The author Henry James once wrote: " There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."
It's an institution which has faced competition in recent years from growing demand for real coffee, which has spawned myriad high street coffee outlets.
However, the sit-down afternoon tea ceremony is making a comeback at the Claremont Hotel on Loch Promenade in Douglas - in time for Mother's Day.
The venture is in good hands.
General manager of Coast Bar and Brasserie Maria Danby hails from Betty's of Harrogate, the doyenne of English tea rooms, where she was a business development manager.
Maria has worked for nine months on the project and says response to the Claremont's new offer, launched on social media, has been encouraging:
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