Brighton

Brighton offers UK specialty tea at the more accessible end of the spectrum. Bird & Blend Tea Co. — Krisi Smith and Mike Turner's playful specialty operation founded in 2012 — has its flagship in Brighton and represents a distinctive UK specialty tea positioning: hundreds of original blends ranging from straightforwardly approachable (Birthday Cake, Sweet Mince Pie) to more editorially serious (Eternal Spring, single-origin Darjeelings), with plastic-free packaging and closed-loop refill systems in retail.

For UK drinkers who want a tea brand that doesn't take itself too seriously while still meeting editorial standards above mass market, Bird & Blend is one of the leading options, and the Brighton flagship is the destination experience. The Lanes specialty retail district in central Brighton complements the Bird & Blend flagship with various independent retailers, including some carrying specialty tea selections. Brighton is roughly an hour from central London by train, making it accessible as a day-trip extension from a London specialty tea visit.

Tea houses & specialty experiences

• Bird & Blend Brighton flagship — original location of UK playful specialty brand
• Various independent UK specialty tea retailers

Retail destinations

• Bird & Blend Brighton flagship
• The Lanes specialty retail district

Neighborhoods