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The Croft Tea Room in St Mary Cray, Kent welcomed the Mayor of Bromley, Cllr. Douglas Auld and the Mayoress on Thursday 18 March for its formal presentation of the ultimate accolade in the tea room industry – the Joe Ellis Tea Room Guide Highly Recommended certificate.

The tea room was packed out for this special occasion, with regular customers of the tea room rubbing shoulders with the Mayor and his colleagues from the Bromley Council and the tea room “guru” himself, Joe Ellis.

Ellis, who last year set up the website www.tea-room-guide.org.uk, says:

“The Croft Tea Room really deserves the Tea Room Guide’s highest accolade. It is an immaculate tea room for both presentation and for food. It uses local produce to provide excellent fayre. The Highly Recommended certificate is not one I award regularly, so it truly reflects how impressive The Croft Tea Room is.

“Part of the reason I set up the website and subsequently the Time for Tea magazine is to raise awareness that tea rooms are under threat with many struggling to survive. The Croft Tea Room just shows why it is so important we don’t let this English institution disappear. When even the mayor turns out for the presentation it highlights how vital this tea room is to the community of St Mary Cray.”

During the visit the Mayor gave a welcome speech, detailing Joe Ellis’ role as a karate instructor and Asperger syndrome sufferer, as well as the history behind Joe Ellis’ Tea Room Guide. He also thanked the owner of Croft Tea Room, Mrs Carole Wells, her husband Norman and all those who volunteer in the tea room.

Joe answered questions from parents in attendance seeking advice about how to deal with difficulties associated with Asperger syndrome when bringing up their children, before the Mayor then went on to mention the brief history of St Mary Cray and how he was a part of the planning committee that oversaw the planning application for The Croft Tea Room. The Mayor then presented Mrs Wells with the coveted certificate.

All those in attendance, including the Mayor, Mayoress as well as John Blundell, author of ‘An Illustrated Guide to St Mary Cray and the Upper Cray Valley’ and his wife who both attended this special occasion, joined Joe in enjoying what The Croft Tea Room does best – tea and cake.

The Croft Tea Room is located at 263 High Street, St Mary Cray, Kent, BR5 4AR www.crofttearoom.co.uk/

Photographs and details from the special day are now on the Joe Ellis’ Tea Room Guide website www.tea-room-guide.org.uk

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Joe Ellis is a full time professional karate coach of international repute, holding master level 6th Dan black belt. He is also chairman of the UK’s martial arts governing body NAKMAS.

For more information contact:
Joe Ellis’ Tea Room Guide
PO Box 262
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 9AW
Tel: 01227 376180 or 07976 736404
E-mail: admin@tea-room-guide.org.uk or Joe.ellis@tea-room-guide.org.uk