Anyone for Tea?
By
Tina K Burton

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever has happened to that quintessential treasure of Englishness the tea room? Years ago they were in abundance, but now they seem to be on the decline.

The first tea shop emerged in London during Victorian times when it was fashionable to 'take tea'. They became very popular, and tea rooms sprang up all over the country. Before that, in the middle of the 18th century, coffee houses were prevalent, but they faded out as tea became more popular and tea gardens came in. These were real social events, with music, dancing, walks along flowery tree-lined avenues and fireworks in the evenings.

Did you know, apparently the custom of tipping was created through tea gardens. If a guest wanted his waiter to hurry up, he dropped a coin into a small locked wooden box that was on the table. This box was inscribed with the letters T.I.P.S. which stood for 'To insure prompt service'.

One of the most famous tea gardens was Vauxhall Gardens, where the Tate gallery now stands, as well as Ranelagh Gardens, which was in the grounds where the Chelsea Flower show is held. Mozart performed at Ranelagh when he was nine years old. These gardens eventually gave way to tea rooms.

During the second half of the 19th century, afternoon tea became part of Victorian life. Tea parties were a social occasion, when not only could a lady show off her best cups, saucers, jugs, spoons, tongs and napkins, she could also dress up in her tea gown. Many lasting friendships were formed at these gatherings.

By 1900, tea consumption was more than a hundred million kilos a year. All the good hotels started providing light meals to go with tea, and around 1910, with new dance styles such as the Tango coming in, the tea dance was born. They grew in popularity through the 1920s and 1930s in seaside resort dance halls, as well as in London's Covent Garden. They continued right throughout the war, and tea dances are still held in venues around the country today.

As for tea rooms, there is nothing nicer on a sunny day out, than stopping in one of these quaint old shops for a delicious cream tea. The anticipation of a cup of refreshing tea and home-made scone, with little pot of jam and thick clotted cream is worth waiting for. Or in the winter, a nice warming bowl of home-made soup and chunk of fresh bread sets you up nicely, ready for your journey home. They all seem to have lovely old-fashioned names too, like 'Pollyanna's' or simply 'Ye Olde Tea Shoppe'.

What do you think constitutes a good tea room? For me, top of the list has to be home-made food - none of that pre-packaged, sterile, tasteless stuff thank you! A selection of different teas should be on the list too I suppose, and nice surroundings. One tea room we visit regularly has all that. It is the nicest we have found yet. They have a good selection of food - there is always a home-made quiche; and their cakes are delicious. Elderflower and gooseberry, fig and peach or raspberry Victoria sponge - customers are spoilt for choice.

We don't seem to see many tea rooms on our travels out anymore; or is it simply that because we use the motorways, we no longer drive through the little villages and market towns, so don't come across them. The only thing you are likely to find off the motorway, is one of those service station chains, and they are hardly in the tea room league.

I expect that as with all tourist places, the tea rooms that are left, get most of their business in the summer months from visiting holidaymakers, but not a lot of trade in the winter. We drove to one that was mentioned on the Internet during the winter, and for the whole time we were there, only one other person came in

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If tea rooms are on the decline, I think it is a real shame. It's a pity we can't do something to preserve this part of English heritage, and encourage people to frequent these little treasures so that they don't disappear forever.

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