The Hawkhurst Vault

My return visit to london wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Hawkhurst. Glad to see the boys are still doing what they do best; serving amazing tea and hosting this cozy space! Plus there’s some cool new additions, like their menu for breakfast and lunch/​snacks.
Took my mom here for a break from Brick Lane shopping. She loved the jasmine silver needle tea I ordered for us (my personal favourite). We had a nice, relaxing time just resting in the vault. I’m so glad I got to bring her to one of my favourite places in the whole city. Quiet and comforting, Hawkhurst will always hold a special place in my heart.
Keep up the good work Theo and James!

I love this forgotten end of Brick Lane, away from the crowds. Hawkhurst Vault is beyond that secret pizza place and next door to Tatty Divine — and now a third pearl on a string of favourite destinations.
From outside, with two hipster beardies out front, it could be mistaken for a trendy pub. Instead it serves an impressive selection of teas — as well as coffees and a variety of more interesting soft drinks (i.e. Victorian lemonade rather than Diet Coke).
I came for a meetup in the downstairs area, which is still lovely even though most of the interesting décor takes place in the main bar (I’m a sucker for neon art, and there were some lovely examples on display).
A new favourite, and just a few steps away from Redchurch Street.

Great service. Fun staff and perfect break after a trip down Brick Lane Market. Had a killer salted caramel brownie and good coffee and tea.

Really enthusiastic about checking this tea room out. Looked cozy and quiet, and I’m a fan of specialty teas.
However, the tea I ordered smelled like fish (or perhaps urine, as my husband suggested) and when I took my first sip I actually gagged. No kidding. The atmosphere was calm and I didn’t want to make a fuss. After sitting for quite some time and hoping one of the two servers might notice my lack of sipping, I returned the almost full pot of tea and requested Earl Grey, a sure fire hit. It was ok.
Upon paying, a server charged me for both teas (£5.40) and blamed me for the tea’s poor taste and smell. Apparently I left the bag in too long. Didn’t know I was not just a customer, but an employee as well.
When I said I felt uncomfortable playing for a tea I didn’t drink, a tea that was actually offensive, he reminded me it was a specialty tea.
Listen, I get they’re maybe new at running a business, but I was insulted. Felt i had to write this cuz the place is a bit pricey, and snobbery or smugness is, in Shoreditch, already in high supply.
I’ll now avoid Hawkhurst’s Vault — I can make my own piss at home.
Stay away in droves.

If you’re looking for somewhere to sit with a newspaper and while away a day, this is probably one of the better places you could pick. The owners have sourced everything from nearby (including the furniture, hey, you’re in market central.) and have put together a rather cosy atmosphere in which you can step away from the chaos of brick lane and listen to albums and order one of their teas.
They take their tea rather seriously and will happily give you some suggestions. If you feel like something stronger, they’ve also got craft beers & cider. It’s been a great discovery of today and I’ll be back.

The Hawkurst Vault is a wonderful tea room at the Shoreditch end of Brick lane. We came across it by dint of the fact our youngest was going to a sale at the nearby jewellery store. We needed to find somewhere to have a drink and rest from our long journey. This very inviting façade greeted us, and we went inside. The list of teas and infusions was impressive, as was the knowledge of our hosts. My fiancé wanted a strong tea and was presented with a Lapsang Souchong and a Phuer tea to smell from which she chose the latter. Our eldest daughter wanted something milder and sweeter and was recommended a yellow oolong. For my grandon a blackcurrant and hibiscus infusion was selected and I had the dragon well tea. A chocolate croissant, butter croissant and a slice of courgette cake completed the order.
The teas were beautifully served in teapots along with a bottle of water between us. Each teapot was at the correct temperature for the specific tea and an egg timer indicating the ideal steeping time was also provided. The owner, Theodore, recommended that my fiancé keep the Phuer steeping just a little longer, and he was right. The courgette cake was absolutely amazing and the other pastries flaky and delicious. The service was so friendly, enthusiastic and expert from the staff, it made for a very pleasant treat. The staff play old vinyl records from Manfred Mann to the Rolling Stones, by way of Hawkwind and Jimi Hendrix which just adds to the atmosphere. And the delightful china teacups and original tea spoons add to the magic. Downstairs is a room with amazing ambiance, decorated with old early 20^th century furniture and reminiscent of days not long past with sofas, tables and chairs. An ideal place to spend chatting with friends over a civilised cup of tea.
Make no mistake, this is tea done well and is a little more expensive than you would usually expect but this is very good value.
This is a new venture and with the enthusiasm, skill, attentiveness and friendliness of the staff, it deserves to do well. I will return