A WIRRAL tea shop has been given the prestigious Tea Guild Award of Excellence 2009.

Roses Tea Rooms, in Heswall, was chosen by the UK Tea Council’s team, which travels the country to seek out annual winners.

Their experts – who are always anonymous – scour Britain to find the finest tea experience.

Last night, Michelle Foulia, who, with her husband, Andreas, set up the shop in 2005, said they were shocked when they received the award.

She said: “It’s unbelievable. We hadn’t been expecting it and hadn’t even been thinking about it. When the award arrived, all framed, we were in shock.”

It was not their first award, because just eight months after it opened, Roses Tea Rooms was admitted to the British Tea Guild.

Other Guild members have included some of the country’s most famous names, including the Ritz and the Dorchester.

Mrs Foulia said: “We are proud members of The Tea Guild and are absolutely delighted and thrilled to receive this marvellous and prestigious award.

“It is a real honour and means everything to us. We have all worked extremely hard and put a huge amount of effort into creating a place where the quality of food and high standards of customer service are paramount.”

Mrs Foulia also revealed the debate about “milk in first” has never been resolved and tea experts are divided.

Her tip for a perfect cuppa is to use the best tea possible, preferably loose leaf.