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Thirty new jobs are being created with the opening of a 160-seat new Boston Tea Party cafe in a historic Devon harbourside building later this year.

The boss of the South West-based independent chain says they chose the Pizza Express building on The Strand in Torquay because "we love a building with soul".

The firm's chief executive and co-owner Sam Roberts said they want the huge building overlooking the Clock Tower to become a community hub.

READ MORE: M5 driver to face court after 'unacceptable' 111mph speeding in Devon

"Every BTP [Boston Tea Party] is unique and designed to be sympathetic to the building and surroundings," he said.

"Thats why we were eager to snap up the former upholsterers and cabinet makers - we love a building with soul.

"Were aiming to create a community hub for Torquay, a place to share great food and drink.

"We put the company purpose of 'Making Things Better' at the centre of everything we do.

"Whether you bring the family for brunch or pop in to grab a takeaway coffee (bring your reusable cup) youll leave knowing youve done a little bit of good too."

On the June 1, 2018, BTP banned single use coffee cups the first cafe chain to do so in the UK, helping it save more than 270,000 cups from landfill.

However, it is not a problem is people who fancy a takeaway as they can bring any reusable cup, borrow one from the fully refundable cup loan scheme or buy one.

BTP's family-friendly cafes serve up a range of ethically sourced food and drink, including award-winning breakfasts - which are served all day - lunches and homemade cakes alongside speciality coffees, loose-leaf teas and homemade smoothies and juices.

BTP is currently recruiting to fill management, front of house, chef and barista positions.

Those interested should upload their application here.

The Torquay building was undergoing an exterior restoration when the Covid pandemic struck - it has never reopened since the first lockdown was followed by financial problems for Pizza Express which cut 2,400 jobs roughly a quarter of its UK staff and closed 74 sites.

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Boston Tea Party creating 30 new jobs after taking over Torquay harbourside venue - Devon Live

After water, tea is the most common drink in the world. It is more popular than coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol combined. 84 percent of Brits enjoy a daily "cuppa," but this is a mere bagatelle against the Turks, who drink on average three to four cups every day. The tea industry is worth $200 billion worldwide and is set to grow by half by 2025.

Tea is such a huge part of many cultures, that it even has origin myths. For instance, one involves the Buddha waking up after falling asleep during his meditation. Disgusted at his lack of self-discipline, he cut off his eyelids and threw them to the ground. These lids then grew into tea plants to help future meditators stay awake.

Tea really matters to a lot of people. And, it mattered so much to the British and their empire that it directed their entire foreign policy. It also inspired one of the most incredible and ridiculous tales of 19th century espionage.

When the European powers of the 16th century first traded with, then militarily colonized, various East Asian nations, it was impossible not to come across tea. Since the 9th century, the Tang Dynasty of China had already popularized tea across the region. Tea was already firmly entrenched when the Portuguese became the first Europeans to sample it (in 1557), followed by the Dutch, who first shipped a batch back to mainland Europe.

Britain was relatively late to the tea party, not arriving until well into the 17th century. In fact, in Samuel Pepys' 1660 diaries, he makes reference to "a cup of tee (a China drink) of which I had never drunk before." It was only after King Charles II's Portuguese wife popularized it at court that tea became a fashionable societal drink.

After the Brits got going, there was no stopping them. Tea became a huge business. However, since tea was monopolized by the East India Company and the government imposed a whopping 120 percent tax on it, an army of smuggler gangs opened back channels to get tea to the poorer masses. Eventually, in 1784, Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger got wise to the popular cry for tea. To stamp out the black market, he slashed the tax on the leaf to just 12.5 percent. From then on, tea became the everyman's drink marketed as medicinal, invigorating, and tasty.

Tea became so important to the British that it even sparked wars across the empire.

Most famously, when the British imposed a three pennies per pound tax on all tea the East India Company exported to America, it led to the outraged destruction of an entire ship's tea cargo. The "Boston Tea Party" was the first major defiant act of the American colonies and led ultimately to ham-fisted and insensitive countermeasures from the London government. These, in turn, sparked the U.S. War of Independence.

Less well known is how Britain went to war with China over tea. Twice.

Credit: Ingo Doerrie via Unsplash

Back then, tea was only being grown and exported from China to British India and then around the empire. As such, it led to a massive trade imbalance, where the largely self-sufficient China only wanted British silver in return for their famous and delicious homegrown tea leaves. This sort of economic policy, known as mercantilism, made Britain really mad.

In retaliation, Britain grew opium and flooded China with the drug. When China (quite understandably) objected to this, Britain sent in the gunboats. The subsequent "Opium Wars" were only ever going to go one way, and when China sued for peace, they were lumped with $20 million worth of reparations and had to cede Hong Kong to Britain (which only returned in 1997).

But even these wars did not resolve the trade deficit with China. The attempts to make tea in British India resulted in insipid rubbish, and the British needed the good stuff. So, they turned to a Scottish botanist named Robert Fortune, whose mission was simple: cross the border into China, integrate himself amongst Chinese tea farmers, and smuggle out both their expertise and preferably their tea plants.

Fortune accepted the mission, even though he could not speak a word of Chinese and had barely left his native Britain. (A forefather of 007 he was not.) But not one to let these details get in the way, he shaved his hair, plaited a pigtail that resembled those worn by the Chinese, and then set off on his adventure.

And what an adventure it was. He came under attack by bandits and brigands, his ship was bombarded by pirates, and he had to endure fever, tropical storms, and typhoons. In spite of all this, Fortune not only managed to learn Chinese and travel around the forbidden City of Suzhou and its surrounding tea-farming land, but he also integrated himself into secluded peasant communities. When the skeptical tea farmers challenged Fortune on why he was so tall, he fooled them by claiming that he was a very important state official all of whom were tall, apparently.

Amazingly, Fortune had good fortune and got away with it. Over the course of his three-year mission, he secreted out several shipments of new tea plants to Britain as well as the art of bonsai (previously, a closely held secret). Most of the smuggled tea leaves died from mold and moisture in transit, but Fortune persisted, and eventually the British began to cultivate their own tea plants using Chinese tea farming techniques in their colonial Indian soils.

It was not long until an Indian variant, almost indistinguishable from the stolen Chinese one, began to dominate the market, not least for Britain's huge and growing empire. Within 20 years of Fortune's remarkable mission, the East India Company had more than fifty contractors pumping out tea worldwide.

Today, things have reverted back. China now produces not only substantially more than India (in second place) but more than the top ten countries combined. In total, 40 percent of the world's tea comes from China. But it was British tea and Robert Fortune's incredible and unlikely mission which catalyzed the huge global market. Without this overly confident Scottish plant-lover, the world's love of tea might look very different.

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Of spies and wars: the secret history of tea - Big Think

Shortly after sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo surfaced, his press office stopped regularly publishing the public schedule of his next in line: Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The former member of Congress from Buffalo, who had simply expressed support for the investigation launched by State Attorney General Letitia James, went about her largely powerless job, attending ceremonies and making it a point of pride to visit all of New Yorks 62 counties at least once annually.

Among them: Bronx County, where Hochul attended the local Democratic Partys unity celebration last week following Eric Adams win in the mayoral primary.

The 62-year-old Democrat, elected in 2014, made her presence known in a far bigger fashion this week when she declared Cuomos behavior, as outlined in James report, repulsive and called on him to step down.

As Cuomo mulls his next move and the state Assembly heads toward impeachment, Hochul is poised to make history as New Yorks first female governor and the first to come to Albany from north of Peekskill since Gov. Nathan Miller took office a century ago.

We are fortunate to have Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who is ready to lead with integrity and continue building on the advancements that New York has made towards greater economic, racial and social justice, the New York State Nurses Association said in a statement Thursday, joining a growing line of political and labor leaders calling for Cuomos ouster.

Hochul would come into the top office after over five years of tirelessly zig zagging across a state of nearly 20 million people on Cuomos behalf, attending ribbon-cuttings and touting the executive offices achievements. She also helmed the governors Enough is Enough campaign against sexual violence on college campuses.

Now, as New Yorks potential next leader, Hochuls getting ready to endure scrutiny of a relatively modest public service record that might suggest political pragmatism to some or a penchant for chameleonism to others. Her fans say shes up to the job.

Shes a tough chick from Buffalo and I think shell be prepared, said State Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn). She certainly knows the issue that affects the state from the North Country to the South Bronx.

Before Hochul became the second lieutenant governor of Cuomos three terms, she amassed a history as a center-right Democrat.

In 1994, she was elected to her first political office joining the Hamburg Town Board after running on both the Democratic and Conservative ballot lines. She became Erie County clerk in 2007. And when she sought re-election three years later, she ran on four party lines: Democratic, Independence, Conservative and the Working Families Party.

In 2007, she fought then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzers proposal to issue drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. Hochul, then the Erie County clerk, teamed with another upstate county clerk and worked with law enforcement to formulate a plan to arrest undocumented immigrants who applied in their counties.

Her Democratic bona fides have been hip-checked several times since then.

In 2018, as actress and activist Cynthia Nixon ran for governor and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams sought the lieutenant governor slot, they pushed for drivers licenses for undocumented New Yorkers. Hochul, in a turnaround, tacitly gave her approval.

I think she probably reflects the politics of western New York, which tend to be similar to Staten Island: moderate in many respects, said Savino.

In 2011, Hochul ran her first congressional race and beat a Republican in a conservative district that had been held by the GOP since the 1960s. She won the congressional special election race by five percentage points likely helped by a Tea Party candidate who siphoned off Republican votes.

During her brief stint in the House of Representatives, Hochul campaigned heavily against a Republican plan to convert Medicare into a voucher program that could also be used in the private market.

In 2012, Republican Chris Collins, a former Erie County executive, challenged her re-election bid. The lines of her congressional district had been changed by Albany politicians, including a Republican-controlled State Senate. She lost her seat to Collins by 5,000 votes or a margin of 1.6 percentage points.

Shortly after leaving Congress, Buffalo-based M&T Bank Corporation hired her as vice president of government relations.

Her political comeback came in 2014, when Cuomos first lieutenant governor, former Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy, bowed out. Duffy said he couldnt keep up with the hectic travel schedule the job requires.

There was no such problem with Hochul: After her election, Cuomo began sending her across the state to highlight his pet projects and serve as his administrations main surrogate, bringing her to all corners of New York.

Visits to New York City may not be enough for Hochul to prove to downstate Democrats that shes the right candidate to potentially succeed Cuomo in a 2022 election, especially with local officials like Williams said to be considering a run.

Still, she has shown an ability to fundraise when needed, collecting and spending nearly $4.8 million in her two congressional runs. So far, her campaign has raised $1.9 million this cycle and has $1.7 million on hand.

While it appears increasingly likely that Hochul will succeed Cuomo, when or for how long are up in the air.

Under the state Constitution, she would become governor, at least temporarily, as soon as the state Assembly impeaches Cuomo, if he doesnt step down first.

Even if she makes history as the first female leader of the Empire State, she probably wont break the record for the shortest stint as New York governor: 29 days by Lt. Gov. Charles Poletti. In 1942, Poletti stepped in for Gov. Herbert Lehman, who left with less than a month in his term to accept a federal post during World War II.

Hochul was born the second of six children to Jack and Pat Courtney, who started their marriage living in a small trailer in Buffalo. Her father was a clerical worker at Bethlehem Steel, where he also was an union organizer. He eventually became president of an information technology company.

Hochul attended Syracuse University, where she boycotted a campus bookstore for high prices and tried to get the school to name their famous stadium, the Carrier Dome, after alumnus and NFL player Ernie Davis. She also rallied to get the university to divest from South Africa to help end aparthied.

After graduating from Catholic University with a law degree, Hochul worked at a Washington law firm. She later toiled on Capitol Hill as an attorney and legislative aide for then-Rep. John J. LaFalce and U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, both New York Democrats.

Hochul lives in Buffalo with her husband, William Hochul, a former U.S. Attorney for Western New York who now works as general counsel for Delaware North, a hospitality company. They have two adult children, William and Katie.

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Who is Kathy Hochul: On the Brink of Replacing Andrew Cuomo as NY Governor - THE CITY

As a busy mother of six little darlings, if there is one thing I enjoy, that is stepping into my moms kitchen. Laughing, I informed her, You know, its just like hungry hormones are released when I step into your kitchen! Really there is something about it; it doesnt matter what part of the day I happen to come to her house, I always feel like I could eat!

Maybe Ill have to do some blame-shifting here and make the excuse that perhaps it comes from being fed so well every time Im there.

Why, recently I popped in with all six little ones and it so happened that she was just ready to head out the door to have a tea party with friends. Now listen to this, she stepped into the kitchen and pulled this most delicious-looking peach delight from the fridge, and yes, she had planned to take it to the party. No amount of my protests budged her decision. This is such a rare treat, you sit down and enjoy it with your children, she declared.

Going to the cupboard where she keeps her pretty dishes, she chose my favorite set of clear glass bowls, and proceeded to fill them with generous servings for each of the children and myself. Relaxing on the sofa next to us she declared that being late to her party wont hurt a thing.

Thirty minutes later we had covered a wide range of news, catching up in each others lives. Soon six little children and myself were on the pony cart and clipping out the driveway.

Now not all of you have mothers, and especially not living a mile from where you live, like I do.

Many times in the 11 years since I got married, Ive told myself, Better enjoy this stage of living close to family, because it may not always be like that. I have come to treasure our times together.

On a deeper note, Gods also been teaching me that all people are to be cared for and loved like family. And guess what? The most special part of that entire picture is that according to Scripture, if we do Gods will, were Jesus brother and sister! Really now, that is more special than any amount of words that would ever fit into an entire column, or even into the biggest book, for that matter!

I then wonder and ponder what I can do today to splash that love on others, that no matter what, theyll always matter to me and to the One who created life within every one of us? Id love to hear your input.

Dear Jeanne, a faithful reader and friend from Cincinnati, Ohio, gave a beautiful example of that today. You can only imagine the scene when Daddy brought a package from Jeanne into the kitchen. From oldest all the way down to baby Joshua, we all crowded around to watch. Daddy carefully cut the tape, the flaps were swiftly pulled back by all, and guess what? There was a stuffed baby deer in memory of the one that passed away in our home and also as a token of God using difficulties in our lives to make us stronger.

The children immediately started talking of how theyll take turns to it sleep with it. Under the fawn was a beautiful book of a baby deer which I just finished reading to the children before putting them down for naps. I read page after page of the baby deer and how God had a perfect plan for it; time and again I paused, marveling to the children how this book perfectly explains how God will use them as they grow up for him.

Now Ill undoubtedly have to share one of moms specialties with you. Recently one evening she called me and asked if well by chance be stopping in since she has some deluxe sugar-free dessert shed like to share with us. Well it turned out, that by the time we got there, she had already left for the evening. On the counter was a note telling us to help ourselves to anything we find. My, there was no turning it down. I had little ones clutching my skirts as we ransacked Grandmas fridge, and yes, we had a party!

Besides the dessert there were burgers, salads, chocolate cake, home canned peaches, the list goes on. This is better than a restaurant, I mused to myself and straight out of Moms kitchen at that!

The following day Dad remarked to me, You made Grandmas day stopping in and helping yourself when we werent home. I smiled. What more could I say?

Meanwhile, I am going to share this recipe for Moms pea and bacon salad recipe, similar what I found when going through her fridge!

Pea and Bacon salad

12 oz frozen peas

1 cup mayo

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup bacon bits (I prefer frying my own, then cutting it up in small pieces)

3/4 teaspoons salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion salt

Thaw peas, add remaining ingredients. Stir, chill, and enjoy!

Gloria Yoder is an Amish mom, writer, and homemaker in rural Illinois. Readers can write to Gloria at 10510 E. 350th Ave., Flat Rock, IL 62427.

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Easy, 'Peas'y at the Yoders - Wilmington News Journal, OH

McCain had some memorable blowups in that final season, which she rejoined after taking a maternity leave late last year -- and here are some of the most wildest exchanges.

1. Fight breaks out on Meghan McCain's first day back -- and Whoopi Goldberg forced to cut to commercial

She returned to the show on Jan. 4, after news broke of Donald Trump's pressure campaign on Georgia officials to "find" the votes necessary to overturn his loss there, and McCain clashed with co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar over the size of Joe Biden's election win -- and respecting the feelings of disappointed GOP voters. "I said that's your perspective -- the perspective of Joy Behar, you know, you're a proud progressive leftist," McCain said, "but I am a proud conservative and I think that the idea -- the only reason why people voted for President Trump in the last election is that they were lied to and they're morons who are just being fed information is not only disrespectful and inaccurate."

2. The View's Meghan McCain wants Biden to fire Dr. Fauci because she doesn't know when she can get her vaccine

McCain urged President Joe Biden to fire Dr. Anthony Fauci in February because she wasn't sure if or when she could be vaccinated. "The fact I, Meghan McCain, co-host of 'The View,' don't know when or how I will be able to get a vaccine because the rollout for my age range and my health is so nebulous, I have no idea when and how I get it," she said.

3. LeVar Burton shuts down Meghan McCain on Dr. Seuss and 'cancel culture'

McCain tangled with children's television host Levar Burton over "cancel culture" and the meaning of accountability. "I think it has everything to do with a new awareness by people who were simply unaware of the real nature of life in this country for people who have been othered since this nation began," Burton explained.

4. Whoopi Goldberg forced to cut to commercial as Meghan McCain and Joy Behar yell at each other over the COVID-19 vaccine

McCain and Behar clashed against in May as she justified conservative resistance to coronavirus vaccines, saying that liberals had made them feel bad about avoiding the potentially life-saving shots. "It's not productive, that's why people go into their corners," McCain said. "This is coming from a place of fear. I don't think it's a place of politics. People don't understand and don't know. I don't like to judge people who aren't accessible to the same resources and education I am. This is a serious, serious problem in this country."

5. Meghan McCain gets blasted for claiming she's never heard Fox News discourage vaccines

McCain prompted a round of fact-checking on air and online after insisting that Fox News strongly promoted vaccinations. "I wish we could all come together on it, but I was watching 'Fox & Friends' this morning," she said. "Steve Doocy said get the vaccine."

Meghan McCain rages at Marjorie Greene for making Republicans look like 'we're psychotic barbarians'

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Jim Jordan 'knows exactly what' Trump told him during the MAGA riot: former Tea Party congressman - Raw Story