New Brackenbury tea house opens with a Sri Lankan accent
A familiar old friend in Brackenbury Village has been reborn with an enthusiastic new crew.
The battleship grey of the former Brackenburys deli has been repainted pale peach to mark last month’s opening of the Pekoe Mellow Tea House at 22 Aldensley Road in Hammersmith.
It’s a first venture for Helen Deighan and Gobi Manoharan, a couple whose aim goes well beyond creating a tea and coffee hub. It’s also an ‘idea sharing’ centre, with monthly inspirational TED Talk-style evenings; the first a well-attended lecture by Prof Tariq Modood of the University of Bristol on Majorities, Minorities and Multiculturalism.
The next two promise to be interesting; an exploration of current British politics, looking at all sides of the Brexit conundrum, and then a talk about Hamlet. “For both of us, it’s the first time running something like this,” said Gobi, 38, who spent his early years in Sri Lanka and also works as a pharmacist at Ealing Hospital. “I work weekends, and help open and close up; we’re learning as we go.
“Brackenburys was at the heart of the community, and we want to continue that feel.”
Helen, 36, a trained teacher, said the peach colour outside, and the clean white walls inside, were designed to create a warm, welcoming feeling for customers. And the name? Pekoe identifies the youngest, freshest leaves on the tea plant, while the idea is to provide a space where people can relax and mellow out.
Spacious and light, the interior is decorated by framed squares of exquisite sari material – part of an extensive collection of Gobi’s late mother. Some stools have been created from old tea chests. At its heart it remains a café, with leaf tea infusions and breakfast, afternoon and Earl Grey teas blended on the premises, and fruit teas made from scratch. There is also a good range of coffees from 80 Stone Coffee Roasters.
“We spent a year sourcing teas, including going around Sri Lanka, tasting,” said Helen. “By having a good relationship with tea growers we can buy tea that’s often half a year fresher than others can buy… and you can taste that freshness, that kick.”
Helen is an enthusiastic baker, creating options including shortbread, raspberry cake and vanilla and caramel henna cake, together with spicier alternatives and a Sri Lankan dish of the day. But you can still get bacon baps!
There are storytelling sessions for children (We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and The Tiger Who Came to Tea have already delighted youngsters), with puppet-making and face-painting, and a book club and tea-tasting sessions will be starting soon. Once the drinks licence is confirmed, watch out for tea-based cocktail evenings too.
Books dot the walls. “It’s interesting,” said Helen. “Children just pick them up and read, but adults often ask if they’re allowed to!”
The Pekoe Mellow Tea House is open 7.30am-6pm daily, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 9am-4pm. For more details, visit: www.facebook.com/pg/pekoemellowtea/posts/
