Tourists aplenty visit Columbia Road Flower Market for the authentic East End experience but we wonder how many stumble on The Cake Hole and its own twee homage to British chintz. Not only is it a tiny traditional teashop but also it is located in a vintage homeware store, which means every visit offers double the pleasure. Vintage Heaven is the name and they’ve got that pretty much spot on. There are lace doilies dotted around, crocheted blankets and china tea sets among plenty more covetable treasures from the past. After sifting through the shop you deserve a pot of tea and the Cake Hole is waiting.
Squeezed into the back, the café is its own separate take on the vintage experience. Although there is Monmouth Coffee available, it is all about the lure of the afternoon tea. Home baked cakes, jam and scones are sourced locally and there is a good selection of teas to go with them. We opt for the classic Cake Hole cream tea which gets us 2 scones, jam, clotted cream and a pot of tea (we choose Darjeeling) each for £6.50. If you fancy something more substantial – not to mention the chance to put your pinky up as you wash them down with tea - then cucumber, ham & cheese or smoked salmon sandwiches are available.
Vintage Heaven and The Cake Hole make a holy alliance at which to get your twee fix – just the kind of place you want to find yourself on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon.