A QUOTE FROM THE #QUEEN ON THE EVE OF HER 90TH BIRTHDAY...

A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH ENGLISH...

I just could not resist buying this fantastic Collins Quite Brilliant 'A Celebration of British English'.The cute bulldog on the front made me look at it straight away.

As I have previously written we British are an eccentric population with a culture as put in this book as 'suitably, and uniquely, barmy'.

After all as they say we invented 'trainspotting and raves, we love saying please and thnak you to strangers in the street but then shouting at them in football grounds, we taught the world how to write great pop music and also how to make a jolly good cup of tea', so we really are a unique lot.

This book is a celebration of our gems and the people and culture around it, its what they call 'a jubilant celebration of of British English's most wonderful moments.

Enjoy ….   

WHY DO THE BRITISH DRIVE ON THE LEFT?...

Apparently when the horse was king, travelers liked to keep their sword hand free to deal with hostile traffic and as most were right-handed, they kept to the left and it became a rule of the Highways Bill of 1835. 

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 2014...

The Great British Bake Off  2014 started tonight this time on BBC 1.

Ten hour long episodes for us to follow amateur bakers battle to win the title of the UK's Best Amateur Baker. This year we even have someone from my neck of the woods in Nottingham.

Each week the bakers tackle a different baking skill, which becomes progressively more difficult as the show unfolds. Nancy was the star baker this week, can't wait for next week's episode.

TEA IN ENGLAND...

Tea in England is a blog written by Denise, an American living in Surrey and a self-confessed Anglophile.

Denise is fascinated by tea culture and everything that goes with it (she’s even a graduate of the UK Tea Council’s Tea Masterclass!) Her blog is a combination of recipes, reviews, tips, giveaways, and a lot of tea wisdom.

After two years of posting her adventures and unique finds on her personal Facebook page, she decided that it was time to start sharing it all with you and the rest of the tea-drinking-England-loving world, so she created Tea in England.

This is a place for you to talk about tea, England and Tea in England,  and although her husband thinks that Denise knows everything, about tea, she says that in fact 'the truth is: I don’t.'
There’s still a lot to learn about tea and about England, so pop in every now and then and see where Denise has been.
 

DO YOU FANCY A ROYAL AFTERNOON TEA?...

The Tea Cosy tea shop in Brighton www.theteacosy.co.uk is keeping up with the royals in all ways.

The walls are decked with commemorative memorabillia and the menu hosts the likes of Queen Mother's Cream tea to William and Harry's Tea, see below.

Menu

William and Harry's Tea
A selection of homemade biscuits with a pot of tea for one.

Beatrice and Eugenie's Tea
Cupcake with hot chocolate, cream and marshmallows.

Charles and Camilla Tea
Two pieces of toast with Pate or homemade preserve and a pot of tea for one.

Princess Margaret Low Tea
A piece of cake with a pot of tea for one.

Queen Mother's Cream Tea

AFTERNOON TEA WEEK

Throughout August to celebrate National Afternoon Tea Week you can get 25% off some afternoon teas in London and the UK.

Just click onto www.afternoontea.co.uk and click on the link for your 25% offer plus a gift voucher.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND AFTERNOON TEA...

The renowned and iconic British landmark that is Buckingham Palace is only open to visitors for a short time in the summer.

Enjoy exploring the opulent hallways and furnished interiors of this Royal Residence. See the state rooms and finish with an Afternoon Tea at either the Thistle Westminster or Grosvenor Victoria, both renowned four star hotels. For a limited time you can also see Kate Middletons wedding dress, tiara, shoes and cake.

The offer was from www.buyagift.co.uk has been reduced from £115 -£95 for an afternoon tea and tour of this superb building.

THE FIRST TEA SHOP TO HIT THE UK...

The Country's first tea shop was opened in 1864 by the Manageress of the Aerated Bread Company.

The company directors allowed the manageress to serve refreshments to favoured customers.

Then, demand for her service grew, which then sparked a new trend for similar shops across the UK. Within two years the Aerated Bread Company had opened 250 of it's self service tea shops.

These also helped to liberate the lives of women, as it was considered 'perfectly proper' and acceptable for a woman to meet her friends in a tea shop without needing a escort and without risk to her reputation.

J. Lyons & Co opened their first Lyons tea shop in 1894 at 213 Piccadilly. It was the forerunner of some 250 white and gold fronted tea shops which occupied prominent positions in many of London's high streets.

AFTERNOON TEA CATWALK...

With biscuits and fancies copied straight from the catwalk, and tea served in fine Paul Smith bone china, 'Pret a Portea' at The Berkeley Hotel in London is the place for post shopping refreshments.

It is designed to add a creative twist to the classic elements of the traditional English afternoon tea. You can find it in the Hotel's Caramel Room between 1pm-6pm.

The hew Spring/Summer 2011 collection sees Victoria Beckham, Miu Miu and Tom Ford make their début on the Berkeley's tea stand.

www.the-berkeley.co.uk

AFTERNOON TEA FOR PRINCE HARRY AND PIPPA MIDDLETON...

The Troubadour Bar in Chelsea has been serving afternoon tea to Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton.

According to the news the famous pub in Chelsea, sells tea for £3.50 and £2.75 for a muffin with jam.

THE CLOSING OF A TEA SHOP...

It was sad to read in www.yorkshirepost.co.uk that after 92 years of service, a cake shop, called 'Sterchi's' in Filey, North Yorkshire is about to close.

It's heyday, it said, was in the 1930's when afternoon tea and light supper were an every day part of British life.

The shop opened in 1924/25 but now with big shops eating up all the little shops, it just came down to basic book balancing, that made them decide it was time to close the doors.

The owners Mr Philip Cammish and Mrs Sue Cammish, were very sad to have to close the shop. They have been overwhelmed with letters and phone calls bemoaning the closure.

THE VERY BRITISH FOODIE FESTIVALS...

It's that time of year again when food festival are happening throughout the UK.

Some of the most popular ones are -

Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival - 17-19th June, www.garden-events.com/cheltenham

Henley Food Festival - 21/22nd May,www.foodiesfestival.com

Hampton Court Palace - 28-30th May,www.foodiesfestival.com

Bristol's Harbourside - 24-26th June,www.foodiesfestival.com

Tatton Park Manchester - 20-22nd May, www.foodiesfestival.com

Battersea Park, London - 24-26th June, www.foodiesfestival.com

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh - 12-14th August, www.foodiesfestival.com

South Park, Oxford - 27-29th August, www.foodiesfestival.com

Spring Tide Food Festival, Hive Beach, Burton, Bradstock - 21/22nd May, www.spring-tide.org.uk

Bath Coffee Festival - 21/22nd May,www.bathcoffeefestival.co.uk

English Wine Week - 29th May - 6th June, www.englishwineweek.co.uk

Artisan Cheese Fair, Melton Mowbray - 11-12th June, www.meltonbusiness.co.uk

THE BEST PLACE FOR AFTERNOON TEA IN THE UK...

THE ANGEL HOTEL, ABERGAVENNY, MONMOUTHSHIRE. TEL NO 01873 857121

The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny, www.angelhotelabergavenny.com has been chosen as one of the best places in the UK to enjoy afternoon tea.

The former Georgian Coaching Inn has won The Tea Guilds, 'Top City and Country Hotel Tea Award 2011'. Only nine Hotels outside of London have achieved this top national award.

It has been praised for its smart and elegant surroundings, attentive and efficient service and tasty sandwiches, cakes and scones.

ROYAL WEDDING AFTERNOON TEAS...

With the Royal Wedding only a few weeks away there are a number of venues cashing in on the latest 'afternoon tea' craze.

The Cavendish Hotel, Jermyn Street, London has a 'Royal Afternoon Tea' costing £15, http://www.thecavendish-london.co.uk/afternoon-tea-london.

Not only is the hotel an ideal base for those seeking the thrill of London's theatreland, world class shopping and restaurants, it is an oasis of calm where guests can escape, relax and unwind when in London. Whether staying for business or pleasure the hotel's 230 contemporary bedrooms provide guests with a warm, tranquil environment to escape to.

The Cadogan Hotel, Sloane Street, in Knitsbridge, London has a £20 'Champagne Royal Afternoon Tea' http://www.cadogan.com/html/cadogan_art_tea.html

The Cadogan Hotel has launched a new and indulgent Afternoon "ARTea" in conjunction with the well-established art specialists, The Kings Road Art Gallery.
Whilst enjoying Afternoon Tea in The Cadogan Hotel's Drawing Room, guests will now be able view an exclusive collection of works from The Kings Road Art Gallery. The paintings will provide guests with the unique opportunity to combine exquisite art with the time-honoured British tradition of high tea.

In celebration of the new Afternoon ARTea, the new Head Chef, Oliver Lesnik, has created bespoke "artist palette" biscuits, complete with edible paintbrushes. Oliver has a wealth of experience, having previously worked under Angela Hartnett, Jean-Christophe Novelli, and Gordon Ramsay.

And finally the Thames Cruise has one on the day of the wedding for after you have seen the procession. You can then finish you day with a cruise along the Thames and enjoy their 'Royal Wedding Day Afternoon Tea'. Tickets for this trip are through http://www.intotheblue.co.uk/.

Watch the Royal Wedding procession in London and then celebrate with a Royal Wedding Afternoon tea cruise on the Thames that's fit for a King (and his Queen!). With this very special one-off departure, you'll enjoy a traditional high tea with all the trimmings as you glide down the River Thames to mark this most memorable day in modern British history.

AN ENGLISH POET...

WINE AND STRONG DRINK MAKE TUMULTS ENCREASE,
CHOCOLATE, TEA AND COFFEE, ARE LIQUORS OF PEACE,
NO QUARRELS OR OATHS AMONG THOSE THAT DRINK THEM,
ANDREW MARVELL – ENGLISH POET – (1621-78)

COURSES ON THE GREAT BRITISH 'AFTERNOON TEA'...

If you have never enjoyed an afternoon tea, or if your an enthusiastic lover of afternoon teas then I'm sure one of the course from the company 'englishafternoontea.com' will be suitable for you.

The specialise in traditional afternoon tea courses and you learn in a friendly, informal environment and the courses are designed to introduce you to the world of afternoon tea.

They offer one-to-one tuition, covering baking through to the social history of tea. Course vary from one to five days. The courses, which take place in Sandgate, Kent offer are One-Day Gluten Free Baking Course, One-Day Cream Tea Course, One-Day Brief History of Afternoon Tea with Baking, One-Day Academic Course and a Five-Day English Afternoon Tea course with a tea party.