Ardent Royalist Anita Atkinson made national headlines after she barred three women from her jubilee-themed tea room for refusing to stand for the national anthem. Reporter Helen Russell visited the cafe where the monarchy is celebrated every day

AS 3pm approached it was standing room only. From about 2.30pm, a steady stream of customers has been arriving and taking their places at the neatly laid tables of the Royal Teas Cafe, in Stanhope.

Then, as the clock ticks over, cafe owner Anita Atkinson announces: “It is 3pm, it is time for the Queen.

Please be upstanding for the National Anthem.”

Suddenly the opening bars of the National Anthem are striking up over the stereo speakers and customers, young and old, are standing to attention.

Anita starts us all off, confidently belting out “God save our gracious Queen...” and one-by-one her customers join in - some more enthusiastically than others.

Even Dutch couple Josine van de Bergh and her husband Sief Boesten, who are cycling the Coast to Coast route across the country, join in although, being foreign, they would surely be excused. Afterwards the pair explain that they went along with the tradition as a mark of respect because it is a ritual they also carry out in their own native country.

Josine said: “I liked it very much.

It feels like we are sitting in a museum.

We also stand for the National Anthem in Holland.”

As the final chords fade out and customers sit back down to their afternoon teas, there’s a buzz and excited chatter generated by the event, which takes place every day when the cafe is open.

Cyclist Martin Proctor, who arrived just in the nick of time after cycling from Durham, says he has made a special trip to experience the 3pm National Anthem. Martin is among the customers who had to briefly wait for a seat to become available after the sing-a-along.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect but I think it is fantastic,” he says. “And it created a great atmosphere. I certainly support the monarchy and think it’s something nice for everyone to rally round and enjoy.”

The cafe hit the headlines earlier this week when Anita barred three middle-aged women who refused to stand for the anthem. “I told them, ‘If you don’t want to stand for the National Anthem, don’t spoil the fun and don’t come into a tearoom dedicated to the British monarchy’,” she explains.

The publicity doesn’t seem to have done the business any harm.

Tom Carver, from Wolsingham, is visiting the establishment with his wife Audrey, brother John and mother Nan, after reading about the royal rumpus.

“We wanted to bring our mam here for the jubilee experience and to give her some good memories,” he explains. “It was very nostalgic.”

Pat and Gordon Harrison, their granddaughter Lily, Shirley and Harry Aberdeen, and Margaret Winship, from Meadowfield, are also among the patriotic customers showing their respects during the National Anthem.

Mrs Aberdeen says she is “proud to be British” and the National Anthem is an important part of British culture. “It’s a tradition and you cannot let it go. It doesn’t matter what country you are in, you would always stand for their National Anthem.”

Anita’s stand has made her an international star. The cafe has appeared in papers as far and wide as Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Portugal and Japan.

Later this week a Japanese film crew will be visiting to film the National Anthem – and Anita expects every one of them to stand up.