Tea Box

Mostly the pick of London's traditional afternoon teas are found within the city's top hotels. But the Tea Box in Richmond's Paradise Road exists only to serve tea, it's antique peppered interior reminiscent of a bygone era when everyone stopped to take afternoon tea. It's a tradition that owner Jemma Swallow, who owns and runs the place with business partner Mike de Souza, has been doing her best to revive since they first set up shop in October 2007. Teas are the speciality and there are around fifty to choose from - take away (in tins or packets) or infused on the premises. Even if you're not a tea drinker you can get a surprisingly good cup of coffee and there's a wide choice of food too. The menu offers a wide choice of sandwiches and salads with interesting sounding fillings like roast beef or smoked chicken, served with a dollop of coleslaw, cakes are handmade locally, with brownies, flapjacks and scones only adding to the indecision. But the most popular option, naturally, is the afternoon tea - which can also be served with a glass of champagne. Whether a cup of copper coloured Darjeeling or the perfumed Earl Grey is your posion, you'll find it here at the Tea Box.