GOLD FOR BRITAIN
Reaching fifty is quite and achievement and a week or so ago I was invited to a dinner at Pyrmont to celebrate VisitBritain’s five decades of promoting Britain as a tourism destination in Australia
The first British tourism office, the British Travel Centre, was opened in Young Street, Sydney, by Lord Carrington, British High Commissioner to Australia at the time.
This was a significant move in acknowledging the strong ties between Australia and Britain as the burgeoning travel boom began to take shape. Australian and NZ visitors to the UK currently total 957,000 annually, with a million predicted soon.
Judy Watkins, VisitBritain’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand said: “What is particularly amazing about Britain is that it is a destination that is constantly evolving and surprising. Whether you are a first-timer or a repeat visitor, there is always something new and exciting to discover. We are delighted to be celebrating the rich culture, history and heritage that the country offers, but also that contemporary twist that can be found in the regenerated cities and coastal areas. As we move forward towards the Olympics in 2012, showcasing the destination to an even wider audience, we hope to inspire future generations of Australians to keep this legacy going for another 50 years and beyond.”
To recognise this milestone achievement, VisitBritain has created a dedicated area on its website: www.visitbritain.com.au/50years featuring the best of British personalities, places and tourism experiences from 1958 to present day. The site is divided into five key areas: sport, music, film, fashion and events.
Happy Birthday VisitBritain!
TIME FOR A CUPPA?
Juri’s, The Olde Bakery Tea Shoppe in Winchcombe, near Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, has won the UK Tea Council’s Top Tea Place 2008 award. But interestingly Juri’s www.juris-tearoom.co.uk is strongly influenced by the Miyawaki family’s Japanese heritage and love of tea. 
The judges were won over by their exceptional tea expertise, the charm of the staff and the homemade cakes and scones. Iwao and Junko Miyawaki’s daughter Juri is Cordon Bleu trained and bakes the cakes and scones. To find the award winners, the UK Tea Council’s Tea Guild inspectors take tea anonymously in tearooms and hotels across Britain to find the finest tea experience. The judges award points for the variety and excellence of the teas offered, together with excellent service, décor, ambience, presentation and value for money. Awards of Excellence were awarded to 55 tea-serving tearooms and hotels in the UK, including the Top London Afternoon Tea 2008 Award for the Lanesborough.
Having just visited the UK a couple of weeks ago, I want to know is there good coffee there? If you have found somewhere sercing a good flat white (they call it latte there) please email me and let me know. All we found was watery espresso with a sludge of sudsy milk on top. All of it far too hot to drink immediately.
