JUDGES have served up a prestigious award to a hotel near Winchester.

Lainston House Hotel near Sparsholt scooped an excellence accolade at the Tea Guild Awards 2009 for producing a “recognisably outstanding” brew for customers.

Irene Gorman, head of The Tea Guild, said: “This award of excellence to Lainston House was presented in recognition of their consistently high standards of tea-making, evident in the care and attention to detail with which they prepare and serve afternoon tea.”

Gilbert White’s Tea Parlour in Selbourne, Hampshire, also won an award.