Wells' Bishop's Table holds tea cosy knitting competition

The Bishop's Table held a tea cosy knitting competition last month in a bid to get Wells people drinking  more loose leaf tea.

Passionate about loose leaf tea, Jamie Mould, head chef at the Bishop's table which is based in the grounds of the Bishop's  Palace, has been on a dedicated crusade to turn people against shop bought tea bags.

Jamie believes that his way is the 'best and only way to drink tea'. Specifically – "loose leaf, in a proper pot and with a hand knitted tea cosy."

He came up with the idea for a retro tea cosy knitting competition, which ran from 5 to 22 February, in a bid to encourage more people to drink tea his way.

Now, Jamie says the community has embraced his loose leaf beliefs by knitting a whole range of weird and wonderful tea cosies ranging from bobbled and bright to floral and striped.

 "The standard of the cosies has been fantastic and we've made some great new friends through it," he said.

"We've had 14 entries all together and it was so difficult to pick a winner that we've actually chosen two."

Winners were chosen last weekend and voted for by regulars to the café restaurant.

Marilyn Payne, who created a "cute buttoned cardigan cosy," was joint winner with a "bumble hive inspired entry", created by Jo Sowerby.

 Both winners are local to Wells and will each be treated to lunch for two at the Bishop's Table.

Jamie added: "It's great to know that the people of Wells are so keen to get involved with our competition, the effort put in by all the entrants really has been fantastic."

The Bishop's table has launched a new range of loose teas alongside British tea producer Tregothnan this month, as Jamie's not about to give up on educating the people of Wells just yet.

The menu now asks 'What type of tea drinker are you?' and among the list are teas for serious drinkers, adventurous ones and teas for the more refined, including manuka, lemon verbena and earl grey.