The exterior of Shoreditch's Time for Tea. (Realtor image)
Fans of ITV’s Bletchley Circle or of Duffy’s “Stepping Stone” video may recognize the exterior of Time for Tea in Shoreditch, London from the screen. This popular forties-themed tea room is now hoping to cash in on its visibility by selling for big money.
Owned by Johnny Vercourte, the building has undergone a transformation over the years. When Vercourte bought the space for £95,000 in 1995 it was in rough shape, situated next to a building that was operating as a brothel. The five-story Georgian-style structure had been built in the early 18th century as a branch of London Savings Bank and served as several types of businesses in the following years, but has lain vacant since the early 1940s. Vercourte transformed the space into a tea room and event space.
The location is often used for film, TV, and period photo shoots. (Photo courtesy of Time for Tea)
The first floor of the building is used for tea parties and events like film screenings and pop-up shops. They promote the building’s use for television and film projects set in the period from 1939-1959, offering to provide extras, actors and props.
An auction was set for Monday, the 21st, with the hopes of finding a buyer who would want to use it for retail or business space or to convert into a private home. The purchase price was expected to reach at least £2,000,000, but an appropriate buyer was not found. It is now listed with Savills for £2.2 million.
SOURCE: London Evening Standard
