Cup winners celebrate in Yorkshire

This prestigious award is now in its 25th year and is seen as the Michelin star of the tea world, with tea rooms, country and city hotels around Britain competing for the coveted honours.

The ultimate winner of Top Tea Place 2010 is The Black Swan Tea Room, Helmsley, North Yorkshire.

The UK Tea Council's team of Tea Guild inspectors have travelled the country to seek out the annual winners of the Top London Afternoon Tea and Top Tea Place awards and, new for 2010, the Top City and Country Hotel award.

The Tea Guild team of tea experts have taken tea in hotels and tearooms in London and across Britain in their quest to find the finest tea experiences and all

visits have been anonymous to ensure the results are fair and accurate.

The judges awarded points for the variety, excellence and knowledge of the teas offered, together with the quality of food, service, dcor, ambience, and presentation.

The judges were so impressed with the quality of the afternoon tea served at Elizabeth Botham and Sons, Whitby, that they awarded them very high marks in every category.

The Tea Guild has now presented the 2010 awards to The Top Tea Place, Top London Afternoon Tea and Top City and Country Hotel winners, in addition to a total of 53 Awards of Excellence and 16 London Awards of Excellence to tea rooms and hotels throughout the UK.

Irene Gorman, head of The Tea Guild said: "Each year the standard of entrants for the awards continues to scale new heights, making the judges' task of choosing those

who achieve an Award of Excellence extremely challenging and this

year's competition was no exception.

"This Award of Excellence to Elizabeth Botham and Sons was presented in recognition of consistently high standards of tea making and customer service, evident in the care and attention to detail with which afternoon tea was prepared and served."

Irene added: "Across the UK, the tradition of afternoon tea has never been stronger, with Tea Guild members busier than ever. More and more people are taking time out to enjoy that 'very special afternoon tea moment'.

"It's the perfect fun and affordable way to catch up with friends, family or even business colleagues, or to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a romantic date."