To tie in with our Cookshop ideas theme, this month’s Inspiration takes a look at how tea is fast becoming the new ‘coffee’ of the future!

Quintessentially associated with the British, tea is surely the world’s favourite drink! It is so much a part of everyday life in Britain that we might never stop to think about how a unique plant from faraway China became the nation’s favourite drink. The history of tea is fascinating, and its story can be followed from the earliest times in Imperial China right up to its present place at the heart of British life.

Tearooms all over Britain are enjoying the increased business that is resulting from the growing interest in tea. Featured here are selections of some of the well known tea emporiums we have visited in recent research trips.

Situated in the trendy Notting Hill area of London firstly the Tea Palace, a modern dedicated tea emporium offering over 165 different types of tea of the finest quality available in the UK. The clever branding of both product and retail/leisure space promotes tea to the full whilst the infusions and flavours of tea are included within the food menu. The chic white table cloths and clean simple lines of the cleverly designed exterior and interior provide a fashionable atmosphere whilst maintaining a comfortable ambience. From the branding outside to the gifts, food and drink inside everything flows naturally in the warm corporate shades of purple and silver. The success of Tea Palace’s first year was sealed with its launch in Isetan’s flagship store in Shinjuku, Tokyo in November 2006. The launch was so successful that the Tea Palace is already the fastest growing premium tea brand in Isetan and is rolling out to other stores in the group this year. Easter 2007 saw them launch in Selfridges, London, followed by becoming the exclusive tea partner at Hotel Intercontinental at No.1 Park Lane after its £80M refurbishment.

If you’re planning a visit to Yorkshire, a trip to Bettys Café Tea Rooms is a must. You’ll find six Bettys branches in Harrogate, York, Ilkley and Northallerton, and although all offer the same welcoming hospitality and extensive menu, each has its own special character. In fact, to truly enjoy the charm of Bettys you should really visit them all!

In 1936 Bettys founder, Frederick Belmont, travelled on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary. He was so enthralled by the splendour of the ship that he commissioned the Queen Mary's designers and craftsmen to turn a dilapidated furniture store into his most sophisticated branch yet – an elegant café in the land-locked location of St Helen’s Square. Today, as you sit in Bettys surrounded by huge curved windows, elegant wood panelling and ornate mirrors, you can almost imagine yourself aboard a luxury liner. The art deco elegance of the Queen Mary is particularly evident in the first floor Belmont Room which was based on one of the cruise liner’s state rooms. Throughout the year many musical evenings and events are hosted here.

Originally designed in 1904 the world famous Glasgow Willow Tea Rooms were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Extended over five levels featuring the Room de Luxe as the main attraction, it was unprecedented with its art deco styled silver furniture and leaded mirror friezes. Reborn in December 1983, new owner Anne Mulhern recreated the Room de Luxe in its original location. She further developed the Sauchiehall Street building by recreating The Gallery, which opened on 14 February 1996. Like the Room de Luxe, the recreation of The Gallery was to the original design. Immediately the Willow became an extremely popular destination for visitors to the City.

An acknowledgement of the care taken in rebuilding the Willow name was the invitation in 1995 by the prestigious British Tea Council to become one of the founding members of the Guild of Tea Rooms; an invitation extended to only fifty establishments in the United Kingdom and only three in Scotland.

There isn’t enough space here to mention all the famous tearooms so apologies to those of you who take tea at The Ritz, The Dorchester, Fortnum and Mason and Claridges, to name but a few! If you are looking for the perfect places to take tea the New Tea Guild Guide Book ‘Afternoon Tea – perfect places for afternoon tea, is available in limited numbers at www.tea.co.uk, whilst the AA guide to Britain's Best afternoon tea guide will help you discover even more of the same! Simply go to www.enjoyengland.com to order your copy!

Department stores are becoming destinations for food and drink as designers cook up a storm in store. If you would like some more details on developing and expanding by adding a cookshop, deli or tea/coffee shop experience, see our Ideas article for more details.