Tea is at the heart of British culture and each year on 21st April, we raise our cups in celebration of National Tea Day. With an astounding 165 million cups consumed daily across the UK, it’s safe to say the British public have a rather special relationship with tea. Whether it’s a builder’s tea at breakfast or a herbal infusion before bed, tea punctuates our day, offering comfort, conversation and a moment of pause.
At our Design Studio, we believe that tea is more than just a drink, it’s a ritual and a cultural emblem. Across our hotels, several design details lovingly nod to this cherished tradition, showcasing our love for tea through clever design touches and handmade elements.
In The Orangery at Number Sixteen, we’ve given old tea containers a second life, reimagining them as charming hanging lights. Suspended above like glowing lanterns, they cast a warm, inviting light over our diners.
In Room 708 at Warren Street Hotel, the humble teapot takes centre stage as a playful appliqué on bed cushions. These textile details reflect our love for storytelling through whimsical and thoughtful design.
Our fondness for tea even finds its way onto the walls, captured in framed artworks featuring delightful teacup illustrations.
Craftsmanship can be found throughout our hotels, even in the smallest of places. A teapot becomes an unexpected canvas for design, adding charm and character to your table. For example, our Tall Trees Tea Set whisks you away to an enchanted forest, while our Sailor’s Farewell Tea Set tells the story of a loved one waving goodbye to a sailor setting off on an adventure across the seas.
We must also mention our Mythical Creatures collection, featuring lyrical drawings of folkloric animals that inspire storytelling over tea. Our teapots maintain that familiar, classic silhouette but feel fresh and modern, perfect for the contemporary table.
It’s not just the china. The food you enjoy with your tea can be a chance to get creative too. A moment to sit down with a cuppa becomes even more special when paired with an assortment of visually beautiful delights in the form of Afternoon Tea. After all, we’re visual creatures and we respond to beauty, so why not make your everyday ritual feel a little more magical?
We hope we’ve inspired you to take a moment, sit down and appreciate the beauty in what you see, feel and taste in your next cup of tea.