Situated in the heart of the East End’s famous Columbia Road flower market, is the new nostalgia that is TREACLE. A welcome antidote to the ubiquitous coffee-shop chains, and overfussy continental-style patisseries, this is an unashamed celebration of basic British baking.

Greeted by the tempting array of fairy cakes, Victoria sponges and fruit loaves, customers will instantly recognize the sights, smells and tastes of a bygone era. But this is no chintzy, rose-tinted delusion of halcyon days – rather a realistic homage to the gritty times of the great British urban tea house (think Lyons) - right down to its drab décor reminiscent of the typically British no-nonsense attitude with its accent on frugality and function. Thus it’s setting in one of the oldest East End markets is wholly appropriate.

TREACLE is all about a desire to reintroduce a place in our lives for honest, comfort food.

Tea (of the straight up and down builders variety) is a mainstay to help wash down the sweet cakes, supplemented in summer by traditional old-fashioned lemonade and ginger beer, and in winter with a simple yet impossibly luxurious hot chocolate.

To complete the authentic feel there is an impressive stock of original ceramics from the British post-war era, mixed alongside some innovative contemporary brands, so, whatever your taste, you can buy the whole tea service to recreate the TREACLE experience in the comfort of your own home.