Lincoln tea room celebrates national accolade

Bunty’s Tea Room, on Steep Hill, Lincoln, has been named as best events service/provider at the third National Vintage Awards.

The UK-wide awards, held in Cheltenham, celebrate and reward excellence in the work of vintage performers, shopkeepers and businesses.

The tea room has attracted locals and tourists alike for the last three years, particularly those in need of refreshments and a breather after walking up the hill to Bailgate, Lincoln Castle and Lincoln Cathedral.

Matt Felgate, co-owner of the café with Jenny Lock, entered the competition after a customer mentioned it to him. He said: “We are thrilled to have won this award. It is particularly appreciated because the winners are chosen on the basis of a public vote, so it shows we are doing the right things.

“Our first priority is to give people a warm welcome and to ensure they receive a really good service, which makes them want to come back.

“Our premises previously operated as a tearoom, but we wanted to put our personal stamp on it. We’ve done that by buying mis-matched vintage crockery, including scores of teapots, and creating further nostalgia by displaying old photographs on the walls and on table tops. They are a real talking point.”

Jenny said: “Some of our social media followers even make a dash for the tea room when they see their favourite cake is available that day. Our “Pimm’s O’Clock” cake is proving very popular.”

Lincoln Business Improvement Group Chief Executive Matt Corrigan said: “We congratulate Matt and Jenny on their success in winning a national award. This couldn’t have come at a better time, when the city is attracting rising number of visitors in the 800th Anniversary Year of Magna Carta.

“Lincoln is popular with both visitors and locals because it has a wonderful mix of national and independent businesses. Bunty’s is among out many niche enterprises, which inject extra character into the city’s street scene and encourage people to keep coming back.”

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