Many miles from England, The Old English Tea Shoppe in Stone Oak is brewing more than tea. They are creating a British culinary experience and a second home for their customers. Dr. Robb Kelly told me about coming to Texas from Manchester and why he wanted to offer a different dining option to Stone Oak.
Dr. Robb Kelly first came to the United States about 20 years ago to work as a clinical psychologist specializing in addiction. Finding a British pub in Texas felt exciting until he stepped inside and saw no familiar foods, heard no familiar accents. That disappointment sparked the idea to open a British restaurant someday.
One day, he jokingly said to his sister, “Why don’t you come over and open an English tea shop?” The rest is history. Robb, his wife Janet, his sister Sandra, and her husband Peter are the ownership team that opened The Old English Tea Shoppe in November of 2023.
When you step into the restaurant on Stone Oak Parkway, all the food you see, from the crisps on the shelves to the meals on your plate, comes straight from Britain. Everything they make is based on family recipes or local shops in Manchester.
Afternoon tea is very popular, served daily by reservation only. Your afternoon tea experience can be a birthday party, baby shower, or just a fun afternoon with friends. Tetley tea is highly featured at the shop, with 45 varieties served. Themes like Princesses or Harry Potter are available for children’s tea parties. They are hoping to host Bridgerton and Downton Abbey events in the near future.
If you are looking to order off the menu, fish and chips are their most popular item, followed by bangers and mash. Sausage rolls also fly off the shelves. “We can’t make enough of those,” Dr. Robb told me as he showed me around the restaurant. Beef Wellington is served once a month as a special event.
Not only is the food at The Old English Tea Shoppe all from Great Britain, but most of their hardworking and dedicated staff are as well. Many of them come from various parts of England and Scotland, and Dr. Robb told me that customers love it when they walk in and are greeted by English staff. It makes the experience feel authentic from the start.
A lot of the people who visit The Old English Tea Shoppe are from Britain as well. The map on the wall marking visitors’ homes is evidence of that. It felt obvious to me as I walked around the shop that this place feels like a second home to its customers. In addition to the authentic food and British staff, they feel valued when they are there. Dr. Robb made sure his customers’ favorite soccer teams were represented on the wall. And when Scottish patrons were asking for Irn Bru, a popular carbonated soda in Scotland, they ordered cases of it and their customers were thrilled. That feeling is reflected in the many teapots that decorate the restaurant, each one a gift from a customer. With some people driving regularly from Austin to visit the shop, Dr. Robb has hopes to franchise and open in other cities.
Dr. Robb told me that when he opened the shop, he wanted everyone to have an experience when they walked through the door. Now he says, “Everyone who comes in ends up smiling or laughing.” In a state known for doing everything big, The Old English Tea Shoppe reminds us that the smallest comforts, like a cup of tea, can make the biggest impacts.
From Manchester to Texas, a cup of tea feels like home.