Teashop introduces Victorian etiquette: No dunking biscuits, clanging spoons or mobile phones

David Daly warns customers they will be asked to leave his Brighton tea shop if they stray from his code of etiquette.

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Tea shop owner David Daly has modelled his service on tea at the Ritz

The stringent rules at the Tea Cosy Rooms include not putting your elbows on the table, not insulting the Queen, never handling sugar cubes and not sipping from teaspoons.

Visitors are advised that their little fingers should not point into the air, tapping a teaspoon against a cup and using a mobile phone is banned outright.

The "unsavoury habit" of dunking biscuits is strictly prohibited, too.

Mr Daly says his menu and the tea room setting is based on high tea at The Ritz. "I am just keen to teach people of the joys of a civilised cup of tea.

The Tea Cosy Rooms where customers dare not dunk their biscuits

"It is the art of tea drinking - this is not going to Starbucks with a mug of coffee."

The 30-year-old says most people don't break the rules - but they are causing discussion on social website Facebook.

"Lisssh Harvell" started the discussion by describing Tea Cosy Rooms as the "most scariest place ever".

"The first thing you see on the menu is a set of rules about how to behave in the tea room."

She claims she saw people being chucked out for daring to wet their biscuit.

But Daisy Jordan wrote: "It's quite funny and it's really cute in there.

"The guy told me off for my spoon being in the tea cup and then winked at me."