The queen of Brighton's tearooms is hanging up his tiara and tea towel to concentrate on a new business venture.

David Daly has sold the iconic Tea Cosy in George Street, Kemp Town, and will serve his last customers there on May 24.

EastEnders stars June Brown and Michelle Collins, actress Liz Smith and former deputy prime minister John Prescott have been among the great and the good to take tea there in the past.

David sold the business for an undisclosed sum to businesswoman Jacqueline Head.

She will run the tearooms with her daughters as David spends time with his family before embarking on a new enterprise.

David started the Tea Cosy in Southover Street, Brighton, before moving to George Street two years ago.

It has won rave reviews in publications all over the world and was recently named one of the top ten tea rooms in Britain.

David and co-owner James Green are staunch royalists and turned the Tea Cosy into a permanent memorial to Princess Diana.

The new owner intends to continue the tradition and will ask customers to stand at 4pm every Sunday as the National Anthem is played as a mark of respect to the Queen.