The London Tea Room reopens December 6 in DeBaliviere Place under a new generation of family ownership

Brothers Josh and Nate Richardson now own the beloved company that their grandmother Pat Richardson started in 2007. The London Tea Room’s grand opening weekend at the new location (255 Union) is fully booked, but reservations are available online for future dates. Josh encourages guests who just can’t wait to see the space “to visit the tea bar and just say hello.”

Here’s what to know before you go.

The Menu

For those new to British-style tea service, Nate explains that “tea can refer to a meal that is eaten with tea or to the drink itself.” The tea-as-a meal menu centers on three prix fixe experiences: high tea (a substantial lunch for $40), afternoon tea (a sweet snack to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner for $45), and wee tea (for guests ages 12 and under, for $36).

“The afternoon tea is where it’s at,” says Josh. “That’s the one with the desserts.” Those sweets include pastry cream tarts, pistachio macarons, linzer cookies, white chocolate-raspberry cheesecake, and assorted scones with jam and clotted cream.

The clotted cream—a rich, slightly sweet British specialty made from full-fat cow’s milk—is one of the biggest changes from The London Tea Room’s previous iterations. “We’re no longer importing our clotted cream,” Nate says. “We’re making it in house.”

On the bottom tier of the afternoon tea serving stand, the menu features familiar favorites such as cucumber finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, and Coronation Chicken Waldorf Salad on croissants. Adaptations are available for those with food sensitivities, including a vegan-friendly bruschetta with cashew butter.

For high tea, guests receive a smaller offering of savory scones with herb butter plus five savory items. And for wee tea, children can choose tea or hot chocolate with sweet and savory items and a chocolate chip scone.

Londontearoom_rock cake — English rock cake, widely regarded as a cross between a cookie and a scone

All tea service comes with the guest’s choice of premium loose-leaf tea from The London Tea Merchant, a company owned and operated by Jackie James, the Richardsons’ aunt. She is also the former proprietor of the Tea Room. “It’s the same tea we’ve always had, and you don’t want anyone but her making those beautiful blends,” Josh says. “We have nearly 50 different teas available, and we can definitely find a tea for everyone.”

During the opening month, those teas include seasonal varieties such as Dicken’s Christmas Blend (a sweet-tart combination of plums, raspberry, citrus, and cinnamon), Earl Claus (full-bodied and mildly spicy from Bergamot and cardamom), Nutcracker (with smooth flavors of marzipan, cocoa, plum, and peppermint), and Mistletoe Mint (peppermint enriched by dark chocolate and citrus zest).

Longtime customers will remember The London Tea Room Blend, described as a full-bodied brew with hints of malt, wood, apple, and dark chocolate. Traditionalists will appreciate the orthodox black teas, such as Darjeeling and Assam, or blends such as the Naughty Vicar (black currant, vanilla, and citrus) and masala chai (ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and citrus). Other true tea options include Bedford (green tea with mango and clementine), Royal Wedding Tea (white tea with lavender, mint, lilac, and rose), and Iron Goddess of Mercy (Jasmine tea with orchids).

Dozens more—as well as herbal and decaf teas—are available on the full menu. French press coffee is available, too, but Nate promises that it’s usually a last resort because most guests find a tea they enjoy. “We’re going to do everything we can to pair you up with something that hits perfectly,” he says.

While the brothers adhere to tradition when it comes to the teas, they are breaking new ground by applying for a liquor license. “Nate and I are big fans of cocktails, so we will be adding tea-infused cocktails, which will be brand new,” Josh says. “The Tea Room has never done alcohol before. It will be a great spot for brunch and bubbles.”

The Team

The Richardsons say they have faint memories of their grandparents’ first café on Washington Avenue inside their import furniture store, English Living. The tea business went so well, they closed the furniture store and moved the restaurant to Morganford, adding high tea and afternoon tea but keeping the café counter.

Londontearoom_Brothers Josh and Nate — Josh and Nate Richardson

That’s the location where Josh and Nate developed their love of the family tradition. “We got to go to the café and have tea and scones,” Josh recalls. “It was wonderful.” Eventually, their aunt took over the Morganford location, and Nate became the general manager of the café.

But it was difficult to sustain the café during the pandemic, and Jackie moved the business to Locust Street for a larger dining room with expanded table service. Meanwhile, Nate sought out additional experience. “I worked for several restaurant groups—Niche, Take Root Hospitality, Napoli—and came back to the Tea Room to help out during the holidays,” he says.

When Jackie decided to focus on The London Tea Merchant, the brothers saw an opportunity to continue the family legacy together. Josh is dedicated to building the retail brand; Nate is heading up the dining room and kitchen.

Returning staff from the Morganford and Locust locations are integrated with newcomers, including assistant manager Keira Andrews, who shares Nate’s vision for service. In addition, he says, “We have a fantastic baking team, and we’re thrilled with everything coming out of the kitchen.”

The Atmosphere

Londontearoom_table — Table setting at The London Tea Room

Although The London Tea Room grew its footprint over the years, nothing compares to the ambitious new project on the ground floor of the Era Collective Apartments, a former residential hotel.

“The bones of this building were so strong,” Josh says. “It has a beautiful 100-year-old marble floor, wood-paneled walls… It’s a gorgeous building.” They collaborated with Dottie Eaton of Design Style, with whom their aunt had worked previously, to create a uniquely elegant interior.

The main dining room seats 85, allowing tea service for 200 guests per day, and an event space can serve as overflow seating if needed. A large portion of the rest of the 8,000 square feet is filled with retail goods. “We’re starting with all the things necessary to make teas,” Josh says. “It’s more space than we’ve ever had for retail before, and we’re looking forward to growing it.”

In addition to The London Tea Merchant teas, the essentials for making British-style tea at home include tea spoons, infusers, towels, cozies, cups, mugs, hand-made mango wood trays, and a colorful new line of pots with a matte finish. For added holiday ambiance, customers can pick up extras such as the 2025 holiday ornament, a tea tin, or a Christmas cracker.

And in keeping with the family’s entrepreneurial ethos, the shop also stocks candles, room sprays, and fragrances from the London Lights product line created by the original Tea Room owner, Pat Richardson. “It was an easy decision to bring those in because they smell amazing,” Josh says.

One of the brothers’ favorite parts of the décor is the wall mural by Scott Pondrom. Inspired by the Dutch painter Johannes de Heem, the platform of flowers supporting a teacup is refined with just the right among of playfulness (look for the little worm on the leaf). It’s an apt artwork for a space that combines longstanding traditions and new beginnings.