Serving best tea in town

Experts in what makes a good brew say tea served in a shop within an old mill building is among the best afternoon cuppas available throughout the country.

The UK Tea Council’s team of undercover Tea Guild inspectors have given Ollerton Watermill Tea Shop in Market Place, Ollerton village, an Award of Excellence in its Top Tea Place awards.

This means it is among the top 55 venues in the country for serving tea.

The mill has been owned by the Mettam family since 1921, and the tea shop is run by sisters-in-law Mrs Kate Mettam, and Mrs Ellen Mettam.

The award, now in its 23rd year, sees inspectors secretly taking tea in more than 100 tearooms and hotels in order to find the UK’s finest.

The judges were so impressed with the high quality of the afternoon tea served at Ollerton Watermill that they awarded them high marks in every category.

The head of The Tea Guild, Irene Gorman, said: “Competition for an Award of Excellence in the Top Tea Place competition is intense and rigorous.

“This Award of Excellence to Ollerton Watermill Tea Shop was presented in recognition of their consistently high standards of tea making, as evident in the care and attentiveness with which they prepare and serve afternoon tea.”

It means the tea shop will be included in the AA and The Tea Council’s Britain’s Best Afternoon Tea guide.