Orange Pekoe

If North Korea decided to fire its nuclear weapons, I would head to Orange Pekoe for one last cuppa. The address is White Hart Lane (not the football club) just off the Thames near Barnes Bridge and its a bit tricky to locate but I always seem to find it and I hope you do too. Forget going to Liberty or the Ritz – head south instead. You won't regret it. I have been fortunate to have taken tea in Kenya, Sri Lanka, India, Japan and India but there was always something missing – proper English scones and cream. This is not a problem for OP because not only is the tea as good as anything I have ever drunk overseas but the scones are as good as anything in Devon. Yes it's a bit cramped inside and there are too many pushchairs outside but once inside eyes wide open at the hundreds of teas and accompanying cakes and scones you will soon be pouring your silver needle through a mesh strainer and wondering how long you need to be in the gym to burn off those calories you are just about to consume. The teapots maybe chipped and the chairs wobbly but that is what makes OP so charming. OP constantly wins tea awards and this irritates me because more publicity means getting a table gets even more difficult. Let's hope when the bomb is dropped, Tea is the last thing on most people minds and I can enjoy my last cuppa in peace and without queuing up.