2008 signals Liverpool as capital for culture. It also signals a move to put tea back on the Merseyside map with a new Liverpool tea bar opening to take on the ubiquitous high street coffee shops.

Bringing back elevenses and afternoon tea, the Brew Tea Bar and Lounge, in St Paul’s Square, Old Hall Street, is the creation of brothers and recent Liverpool university graduates Phil and Jon Kirby.

They and their master blender have more than 20 blends of loose leaf tea. These include a Scouser’s Breakfast blend containing teas reflecting the city’s maritime influences from Sri Lanka, India and China topped with a spicy finish to encapsulate Scouse wit.The teas are available to drink in, served in a stylish glass teapot with a double walled glass which helps to keep your tea hot all the way to the bottom or to takeaway in biodegradable cups. Either way they will journey down the “brewing belt”, a conveyor belt ordering system, created by the company behind Yo Sushi’s conveyors, so that the customer can watch in amazement as Brew’s loose leaf teas unfurl in front of their eyes. Also on offer are new concepts in tea drinking such as tea lattes and tea smoothies!

Hey, it's not strictly traditional, but Dormouse and the gang can't wait to try - white chocolate green tea mochas all round !

You can have a preview of Brew Tea Bar at http://www.brewteabar.co.uk/