The London Tea Room plans to reopen in DeBaliviere Place this fall

There will soon be a new reason to toast to an old favorite.

The London Tea Room (255 Union) is slated to reopen this fall in the DeBaliviere Place neighborhood, after closing its previous location in Downtown West last year.

The business has been in the Richardson family since it originally opened nearly 20 years ago. Pat Richardson originally owned and operated the business, before her daughter Jackie James later ran it. The new owners are Josh and Nate Richardson, Pat’s grandsons and James’ nephews.

The Space

The London Tea Room will be located on the ground floor of a stately brick 1920s era building, which once served as a residential hotel and now houses the Era Collective Apartments. (The address previously housed other restaurants, including Turvey’s on the Green, Tango Grill, An American Brasserie, The Kitchen Sink, and most recently, West End Bistro.)

The 8,000-square-foot space will feature indoor and outdoor dining areas, a private event space, and an area for retail sales. The dining area will contain a minimum of 80 seats, along with a patio, though the exact seating capacity for the outdoor area hasn’t been finalized yet. The private event space will seat another 30 to 40 inside, as well as providing access to its own patio area.

The owners are working with interior designer Dottie Eaton, who designed the last two iterations of the tea room. “She’s bringing an elegant yet modern and approachable design to the space,” says Josh.

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

The building’s interior features stunning architectural details that are in line with the era, such as wood paneling, molded ceilings, and a herringbone patterned terrazzo flooring. “The space itself has a ton of character built into it,” says Josh.

Eaton will play up those details using a light-blue color palette, including a distinct light-blue and cream wallpaper in some areas. And some design elements may be familiar. “We’re reusing a lot the furniture and artwork that guests of the previous location may recognize,” Nate says.

The Menu

While the plan is to obtain a liquor license and serve wine and signature tea-infused cocktails, the establishment will also offer a selection of teas from The London Tea Merchant, which Jackie James owns and operates. Guests will be able to choose from more than 50 teas, available hot or iced. Those selections will include traditional black teas, green teas, herbal and fruit blend teas, and more. There will also be non-tea options, such as hot chocolate, lemonade, and drip coffee.

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

The food menu will feature familiar favorites from the previous iteration, such as scones, blueberry lemon cake, Cornish pasties, and tomato soup. The dishes will be made using the same recipes as the tea room’s prior location.

There are also plans to offer brunch and potentially extend hours into the evening. To start, the hours will be from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with the dining room available for private rental after hours.

The Concept

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

The goal is to bring people the best of British hospitality. One way the Richardsons plan to do so is through a knowledgeable staff that can help guide guests through the journey.

In the retail area, guests will find all of the teas available to purchase, as well as everything needed to create a proper cup of tea, such as mugs and pots. The retail space will also feature items by London Lights, a business founded by Josh and Nate’s grandmother. The line features luxury scented candles in a variety of scents, with specific lines that focus on various characters by iconic authors, such as the line’s Miss Austen Collection. And there are plans to bring in additional lifestyle goods.

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

Courtesy of The London Tea Room

When it comes to the tea room, guests of the prior iteration will find many similarities. There will be both afternoon tea and high tea services, both of which consist of what Nate calls “a prix fixe menu with an assortment of goodies.” Afternoon tea is served with three-tiered china that is filled with assorted desserts, savory sandwiches, pastries, and clotted cream, while high tea service focuses more on offering savory food selections.

“I think people who came to the tea room before and loved it will love it even more,” Josh says. “And I think people who are new will find a welcoming experience that’s easy to understand and enjoy.”

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