WHEN a tearoom is in the running for an award it is a signal for us to visit before the rush.

This relatively new teashop is slightly off the beaten track in Boroughbridge. Find the war memorial just off the main street and it is directly opposite in a delightful square.

We visited late on a weekday afternoon. School children were beginning their journeys home - in fact two called into the cafe, but only to socialise.

This is a small venue with only six tables and 18 seats. As so often happens, our initial impression was based on a stained table cloth. We understood why. Our teapot added to the stains!

I guessed the caf would be too small to provide unusual menu items. So we settled for afternoon tea at £4.25. There was a choice of sandwiches, although neither salmon nor egg mayonnaise was available.

For Ann, tuna and for me, ham, both in wholemeal bread. To follow, Ann would have a cheese scone and I would try an Eccles cake.

Our tea came promptly and then there was a wait as the sandwiches were being prepared. We noted that the assistant donned gloves before handling the food.

The sandwiches were excellent, nicely garnished with lettuce and cherry tomatoes. Crusts had been removed which we learnt was only done for afternoon tea orders. Ann couldn't fault the tuna and my ham had a strong flavour.

There was nothing wrong with the scone but we have tasted better. As for the Eccles cake which so often appears with hardly any fruit, this one was well filled and delicious We noted from the menu that tea cost £1.25 and coffee £1.45/£1.95. Not expensive by York standards. Scones (£1.35), toasted teacake (£1.70), soup (£1.95), quiche (£2.45) and paninis (£3.30/£3.50) were all available.

Having sampled the fare we shall now monitor the contest to see if this outlet achieves "the most promising start-up business in Britain".