Boston Tea Party, Bristol and Bath

I think it was the hottest day of the year when I wandered in to the branch on Park Street in Bristol.  It has a wonderful tiered garden, which provided pretty much the ideal surroundings for the first coffee of the day.  If I lived anywhere near Bristol I'd be a regular fair-weather visitor.

My coffee was smashing.  It was a "Boston latte"; different from a normal latte because the beans were medium-roasted, as opposed to dark-roasted (I may well have got that the wrong way round).  The finishing touches were added in front of me by a friendly barista. 

There are some interesting options on the menu (including my Boston latte), plus a large range of non-coffee drinks and plenty of food.  For less summery days, there's lots of space inside, mostly upstairs. 

It's all very comfortable, friendly and pleasant. 

The next day my cohort and I went to gorgeous Bath (my first time in the city).

The Boston Tea Party on Kingsmead Square was our first stop.  We sat at a table outside (a very continental setting), enjoyed a coffee and cake, read the papers, and considered staying there all day.

I imagine it can't be quite so perfect when it's pouring with rain, but there are a fair few tables inside.  Like the one in Bristol, it's a smashing coffee shop, and my brew was excellent. 

The Boston Tea Party won the Beverage Service Association's 2008 National Group award and recently gained a best UK small coffee chain title, following a consumer survey.

Although the "BTP" is a chain, it's independent and family-run, and, unlike the franchises, the emphasis is on really good coffee.  The two branches I visited had their own character and style, and managed to create equally delicious brews. 

For a chain, it seems fairly non-corporate, which is one of the aims of the owners.

 
Bristol (Park Street) and.............................. Bath

I've heard the odd rumbling about slipping standards at the BTP, and I would imagine that in any chain there will be variations in quality (apparently it employs around 125 people). 

But I can only speak from my own experiences and I thought it was marvelous.

Boston Tea Party
75 Park St
Bristol
BS1 5PF

and

Boston Tea Party
19 Kingsmead Square
Bath
BA1 2AE

Other branches at Barnstaple, Bristol (Clifton), Bristol (Whiteladies), Exeter and Honiton

Website: http://www.bostonteaparty.co.uk/