Martial arts chief turns hobby into quest to save the traditional English tearoom

• Thursday, 26 November 2009

Tearoom enthusiast and martial arts chief Joe Ellis has turned his long-running passion for tearooms into a one-man quest to keep the traditional English institution going by setting up the Joe Ellis’ Tea Room Guide website - www.tea-room-guide.org.uk.

The move has been partly prompted by the worrying trend of tearoom closures in England hitting approximately 10 a week, and partly through his love of tea in a tranquil setting.

Ellis, who is chairman of the National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS - www.nakmas.org.uk), the national martial arts governing body, will list tea rooms on the website that he considers Highly Recommended, Recommended and also list Moderate tearooms.

Those tearooms that he feels are Highly Recommended and Recommended will bear a window sticker and be issued a certificate.

Joe says: "It's probably the last place you would find a martial arts enthusiast spending their spare time, but my interest in tearooms has been with me since the 1970s. I have visited so many that the next logical step was to share my knowledge with others via the new website. I have even had interest from two book publishers, though Hollywood film producers have yet to knock on my door.

"While it is a hobby for me, there is a serious issue affecting the tearoom industry for which I hope to raise awareness - they are closing down at a worrying rate and my fear is that they might become extinct. That is something I hope to prevent and by raising the profile of our nation’s tearooms others will appreciate their contribution to local communities."

Tearooms have provided Joe with a comfortable setting for many years. Joe has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism, and dislikes very crowded places, prefers quieter environments, and can easily be overwhelmed if too much is happening at once. He also gets very disturbed when there are constant banging noises or shouting. Tearooms provide a tranquil environment where Joe feels more comfortable.

Dr Luke Beardon, Senior Lecturer, Autism Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, says:

“As with many people with Asperger syndrome (AS), Joe prefers a calm environment over one which may be over stimulatory. In addition to this preference many individuals have what might be termed 'passionate interests' and are able to spend considerable time engaging in their area of focus; one of the extraordinary strengths displayed by so many people with autism is this ability to focus on their interests, and Joe demonstrates this quality both in his working life and in his leisure time.

“Joe also has a well developed sense of fairness and justice - again, a characteristic often found in the population of people with AS - and his ability to judge fairly and objectively will stand him in good stead in this venture. If Joe recommends a tearoom then it will be a sure bet that it is one worth visiting.”

The website includes tea facts, how to make tea videos, famous tea quotes, the history of tea, even calm and tea-related music, and lots more. Joe also has a blog to keep viewers informed of his movements and encounters. Joe will revisit the same tea rooms to check status and will visit new ones over the coming months.

Sandra Ellis, Joe's wife, says: "Joe works hard as chairman of NAKMAS and uses tearooms as a way to wind down, so his knowledge and experience of them is vast.

"If he is ever asked directions to anywhere he will often use a tearoom as a point of reference, in the same way many people use a pub. Joe has no idea where pubs are, as he never drinks alcohol, but instead loves a cup of tea whenever he is out and about. Even our three year old Yorkshire terrier, Holly, and two year old Yorkiepoo, Rosie, enjoy their tea thanks to Joe.

"I admit I favour the ones which also serve a glass of wine, but like Joe, I enjoy the atmosphere of the more traditional ones. If somewhere gives bad service or there is rude or unfriendly staff, he will rarely go back."

Joe has made it his mission to find every great tearoom and tell everyone about them. Unfortunately for them, it is also his mission to weed out the not-so-great ones and tell everyone about them as well.

Be warned, Joe Ellis is coming to a tearoom near you.

Visit Joe Ellis’ Tea Room Guide – www.tea-room-guide.org.uk.

Ends

Notes to editors:

Joe Ellis is a full time professional karate coach of international repute, holding master level 6th Dan black belt. He is also chairman of the UK’s martial arts governing body NAKMAS.

The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) National Governing Body is a non-funded national governing body and is a member of CCPR (the Central Council of Physical Recreation). With its Head Office based in Kent, NAKMAS governs all forms of traditional and modern martial arts and has over 73,000 members within the UK.

For more information contact:

Joe Ellis’ Tea Room Guide
PO Box 262
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 9AW
Tel: 01227 376180 or 07976 736404
E-mail: admin@tea-room-guide.org.uk or Joe.ellis@tea-room-guide.org.uk

This press release was distributed via Response Source, a service from Daryl Willcox Publishing, on behalf of National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS). For more information visit http://www.dwpub.com/pressreleasewires