The positive news about the success of new tea shops, tea bars and tea e-businesses around the UK continues with more new companies opening in several locations outside London.

Liverpool’s Brew opened in the summer of 2008 with its slogan “Letting the tea out of the bag!” (echoing Yumchaa’s demands during their street demo of two weeks ago to “liberate your leaves!”). Described recently by one very satisfied customer as “the tea drinker’s Shangri-La, an oasis in the heart of the business district, totally charming and so peaceful”, Brew is much more than just a tea bar. Phil Kirby, who owns and runs the tea bar with his brother Jon, organises a steady programme of unusual and lively events to bring in customers - a photography club and a French club on Tuesdays, movie night on Wednesdays with screenings of classic and cult films plus tea and popcorn, live jazz on Thursdays, new products for special occasions such as Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter etc., competitions, book launches, Molton Brown hand and arm massages for tired office workers and much more. Their challenge to 5 local schools in December last year to create a winning blend resulted in Super Shanghai Spearmint, a mix of green tea, lemon and spearmint and students had to write their own marketing material and pitch their ideas to a ‘Dragon’s Den’ panel.

Three months after opening, the shop won a Business Enterprise Award and has been the focus of attention from all the local press and media who love Phil’s innovative approach. The names they have given to their tea blends reflect Brew’s fun style - Scouser’s Breakfast (for Liverpudlians that love a punchy rich tea to start the day), Posh Darjeeling, Easy Green (brewed at the right temperature and a hit among Liverpool’s young customers), Skinny Tea blended from oolong tea, hibiscus, lemongrass, ginger and dandelion leaf, and some unusual herbals - invigorating Chilli Mint and energising Mate Energy Kick, a mix of South American mate, liquorice and gingko. Their launch last year was cheekily followed by a suggestion on their website that potential customers should perhaps practise relevant phrases (to replace those tired coffee bar orders) such as “one green tea latte to go please”, “Scouser’s Breakfast and toast to go, hold the butter”, “One Earl Grey, one scone and some jam to stay” and “Crikey you guys have some great tea”. Brilliantly energetic and set to stay!

In Wales, Cardiff too now has its own very successful new tea room - Waterloo Gardens Teahouse, opened at the end of last year by Kasim Ali and his wife Aisha. Kasim is a pharmacist and the store puts the emphasis on health and well-being. Kasim managed to get plenty of pre-publicity by hooking up with local artist, Betina Skovbro, whose photographs of dogs and dog walkers (a very British theme, of course) attracted crowds of viewers (including dog walkers). Betina has been nominated for Upcoming Photographer of the Year Awards. Since opening in November, Kasim has organised a second art show with internationally renowned lithographer, Tom Piper, and the idea is that the tearoom will become a centre for established artists. Any profits earned by the tearoom on sales of exhibited pieces will be donated to The Global Fund that helps fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The building that houses Kasim’s shop is turn of last century Edwardian and faces a favourite, well-used Edwardian park, but he and Aisha have not gone for an old-fashioned, traditional decor. Instead the design is fresh, modern and bright with a polished wooden floor, sleek wooden furnishings, clean geometric lines and stunning orange light fittings. The selection of teas includes seven that were voted Best in Class at the 2008 World Tea Championships - including a Silver Needle, a Breakfast Blend, an Earl Grey and a Premium Jasmine - and they’re all organic. Things are going so well here that Kasim is already looking for a suitable location for a second tearoom.

Up in Scotland, Brewhaha (I love the name - it always makes me smile) has opened its first tea room in Glasgow and after just five weeks of trading, they are seeing sales go up and up. They are in the ideal location in Buchanan Galleries, the city’s main shopping mall that attracts hundreds of people every day and there are two universities nearby. They have bravely (and perhaps very sensibly) chosen a shop unit that sits between two well known high street coffee chains. JJ O’Hara, the company’s marketing guy, told me, “When we opened coffee was 35%! The great thing is that tea now accounts for 90% of hot beverage sales. We encourage people to be adventurous with their selections and generally they are. All day tea accounts for only 30% of the tea mix; the Earl Grey with petals is very popular, as are the Russian Caravan and the Japanese Sencha.”

Brewhaha teas were launched in 2004 by Joanne McLeod, former producer of TV commercials, and the company was soon supplying top-notch food halls and department stores. This year, it was one of only three Scottish companies to win a Gold at the Guild of Fine Foods Awards. They have a quirky, very British feel which is witty and clever and people love it. They’re already getting franchise enquiries.

This all goes to show that ingenuity, wit, focus, originality, creativity, energy and a dedication to good quality tea bring success and true loyalty from customers. Here in Britain, we really do love our tea and when people bring something fresh to their tea business that opens people’s eyes and makes them view their tea drinking habits from a new angle, they really cannot fail. Each of the businesses I’ve talked about here is very individual and has its own recognisable personality. That’s the secret and it’s exciting, inspirational and very very good news.

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