If you like “Alice In Wonderland” and “Harry Potter,” you’ll just love The Britannia Tearooms, San Diego’s authentic British tearoom, food, and gift shop in the Midway District.

You may even see Alice popping through a “rabbit hole,” as she does in some of the whimsical rooms of the British family-owned and operated business. The tearoom has taken over for the Old Waffle House at 2323 Midway Drive.

It’s all things British at The Britannia Tearooms which boasts, among other things, a Sherlock Holmes sitting room, a Mad Hatter’s Tearoom, numerous references to “Alice In Wonderland-Through The Looking Glass,” and a Mary Poppins-themed gift shop. There are even Harry Potter-themed bathrooms.

It’s the only place in San Diego to drop in for a proper British afternoon tea. It’s not brunch – it’s an experience, noted owner Selina Stockley (above), who pointed out that tea is something special in British culture. “Tea is the No. 1 drink in Britain,” she said noting, “Tea is drunk from the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to bed.”

Added Stockley: “But if you’re talking about partaking of tea, there’s all different levels of it. You could just be sitting down to something informal. Or you can have your friends over and it’s a bit more formal. It’s very much a part of when you go out and shop. It (tea drinking) is just more usual than it is here.”

The Britannia Tearooms started years ago in Shakespeare’s Corner Shoppe & Afternoon Tea, a British grocery at 3719 India St. where Stockley was first general manager and then owner. Her new Midway location now features a traditional English tearoom on its patio with food freshly prepared and served from an in-house English bakery.

Over the last 22 years, Stockley has built business enterprises true to her cultural roots using tradition and authenticity as her guides. And she truly relishes being able to share her love for all things British.

“I wanted a posher tea,” said the shop owner speaking from her Shakespeare’s sitting room replete with fireplace and coat rack at the front entrance. “But I also didn’t want this fancy tea room that was too posh for everybody. So, we brought in all the themes.”

Stockley, who comes from a theatrical background, said of her afternoon-themed teas held every six weeks: “I do quotes and I put on all the accents. And then we do a quiz. It’s very much an event. We, and the people who come to us, dress up in full-length costumes. They’re (guests) lovers of whatever they’ve come to watch. We have Harry Potter in September and October. This has just really grown its legs and arms.”

Stockley noted creating a storybook atmosphere, like that in her colorful Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Room in the back where themed teas are held, has been a challenging and complex task. “With us, there’s like 20 different items on the plate and everything’s made by hand,” she said of her shop while pointing out, “The only thing we don’t make here is the crème that we import from England.”

Passionate about her business, Stockley noted: “It’s very detail- and labor-oriented. I wanted to develop the whole afternoon tea and make it enjoyable for everyone. And this (Midway location) just touches on everything that I wanted.”

Hailing from Surrey, England, Selina has a natural and family feel for her occupation. Having grown up watching her grandma Lucy bake in her kitchen, she dreamed of one day owning her very own tearoom. Now, with The Britannia Tearooms in America, she’s fulfilled her wish of bringing her grandma’s recipes and age-old ways of making everything by hand with authentic methods and ingredients. And all of Selina’s guests are thankful to be there for the party.

THE BRITANNIA TEAROOMS

Donde: 2323 Midway Drive.

Información: afternoonteasandiego.com.