tea Award - 2009
The winner of the UK Tea Council’s Tea Guild award for London in 2009 went to The English Tea Room At Brown’s Hotel has, achieved the highest “accolade” of the tea world by winning The Tea Guild’s Top London Afternoon Tea 2009 Award. Widely regarded as the “Michelin Star” of the tea world the title is fought over by many London hotels.
In addition, the UK Tea Council presented 12 special Awards of Excellence to the following London hotels:
- Claridge’s
- Grosvenor House Park Room
- “Tea” at Liberty
- The Athenaeum
- The Chesterfield
- The Dorchester
- The Goring
- The Lanesborough
- The Milestone
- The Park Lane Hotel
- The Ritz
- The Wolseley
The event is now in its 24th year and each year the judges’ task of deciding the awards becomes more challenging. In London more and more people are enjoying the special experience of afternoon tea. Clientele include local business people, families, groups of friends and romantic couples.
Source: UK Tea Council
The Tea Guild National Afternoon Tea Award - 2009
The Bridge Tea Rooms in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire is the winner of The Tea Guild’s UK Top Tea Place Award 2009.
The UK Tea Council’s ‘incognito” Tea Guild inspectors have taken tea in tearooms and country and city hotels across Britain, to find the finest tea experience. The anonymous judges award points in fifteen different categories which include the variety and excellence of the teas offered, efficiency and knowledge of service, décor, hygiene and cleanliness, ambience, presentation skills and most importantly the choice and quality of teas served.
The Bridge Tea Rooms, based in an old blacksmith’s cottage dating back to 1675, was voted into the top spot after it gained a near perfect score from The Tea Guild’s anonymous Inspectors who were hugely impressed with the exceptional tea expertise and the warm charm of the staff. The perfectly brewed and presented teas are complemented by delicious food, exquisite homemade cakes and scones created by Owner and Chef, Alison Hayward. Visitors to The Bridge Tea Rooms are guaranteed a warm welcome and a cosy retreat, where they can enjoy a delicious and relaxed afternoon tea served by friendly, efficient, knowledgeable and helpful staff.
Source: UK Tea Council