The tea-room at the National Trust's Dunwich Heath Coastguard Cottages has been awarded first prize for best tea-room in the East Anglian Daily Times Suffolk Food and Drink Awards 2007.

Announced on 4 October at an award ceremony hosted in the Trust’s Ickworth House near Bury St Edmunds, this award for Catering Manager Amanda Spall and her team at Dunwich Heath is a fabulous result, and marks all the hard work put in by the team throughout the year.

It’s particularly exciting that the tea-room has won the award, as it reflects the National Trust’s campaign for locally sourced food using regional, British & seasonal food wherever possible - something which Amanda advocates entirely and in which the tea-room excels, as she describes:

'I’ve managed Dunwich Heath’s tea-room on and off for almost eight years, and we are still using the same local butchers from Leiston just down the road, who have been supplying meat to these tea-rooms since they first opened to visitors over 20 years ago.'

The local meat is used in Amanda’s delicious dishes, including pork and apricot casserole with dumplings; just what’s needed after a brisk walk along the beach.

'I was absolutely delighted when we were chosen to be one of the final five for this award,' Amanda continues, 'and now we have won…well I am overwhelmed! I am so proud of my team at Dunwich and all the hard work they have put in.'

The team had to wait months for the final result, and endured mystery visitors, tastings…and all on top of running a bustling tea-room for hungry visitors!

Amanda’s all-female team also live locally and are always happy to greet new, and old visitors with a refreshing cup of tea, bacon roll, hearty stew or simply a slice of cake to enjoy down at Dunwich Heath, on the East coast of the region.

Dunwich Heath’s Coastguard Cottage Tea-room provides an array of delicious, locally sourced food; you can always enjoy an exclusive lunch party with your family and friends, and book out these wonderful buildings right on the beach – and Amanda’s catering talents – all to yourself.