A Taste of Britain in Massachusetts: Shelly’s Tea RoomsHonoured with the Diamond Distinction Award 2026

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Bringing Authentic English Afternoon Tea Across the Atlantic

Few traditions capture the charm of British hospitality quite like afternoon tea, and Shelly’s

Tea Rooms has brought that experience to the United States with remarkable authenticity.

Located in historic Plymouth, Massachusetts, Shelly’s is the vision of Shelly and Sean

Sinclair, who previously owned and operated two award-winning tea rooms in England

before taking their passion for traditional English hospitality across the Atlantic.

It is with great pleasure that we recognise Shelly’s Tea Rooms as British Afternoon Tea

Experience Provider – USA 2026 at the Diamond Distinction Awards. This accolade

celebrates a business that has successfully transported much more than a menu to America;

it has created an immersive experience rooted in the traditions, flavours and unmistakable

character of the English tea room.

Central to the Shelly’s experience is an uncompromising approach to quality. Food is

prepared on the premises from raw ingredients, extending even to the clotted cream, while

cakes are handmade and scones are freshly baked. Guests can choose from more than 100

premium loose-leaf teas, accompanied by quintessentially British favourites including finger

sandwiches, Victoria sponge, Bakewell tart, crumpets and traditional cream teas.

The signature Windsor Afternoon Tea transforms the occasion into a true event, combining

delicate crustless sandwiches, warm scones with real clotted cream and strawberry

preserve, petite cakes and desserts, and a chosen pot of loose-leaf tea presented across an

indulgent multi-course service. Younger visitors are also welcomed with a dedicated Prince

& Princess experience, while vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free alternatives help make the tradition accessible to a wider range of guests.

What makes Shelly’s Tea Rooms particularly distinctive is its ability to combine food,

atmosphere and hospitality into something genuinely memorable. From celebratory

afternoon teas and special gatherings to its unmistakably British surroundings, every

element has been designed to give visitors a genuine taste of England while creating an

experience worth returning for.

The Diamond Distinction Award for British Afternoon Tea Experience Provider – USA

2026 recognises Shelly’s Tea Rooms for preserving the character of one of Britain’s most

treasured traditions while successfully establishing it within the American hospitality

landscape. Through authenticity, craftsmanship and a clear passion for the ritual of

afternoon tea, Shelly and Sean have created a little corner of England in Plymouth that truly

deserves distinction.