Hy-Tea Teahouse and Restaurant by the Lake

When she was a child in Jamaica, Hy Niles was teased by her mother with the nickname ‘The English Woman' because of her love for having afternoon tea. “I'd even drink it on hot days! I was always going to tea parties at church with my mom.”

It was then that she started to dream of opening her own tea shop. In 2005 her dream came true when Hy Tea opened its doors, making a unique addition to the Pickering lakeside. The cosy little tea shop seats 30 and serves a range of teas and cakes that have made the English tradition so popular around the world. Harking back to her Jamaican roots, Hy also serves delights like red bean soup with dumplings and the famous jerk chicken. The unique blend of old-fashioned English quaintness and laid-back Caribbean charm make the tea shop a great place to chill with friends. “We don’t rush people here,” says Hy.