A NEW tea rooms has opened at the cathedral offering fine teas and refreshments to visitors. The Bell Tower Tea Rooms originally opened as part of the Magna Carta weekend but after a successful trial it will now be open on a full-time basis over the summer.

Overlooking the North Lawn it is based at what was once home to the Vicar of the Close and offers high teas in the grand English tradition.

Kevin Oborne, catering manager said: “We wanted to offer a historic experience to our visitors with a modern twist – a perfect complement to a busy cathedral visit. Along with fresh ingredients and delicious loose leafed teas, there’s fine coffee and of course, the ever popular cream teas on the menu.

“The ambience of the new Tea Room creates a sense of the past alongside clean modern lines, convenience and comfort.”

High Tea for Two with sandwiches, pretty pastries and homemade cakes costs £20.

Cathedral volunteers co-ordinator, Christine Keegan, sourced all the china as well as making all the tearoom cake stands.

She said: “I’ve been collecting vintage china and related items for the last 20 years. I find that antique markets, charity shops and friends of friends a good source to find the type of vintage china I like, and wherever I am I will always keep an eye open for a bric-a-brac shop, home or abroad.

"Occasionally I do vintage fairs to make room for more! Last year after realising I had a lot of mismatched plates I decided to make some cake stands to add interest to two vintage stalls I had coming up, armed with the internet and advice from a local hardware stall I started to drill away.

"Luckily making very few mistakes but it did take time to carefully drill through each piece. A neighbour who was interested offered to help and between the two of us over a few days we soon had a production line going and created mad hatter stands as well as cake stands. Being able to help the new tea shop out with all things vintage has been a pleasure and now means I have enough room to carry on collecting.”