Drinking tea is too noisy for gardens

Tea drinking has been banned in the gardens of an historic Northampton landmark because the sound of people slurping their cuppas disturbed the tranquillity.

Members of Northampton Borough Council's planning committee this week granted planning permission for the tea rooms at the 12th century Delapre Abbey building to remain open.



But experts from the authority said the walled garden at the back of the historic building could no longer be used as a seating area.

Planning officer Andrew Holden told planning committee members: "We want to keep the walled garden as a peaceful space, and it was being disturbed by tea drinking."