City types drink 'power tea'

At £16 per person it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for an increasing number of executives, it's the only way to do business.

While in the past deals have been clinched with a glass of champagne, at the St Martin's Lane hotel they are done over afternoon tea.

Admittedly, this is no ordinary brew. With flavours ranging from apricot to lavender and a complementary Tuscan Iced Tea cocktail - consisting of Ceylon tea, Chambord, Mandarine Napoleon and caramel - the sole concession to tradition is a plate bearing two small but perfectly formed scones.

So popular is the pastime that the Covent Garden hotel has come first in the coveted annual Tea Council Afternoon Tea awards, an accolade traditionally reserved for oldschool establishments such as The Ritz or The Dorchester.

The hotel, a glamorous stop-over for celebrities including Kate Moss, Brad Pitt and Jade Jagger, beat more than 40 establishments across the capital.

The council's mystery tea-taster was so impressed with the ritzy venue that the hotel was awarded nearly top marks in every category. Not only congratulating the hotel on its quality and taste of tea, but also on its service and atmosphere - describing the outcome as a start to a new era in tea culture.

Executive Director of The Tea Council, Bill Gorman, said: "Not only was the service and tea at St Martin's top notch, but by winning this award it also marks the start of a new more fashionable 'power-tea' era.

"Business people now view tea as a key element in London's fast-paced culture, which re-enforces its label as our nation's favourite drink - for any occasion."

Jo Lennard, St Martin's assistant food director, has watched afternoon tea grow in popularity. "Over the years, people have gradually cut down on the business lunches and chosen to come in for afternoon tea instead," she said.

"It's better for company budgets and it really is quite civilised."

James Gunn, director of internet marketing consultancy Bluepool, is an ardent convert from business lunches to tea drinking.