Introduction
A robust and striking former warehouse in a prime location on Shoreditch High Street, the Tea Building is an iconic local landmark.
In a unique opportunity, new office space has become available at Tea in the next era of the building’s development. A blank canvas but retaining a strong industrial aesthetic and highly individual character.
History of Tea
Sturdy and elegant, the Tea Building has been a lodestar of the Shoreditch community since its construction in the early 1930s.
Then, as now, Shoreditch was a hub of innovation and industry. A century ago it was printing, clothing, furniture, tobacco and food processing. Today, it's the creative, media and tech industries, and a world-renowned food and drink scene.
The original Lipton Tea Factory, as it was initially known, was a state-of-the art bacon curing plant — built on the site of a tea storage facility, hence the name. The bacon factory, and an adjoining warehouse for teapacking (known today as the Biscuit Building — home to Shoreditch House and Mother), were owned by the Lipton grocery brand, which distributed tea around the world and bacon across London.
The Tea Building quickly filled with an intoxicating mix of digital startups and creative companies — more than 1,500 people now work in and visit the building every day. With its revamped neighbour, the Biscuit Building, its ever-evolving community enjoy Michelin-starred food, cocktails, co-working, Soho House members’ club with its rooftop swimming pool, internationally renowned art, a boutique hotel… all in-house
The Tea Building is one of a kind.
THE BUILDING
Tea Building’s atmospheric internal street, designed by leading architects, AHMM, which leads to its main reception, is a talking point and one of its most celebrated features. It can now be accessed from either end, thanks to the new connection to Redchurch Street — its Crittall-style bespoke double doors and blackened steel finish holding true to the 1930s aesthetic.
Watch the Video — Introducing the new street at Tea Building, linking the original entrance on Bethnal Green Road to the new entrance on Redchurch Street.
Inside, the street has been revamped to showcase more of the Tea Building’s raw beauty and industrial heritage. The wonderful cobbled floor has been retained, with walls and soffits grit-blasted back to their original concrete finish. Raised plinths built from recycled timber railway sleepers form relaxed new zones to meet and greet, or take a moment with a flat white from the new coffee shop run by Allpress. A new entrance leads directly to the Hales Gallery, encouraging an invigorating detour.
The reception itself is re-imagined, a tall open-fronted steel and glass box, the central hub of the workplace. Its dark raw steel shell has a strong industrial feel, a blend of roughness and craftsmanship, preserved in wax coating. New concrete steps with hardy Durbar treads lead up to the redecorated lift lobby.
There is precision, detail and craftsmanship throughout, giving a more mature feel, but, like Shoreditch itself, it remains a liberating environment where character trumps strait-jacketed perfectionism every time.
Availability
Stay tuned for exciting new workspace opportunities at Tea, coming soon.
The interior stays true to the building’s aesthetic — industrial yet elegant, with a simplicity of design. Original features have been retained, a sturdy concrete and iron mix.
Crittall-style openable windows flood the space with natural light, creating a calm, airy ambience, a proven aid to good mental health and wellbeing. The whitewashed brick walls add zest and energy.
Sustainability
As a former warehouse with no heating infrastructure, the Tea Building was not inherently equipped for sustainability.
The three-part Green Tea plan was introduced in 2014 to rectify this. First, the single panes in the 1930s windows were replaced with new, openable double-glazed units in keeping with the building’s aesthetic and heritage. These help to retain heat in cold weather, and are an instant source of cool fresh air during warm spells.
Second, a movement-sensitive LED lighting system helps to conserve power and minimise wasting energy.
Third, the thermal loop harvests and redistributes warmth to cooler parts of the building and vice versa. Smart meters mean each unit's power and gas consumption can be monitored and improved.
Our Green Tea strategy provides a comfortable, controllable, naturally ventilated office environment that requires less energy to maintain by using the building's inherent attributes. Reducing energy consumption and its associated carbon emissions are part of our journey to net zero carbon in 2030.
EPC ‘B’.
Sustainability
In February 2020 we announced our commitment to become a net zero carbon business by 2030. We plan to do this through driving down energy demand across our portfolio, investing in renewable energy and offsetting the residual carbon emissions we cannot eliminate.
Regeneration is at the core of our business model, through the refurbishment of our existing portfolio like Tea Building and the development of new ones. As part of this process we have a responsibility to ensure our buildings operate efficiently and are resilient to climate change. The Tea Building is on a renewable electricity tariff and, as of September 2021 a renewable gas tariff as well, reducing the carbon footprint of the building.
Despite targeting energy reduction initiatives and using renewable energy, there will be carbon emissions we cannot avoid. These will be offset using certified carbon offsetting schemes which will only be used as a last resort.
We know our net zero carbon commitment cannot be achieved alone and we are keen to work with our occupiers to promote sustainable working and support them in achieving their own ambitions.
Location
Bordering the City, Clerkenwell and Bethnal Green, Shoreditch is a thriving hotspot for culture, food and drink, art, fashion and music.
LOCATIONS NEARBY
WALKING DISTANCES
INSIDE TEA
Getting around is quick and easy, thanks to excellent rail, tube and bus connections. The overground service stops at Shoreditch High Street station, right across the road from Tea. You can also pick up the Northern Line at nearby Old Street, a ten minute walk away.
From Liverpool Street Underground Station
(10 mins walk)
From Old Street Underground Station
(10 mins walk)
AIRPORTS
From Shoreditch Hight Street Station
STATIONS
From Shoreditch Hight Street Station
Elizabeth line journey times from Liverpool Street
10 minute walk from Six Redchurch
The Elizabeth line arrival has dramatically reduced journey times. Liverpool street is just a 10 minute walk and with trains every two and a half minutes, it will take you to Whitechapel (2 mins), Canary Wharf (6 mins), Bond Street (7 mins), or Heathrow (Terminals 2 and 3, 33 mins).
Discover Derwent London’s connected portfolio
WE DESIGN AND INNOVATE...
Our vision is to craft inspiring space where people thrive. Our design-led philosophy is our legacy and integral in all that we do.
...TO BUILD AND CONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES
We provide our office tenants with complimentary DL/ Member status, offering enhanced amenity, service and experience with tangible benefits. We invest in the relationships we have with our tenants and communities alike.
...WITH AN UNRIVALLED BRAND AND EXPERTISE.
We design and curate long-life, low carbon intelligent offices that contribute to London’s position as a leading global city. We have a proven track-record, always looking ahead, delivering best-in-class office buildings. From our brand to our design-led spaces, the Derwent London experience is distinctive, inspiring and user-focused.
You can use our Lounges, DL/78 in Fitzrovia and DL/28 in Old Street for meetings, connecting and collaboration. You’ll receive specially negotiated discounts from a diverse collection of businesses, including local coffee shops, restaurants and wellness brands. You’ll have access to a packed calendar of experience-led events curated by our dedicated team. And the DL/ App is your effortless, personal portal to all of it.
We see our role going beyond the responsibilities of a traditional Landlord. We want to create a positive sense of community among all of us in the Derwent London family.
CLICK HERE for more information on your DL/Member benefits.
Created for connection and collaboration, DL/78 and DL/28 are inspiring spaces where Members can work, meet, eat and socialise.
We designed these multi-purpose environments as destinations for our community to gather, learn and share meaningful and productive experiences together.
Members can drop in and work or network in these complimentary and private Lounges, each with their own on-site café. High-spec meeting rooms and private event spaces are available to book. These spaces are yours to enjoy and are easy to access via the DL/ App.
Our DL/ Lounges include:
DL/78
78 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia W1
DL/28
28 Featherstone Street, Old Street EC1
Stay on the pulse with relevant news stories and get exclusive discounts and offers from a range of local restaurants, cafés and wellness brands.
Book meeting rooms in our DL/ Lounges, bespoke to your needs and reserve your place at events. Browse available Furnished + Flexible workspaces across central London. It’s all there in your hand. Access everything in just a few clicks, and helpful notifications mean you never miss a thing.
The Team
Pilcher London
020 7399 8600
David Jackson
07801 415 957
davidjackson@pilcher.london
Simon Rinder
07734 488 286
simonrinder@pilcher.london
James Faustino
07834 789 346
jamesfaustino@pilcher.london
COMPTON
020 7101 2020
Shaun Simons
07788 423 131
ss@compton.london
Sarah Hill
07936 338 774
sh@compton.london
Design by Everything In Between
MISREPRESENTATION ACT
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility is taken for any error, omission or misstatement in these particulars which do not constitute an offer or contract. No representation or warranty whatever is made or given either during negotiations or in particular by the vendor, lessors or agents Messrs Pilcher Hershman & Colliers. All figures are exclusive of rates, service charge, VAT and all other outgoings. All floor areas are approximate. The agents have not tested the services. Date of preparation February 2024.
