Winner of the London & South England Prestige Awards 2023/24 - Cafe of the Year
Winner of the Time Out Love London Awards 2014, 2016 & 2018
Winner of the Best Closed Cafe Award 2020
THEATRE REVIEWS
"In terms of venue, the Tea House Theatre is definitely the perfect place for an intimate show like this one. A cosy café-by-day and theatre-by-night in Vauxhall, it has a charming and welcoming character that makes you feel right at home. Oh and did I mention they do cake? So, by all means, see if The Vagina Monologues come back for International Women’s Day next year, but don’t wait that long for a visit to this theatre. Both the venue and this play deserve your attention."
Everything Theatre ☆☆☆☆☆
"The Tea House Theatre is a serene oasis in the midst of bustling Vauxhall. Five minutes walk across the park from Vauxhall station, it does exactly what it says on the tin. It's a tea room and restaurant in the day and a performance space in the evening [...] warm and welcoming as the audience are invited to tuck into wine, cake and theatre."
Remote Goat ☆☆☆☆☆
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VENUE REVIEWS
March 2024
“Public shaming of such individuals is a way of establishing social justice.”
Google review from Parag Garg
***
April 2023
Super quirky hidden gem in Vauxhall, had warmed fruit scones with jam and clotted cream with Darjeeling first flush.
Fed 3 people easily, with a few tatsy little treats such as peacan pie and a marshmallow tea cake.
This is a secret, I hope the tourists never find 🤣
(Also it's cream then jam on first)
Google review from Harry Upton
***
AMAZING SCONES and lovely atmosphere!
Google review from Ulrika Rylander
***
Small, quirky place with great choice of tea! Remember: tea house= no coffee!!:-) lovely food, great atmosphere, great tea and the cat on the radiator!:-) bit pricey, but worth it. The service was extremely nice, tad slow though, but you cone here to absorb atmosphere, not to rush!:-)
Google review from Marcin Malek (Malq)
***
Carrot cake was honestly so good , also had the peppermint tea so nice. Nice quiet atmosphere and lovely staff
Google review from Ilaria Nwachi
March 2023
Great find
A group of 8 turned up unannounced on a cold and sleety lunchtime. Welcome was warm and we were seated with minimal fuss. Orders taken and it was a lovely change for the waitress to remember who had order what when the food - which was delicious - arrived. No problems either with paying separately and we didn't feel it was overpriced. Alll in all a lovely quirky place which, if we were in the area again, all would return to.
TripAdvisor review from KateA29J
***
Unique experience
Thank you for your honesty. We are the Muslim family who asked about the pork. We like restaurant atmosphere. We could come visit again for Tea.
TripAdvisor review from Adi Zarei
***
My wife and I were both so pleased to have found this wonderful establishment. The vibe is nice, where you get served some very nice tea in a proper pot with some lovely cakes. My wife chose the Eggs Benedict, which she ate with great relish, and I had scones and a cake. Really very good and most enjoyable. We also found out they have theatre and music activities in the evening so am going to one of those as you get food as well.
Highly recommended, and we are going there again!
Google review from JR Bradbury
January 2023
My happy place
This place is a gem and one of my favourite in all of London. The tea and food is worth it because they are happy for you to sit and linger for as long as you want, literally hours, with no sense that you should get on and leave. The atmosphere is calm and pleasant, helped by the wonderful classical music, the full English is gorgeous, the slices of cake very generous. Not a drop of coffee in sight.
I've also been along for an excellent jazz night full of exquisite live music and they have a range of fun, social themed nights available.
TripAdvisor review from Lucy
October 2022
This is the most incredibly unique, memorable and thoughtful tea house experiences possible! I don't even know where to start: the incredibly thoughtful details of the bathroom, the whimsical cake stands and placement, the adorable and sassy cats, or the wonderful staff! OH, OR THE TEA! (I'll focus on the tea and service and not spoil the experience of discovering this space for you.)
The ambiance, essence, energy of this space and even concept of this space are UNRIVALED! My husband and I were visiting from the states and on a long walk and in great need of a snack and some tea- we looked up tea near us and stumbled upon the Tea House Theatre. They have an impressive, wide-ranging selection of tea (with thoughtful and detailed descriptions of each) - we chose the elderflower to have there and bought a bag of the rooibos to gift (both incredibly fragrant, delicious and high quality - we will be buying more online)! I was, unfortunately, dealing with several dietary restrictions at the time (hence the caffeine free choices above) and very hungry- the staff and owner himself were very gracious and accommodating and whipped up a yummy mushroom and vegan sausage dish for me (thank you so much)! Everyone having a cup of tea, a snack, a meal, and lounging here seemed truly so happy, unsurprisingly so.
We cannot wait to be back on our next trip!
Google review from Aditi Sapra
September 2022
Absolutely delightful. My husband and I found this wonderful venue via Google, searching “where can I find a good cup of tea in London”. It was listed on a top 5 website and does NOT disappoint. Cakes. Cakes everywhere. We had the Duchess Tea. A pot of your choice, and a tower of delicious eats. Would recommend as a tourist, having my first official afternoon tea. A great selection of sandwiches, the scones were amazing, and the brownies are incredibly decadent. The Tea House cat sat with us during our visit and was very welcome. 10/10! will be talking about this place for a long time.
Google review from Committee Members
***
Coming here was the perfect end of my day, the staff were lovely and the food excellent. I had a cider with my shepherd's pie and it was homely and wonderful. A little people watching while sitting outside was had.
I don't think I am doing justice to the how good the shepherd's pie, one of the reason i am sure it is good is likely to be that this place does a Sunday Roast of Lamb, and I am sure this influences their weekday menu. This was a taste from home that I needed after a long day. Thank you for being lovely too, I will recommend this place to others like it was to me. <3
Google review by Hugo Finley
***
This place is a wonder. Lovely cakes, great sandwiches and very friendly staff. Also lots of board games to play and comfy armchairs. Six stars out of five.
Philip Abbott
***
Charming little spot right on the park. Great outdoor seating and lovely staff. The Maltese Salad is DELICIOUS and the Sticky Toffee Pudding is yummy!!! Went back a few days later and had the half club sandwich…SOOO GOOD!!!
C. Patrick Gendusa
***
For this old Victoria house . The place is unique, and in a location which you wouldn’t expect.
The staff are brilliant and offers a wide range of different teas. It reminds me of the olden days when I grew up. You have to go and visit because it’s so different. We had a cream tea which was very nice everything was home-made. Very surprised about the location. Worth a visit.
Julie
August 2022
We went there for a morning brunch and we had a very nice experience. The staff is very nice, the menu is huge, the food is good and they have a lot of cakes to choose from. They also have two cats that you can pet. The cafe is also very iconic, true victorian style.
Nicola Emanuele Montella
***
Lovely, quaint and cosy vibes all around from this tea house!! The vibes getting to see families play boardgames and people reading books with a slice of cake and tea was so peaceful! Definitely want to bring more people here however, the service was a tiny bit slow and I wouldn't recommend getting the afternoon tea set because i think it is overpriced for what you get. The scone and tea was absolutely delicious but other than that the set was dissapointing because the hummus sandwich had too much butter in it and the only cakes that come with the set are four brownies so there isn't any variation. Next time, I would get either the cream tea set or try one of their cakes which all looked lovely!!|
Alya
July 2021
My taste buds are still dancing from our last visit! The food is simply to die for (Try the caesars choice). The waitress was a delight. The decor was unique and homely. I would eat here every day if I was a local.
Review on Tripadvisor from thebaileybearuk1
***
My taste buds are still dancing from our last visit! The food is simply to die for (Try the caesars choice). The waitress was a delight. The decor was unique and homely. I would eat here every day if I was a local.
Review on Tripadvisor from JohnOliver123456789
***
Hello,
I just wanted to send a quick email to thank your awesome staff, We visit every time we are in the capital and Alana and the young woman who’s name I didn’t get but is studying neuroscience alway make you feel like you are part of the tea house family, You have a awesome team.
Thank You
Andy & Steve
Sent to info@teahousetheatre.co.uk
***
Love this place! We come here for tea and a cake! But today we tried a breakfast and omg the portions are huuge and so tasty! Loads of choices of tea, afternoon tea and cakes! Huge slices! Perfect for sharing! Def must go! Hidden little gem hidden away near the park
Google review from Egita Gailisa
***
Great selection of teas, breakfast menu doesn’t finish till 6pm, friendly staff, a delightfully eccentric indoors, relaxing outdoor seating area and very accommodating for people wanting to substitute haggis into their meal! Just need to incorporate soda bread into your Ulster fry and it’s perfection! Don’t even try and ask for coffee!
Google review from Paul Ng
***
June 2021
Very nice breakfast of boiled eggs and soldier’s. Huge tea menu and great staff.
Google review from Polar Giraffe
***
Friendly staff, great Sunday lunch and an amazing selection of cakes.
Google review from Simon Whittaker
***
Amazing little cafe in Vauxhall Gardens park. Authentic food and amazing tea selection ranging from classic English breakfast to Darjeeling to oriental Oolong. All that with a lovely theatre-like ambiance.
Google review from Nikita Veshkurtsev
***
Food is amazing, service is good and I like the ambience of the restaurant.
Google review from Chin Xiong Er
***
Lovely place, great food and superb customer service and experience. Giles, you are the best!
Google review from Sebastian Vettel
***
A slice of cake as big as my daughters face😄 can't believe she ate it. Fabulous selection of teas. Love it here, second visit and will be back next time we're in town! One day we may even make a performance, I'm hopeful.
Google review from Lucia Bean
***
Love this hidden gem, You will find it in Vauxhall pleasure gardens, The service is 5, The food is always good, And the tea menu is immense, They don’t serve coffee but with all that tea who needs it…. 😘
Google review from Andy Bailey (Baileybear)
***
Tea was really nice. Serving staff very emotionally intelligent.
Google review from Edward Ellis
***
Great selection of tea and very nice ambience.
Google review from Munna Dhabak
***
We stopped by this place when we visited London as tourists almost 2 years ago. So glad we went! It was the perfect place to cool down and to feel London life! The teas and the food are so good. There are activities also on the evening, but we didn't try any since our hotel was far from the place. Long shory short, if I go back to london, I will surely go back and try other surprises the tea house theater has to offer!!
Google review from Marypier p.
May 2021
Brilliant find for breakfast, brunch, lunch or tea. Nice setting in the Pleasure Gardens, friendly staff, fair pricing, wide ranging menu and what we had was delicious.
Great place for anyone who likes quality tea. I’ll definitely be back soon for cake and tea!
Tripadvisor review
***
December 2020
Found this wonderful place by accident one weekend and so pleased I did. This is a perfect tea house that offers the largest range of teas I have ever seen on a menu. Not only that but the food is first rate and the service is relaxed and friendly.
The decor is nice old fashioned tea room and there are board games to play while you are there. As if all this wasn't enough, the tea house is also a theatre and offers many different types of entertainment including debates on topics of the day.
I cannot say a bad word about the Tea House Theatre. I have been there for brunch and dinner, with friends and alone with my Kindle and every time I have enjoyed it.
Google review from Terry Eastham
***
November 2020
Super friendly staff/owner, very dog welcoming and beautifully decorated.
The portion of red velvet cake was very generous and the taste.. just incredible! Best cake in London!
Google review from Oscar B
***
“Best bangers & mash I have ever had!”
Review by recent customer, middle aged woman.
October 2020
This is a great place to have afternoon tea. Situated in a small ex pub, to me it has the quaint feel of Rene's bistro in 'Alo Alo'! The service and food was excellent. Hot scones with clotted cream and jam, for my friend, I, a decent sized cheese platter. With a delicious selection of cheeses. There was also fish and chips on offer, along with sandwiches etc. Of course it is called The Tea House, and as such, there is an abundance of different teas to choose from the tea menu. All of which are served in old fashioned teapots with their own little woolen tea cosies. It felt like being in grannies house! It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon here, sitting by the fireplace in the large comfy leather armchairs!
Google review from Yvonne Mullins
***
An amazing find ,will return again and and again , we need more places like this , not coffee shops ,where you are in and out , this is pleasure written all over it. Well done bravo
Google review from Andrew Mcdonald
***
A charming place to visit, warm and friendly. Great range of tea and cakes to enjoy with family, friends or colleagues.
Google review from Rachid Bouasria
September 2020
Quirky tea house near Vauxhall bridge, a few minutes walk from tube. Great selection of teas and light meals, interesting cultural events that I should try next time. Something for every age. Owner must be a genius (and his cat, too).
Google review from Drago Indjic
Best milkshakes in UK.
Tea House Theatre customer. American Lady
***
I love that place so much! Such a great customer service and fresh made cakes. Big selection of teas. Welcoming place I loved the decoration and the vibes. They make a tasty honey for £8 got for it!
Review on TripAdvisor
***
Amazing people, great little business, underrated, should be visited more, board games, tea and great company, definitely visit again soon.
Google review from Dhillon Barber
***
Categorically, THE. BEST. BREAKFAST..... EVER! Amazing service, beautiful venue and friendly staff. Left for a short interlude before returning for a a wedge (and I mean WEDGE 😋) of cake and another pot of tea. Will be back! Thank you 😊
Google review from Psychic Bobby
***
It was like entering the 5th dimension of heavenly food and tea. And cake.
Best Scottish breakfast. Ever.
Google review from Louise Holden
***
It's so good, I almost dont want to tell you how good this place is! Loads of outdoor seating for a sunny day in this dreadful era you get some amazing teas to choose from in brown Betty teapots, incredible cakes , good honest food and you can buy honey from the rooftop hives - which tastes so floral
Google review from Naomi
***
Love coming here for a weekend treat! The cakes are great and I don't usually have a sweet tooth. Especially the red velvet and the marble cake - am yet to try their famous brownies. Service is also always very friendly. It's quirky and not your usual place so don't be surprised if you don't find your favourite drink on the menu but there are still plenty of options to explore.
Google review from Jessica S
***
Very nice and pretty interview place and friendly staffs. It's very cosy.
You can feel and enjoy the English countryside tea house in central London.
Google review from Rupert. teacher
***
A real treat excellent service .Cakes yummy staff friendly ! I always enjoy my afternoon tea here.
Google review from winter month
July 2020
It is claimed, on the menu, that the full English is the best in London, absolutely rightly so ! Evidently freshly prepared with sausages, bacon and black pudding from the first class, local butcher, P.J. Frankland, it has all the elements expected, including fresh tomato and mushrooms. The homemade bubble and squeak is delicious and it was no problem to replace the accompanying bacon with yummy fresh mushrooms.
Of course, the best pot of tea, you could possibly have is, also, a good reason to go there. The perfect start to the day.
The waitress, Ilana, is professional, efficient, impeccably dressed and very charming.
It is the first place we ate out at, after lockdown, and we were very confident about being safe.
We think it is important to support lovely family businesses, like The Tea House Theatre and this is a business that deserves everyone's help.
Well done, Tea House ! John and Gill
Review on TripAdvisor
January 2020
“We LOVED our tea time here! Super cozy atmosphere and the food was delicious! We also liked the location of the place. Not too crowded which we really appreciated. We will be back next time we visit!”
December 2019
“Who would imagine when going to a park area that they would find a formerly abandoned huge now restored Victorian public house, tenderly refurbished with vast character, complete with two resident cats, in the middle of the relatively small Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens! The public house, built in 1886, which is now re-decorated and devoted to theatre, live jazz, debates and good food and wine, not to mention tea and cakes”
“This place is a real treat. Wide selection of teas, wonderful cakes and food, and the staff is always attentive and nice. If you get lucky you can also be visited by one of their cats. I have been here many times and always enjoyed it enormously. The evening events are recommended, too!”
September 2019
“Sat in the tea house for a good few hours working away on my laptop, the atmosphere was perfect for focus and relaxing. The resident cats kept me company the Rooibos tea is (and I can’t stress this enough) LIT So good, best tea I’ve ever had. Tate’s and smells like your ideal Christmas ! Food is tasty and very big portions! Wait staff were very nice and friendly! A perfect little gem of a Teahouse.”
September 2016
"Head down Vauxhall Walk to Spring Gardens (...) and you'll find the Tea House Theatre (...) - it's a classic British tradition updated for the 21st century."
Dragonair
***
"Tea House Theatre, a Victorian public house with an array of loose-leaf teas (...), consummately British, with beat-up leather chairs and Oriental rugs (...), [is] what English life is supposed to look and taste like."
New York Times
***
"The Tea House Theatre - an iniquitous den of bespoke baking and crochet clubs."
Spectator Life
***
“Tea House Theatre is a Vauxhall retreat that everyone should know about.”
Twenty Something London
***
"With its welcoming layout, vintage-inspired decor and family friendly approach, the Tea House Theatre is permanently packed with local residents and tourists alike. The huge selection of uber-delicious cakes and locally sourced lunches, wi-fi and daily papers for your leisurely perusal will make you stay for more than just a quick lunch break."
The Vintage Guide to London
"The tea menu, as you'd hope, is amazing and extensive (all pots of loose leaf tea served with hand knitted tea cosy) and there are a tons of freshly baked cakes. But the breakfast is not to be sniffed at either, quite possibly one of London's finest full Englishes. And they don't sell coffee, and are proud of it."
I Know This Great Little Place... in London
"Great service from the staff and thank you Rachel for suggesting what tea to choose. Myself and Jeff back from a 65 mile cycle trip around Surrey returned to have breakfast at 17:00. This was no problem for the staff and cook. Also our bikes were allowed inside the tea room."
☆☆☆☆☆ Google Review from Vicenzo Iaciofano
"An excellent place for breakfast, to have a grumble, a catch up, or to solve the wrongs of the world."
A Green Bicycle
"This is definitely a place to enjoy lingering ... On my second visit I had one of the best Welsh Rarebit I've ever eaten."
Guided Walks in London
"This is less of a pub closure than a pub reinvention … and the results are positive."
Tired of London, Tired of Life
"The place is positively spiffing."
Lurking About SE11
"It's as close to perfect as we've experienced."
London's Daily Secret. Secret #433.
"When it comes to tea, it doesn't get better than this."
Brian's Coffee Spot
2014 Coffee Spot Awards - Best Physical Space Runner-Up