Utepia Tea in County Durham

We visited this morning for coffee, cake and ice cream with the family. Gorgeous place, excellent food and very friendly staff who made us feel very welcome. Lots of measures in place re Covid - felt very clean and safe.

We stopped while passing through the town wile visiting the area. Food is unique and delicious. Not your average pub grub. We had the mixed grill in their signature peanut and lime marinade. Absolutely delicious and tender. Never had anything quite like it!

Three of use had an enjoy Sunday lunch, great friendly service, nice place with the staff looking after us, well. Food reasonably priced with excellent beef. We will back.

Super place to eat and enjoy good company. Eaten here many times with small or large groups of family and friends.

Ordered caramel waffle latte and a Chelsea bun for myself, my friend ordered a vegan coffee and cake, by the time we’d picked up our cakes my friends’ vegan coffee was ready and a queue of people had formed so we took a seat and waited, and waited and waited. So having seen so many customers come in and get their drinks instantly I went back to ask for my caramel waffle latte, first of all I was told it had already gone out and the assistant was kind of trying to ignore me as she just continued with more orders, then she snapped ok I’ll make another but she continued with other orders and as the next person she called returned to the counter with a coffee she’d had some time and been drinking, the Starbucks assistant took her cup and tried to pass it to me saying it must be mine! I was horrified and said I don’t want someone else’s coffee, it’s already been partially consumed and handled by another customer so not hygienic but also we’re in the middle of a pandemic. She made me wait a while then passed a cup, looking nothing like the caramel waffle latte on the posters and not knowing if she’d topped up the other cup I retired to the table where my friend had finished her coffee & cake alone, so I ate my then sad dry bun and as I was leaving spoke to a supervisor about the lack of customer service, care and food hygiene safety. I asked for the branch number snd name as I wanted to put in an official complaint but was told the web address would find them, the assistant would be spoken to about making me wait and given a card for a free drink. I’ve mailed the complaints department but 10 days later not heard a thing - we won’t be visiting starbucks anytime soon, I don’t think it’s safe!!!