Tempest in a teacup? Tea shop owner rules roost over customers

Nation's Restaurant News,  August 20, 2007  by Elissa Elan

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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND -- A tea-shop owner here has caused a stir by barring customers who refuse to follow his strict dining rules.

According to the Ananova news service, David Daly, operator of The Tea Cosy, has warned his customers they will be asked to leave if they exhibit the following "bad" behaviors:

* dunking their biscuits

* putting their elbows on the table

* insulting the Queen

* handling sugar cubes

* sipping from teaspoons

One customer has called the tea shop "the scariest place ever," and another said she'd witnessed ejections for "biscuit wetting." Still a third patron said, "If you dare talk when the piano lady is performing, you are out."

Said Daly: "People have to obey the rules, and if not, they are asked to leave. It is the art of tea drinking; this is not going to Starbucks with a mug of coffee."

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