Pennyhill Park wins Tea Guild’s top city and country tea award

The award category was introduced two years ago to recognise and highlight hotels where afternoon tea is given prominence and is one of three special accolades to be given out by the Tea Guild each year along with its Awards of Excellence. 

Irene Gorman, head of the Tea Guild, said: “The Top City and Country Hotel Tea Award is a fairly new category awarded for the first time in 2010 and which enables The Tea Guild to recognise and highlight the amazing country hotels where tea is very much a part of British tradition. 

“Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa was favoured by the judges for its delightful surroundings, excellent staff offering warm and friendly service, extensive knowledge of teas, and really scrumptious food.” 

On the news of the award, Krzyzstof Prokop, manager of the Ascot Lounge at Pennyhill Park, said: “Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa is proud to be members of The Tea Guild and we place the highest value on the choice and quality of the tea we serve Our customers demand the very best and we strive at all times to fulfil their expectations. 

“It’s a real team effort here and all our staff work tirelessly to create somewhere special, where the quality of food, relaxing atmosphere and the very best standards are paramount.” 

Tea Guild awards 

The Athenaeum Hotel in Mayfair was given the Top London Afternoon Tea Award after its tea room the Garden Room received an almost perfect score from the Guild’s anonymous judges. Top Tea Place was won by Betty’s Café Tea Rooms in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. 

Thirty-nine businesses in all were given Awards of Excellence, given to establishments who can prove consistently high standards of tea making and serving. 

Judges, who visit places anonymously, award up to 125 points to establishments for the variety, flavour, knowledge and service of the teas offered, together with the quality and service of food, décor, ambience, and presentation.