Tea firm's in wonderland over railway deal

The Mad Hatter Tea Company, based in Richmond, agreed the deal with the operator after its managing director, Tom Clift, discovered the tea at a North Yorkshire farm shop and wanted to share it with his customers.

The tea will be served to passengers on services from London to North Yorkshire and the Durham coast, as well as on the new West Riding service from London to Bradford which will start operating in May. Passengers will also be offered five varieties of biscuit from the Mad Hatter Tea Company.

The firm is named Mad Hatter after the character created by author Lewis Carroll, who went to school in Richmond. The character is first encountered at a tea party and shares its initials with Michael Harrison, founder of the business.

Mr Harrison, who also runs fine food business Northern Select Foods, set up Mad Hatter to aim at the catering, retail, wholesale, hospitality and gift markets. Eighty per cent of the blend is sourced from a tea plantations in India and the rest from Kenya.

Mr Harrison said: "The aim of the company is to put the spotlight on a quality beverage that simply revives the spirit, enriches the mood and adds peppiness and cheerfulness to the substance of life. We are absolutely delighted to be supplying Grand Central Railway."

Sean English, operations director of Grand Central, said: "As a convert to Mad Hatter tea, I know that it will be enjoyed by our passengers."