Afternoon tea served in bone china, seated at a table cocooned by Victorian charm - the very image of the quintessential English tearoom.

But with 165 million cups of tea being drunk across Britain every day, there is some strong competition brewing as a Colchester tearoom makes a bid to be named Top Tea Place of the year.

Poppy's Victorian Tearoom in Trinity Street, Colchester, is one of 110 tea shops, tea rooms and tea lounges across the country vying for the annual Tea Council award.

The tearoom has been a haven for lovers of the nations favourite cuppa for 15 years, and when current proprietors Antony and Anita Benton bought it four years ago it was a dream come true.

"We came here at the end of 1996, solely to buy the tearooms," said Mrs Benton.

"It was in the old part of Colchester and we thought it had a lot of character and potential."

And with the Tea Council's secret professional tasters already in the process of judging each establishment against a stringent list of criteria, Mrs Benton said you always had to be on your toes.

It is not just the range of teas which has to be tip-top. Tasters will also be assessing hygiene standards, staff efficiency and attitude, value for money and a pleasant ambience.

Mrs Benton said: "Ambience is very important. The place has a real Victorian feel, with classical music, subdued lighting, staff in black and white uniforms and lots of bric-a-brac around the place.

"Poppy's is a very traditional tearooms and our staff are very aware of just what customers want."

Illtyd Lewis, executive director of the Tea Council, said: "Each year, the Tea Council makes a number of awards. The Top Tea Place of the Year is the most prestigious.

"When you consider a staggering 165 million cups of tea a day are drunk in Britain, you get an idea of the exceptionally high standard those hoping to be shortlisted need to attain."

The winner will be announced in June.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.