Temple of Tea: The Royal Crescent Hotel Pimpernel's in fact, the restaurant in the grounds of this great hotel. Superb surroundings in which to take tea and yes, it's open to non-residents.

As one would expect, the hotel provides the perfect ambience for gently supping, perfect with the day's papers. Beautiful sofas and real napkins just add to the magic.

Price: £3.50 for a pot of breakfast tea beautifully served, complete with fine china and delightful little tea strainer. Cups are perfect for your pinky.

Couldn't afford the full Royal Crescent Afternoon Tea which was about £20, so settled instead for a Royal Crescent Club Sandwich at just £12.50. It was quite simply the most expensive sandwich this critic has ever tried, but boy oh boy was it worth it.

Quality: The tea itself was delightful. Very refreshing and perfectly brewed. And at £3.50, well worth the money.

As for the club sandwich, even your mother couldn't knock up a beauty such as this. Never have I seen two slices of bread look so... well, arousing.

Almost pornographically attractive, it's chicken and gammon centre, coupled with warm egg could keep the most pernickety of gluttons happily satiated. Dreamy.

Service: Absolutely first-class. Polished but never smug. And certainly not intrusive. One got the feeling and I maybe wrong that it wouldn't matter who you were, you'd be treated just the same. And while you might cry that so you should be at these prices, it doesn't always follow.

Interestingly, the waiter was French.

Final Gulp: This is a little known Mecca for tea enthusiasts. Perfect for WI and Townswomen's Guild get-togethers (if they live in Lansdown that is). Charming and friendly, Pimpernel's couldn't be faulted.