Award-winning artist Grayson Perry gave the new High Beach tea hut a thumbs-up as he visited this weekend.

The Turner Prize winner, well known for his iconic ceramic vases and for dressing as his female alter-ego Claire, visited the hut on Saturday (July 9) as he cycled through Epping Forest.

The much-loved attraction has recently moved into a larger container at the same site and will officially re-open later this month.

Tea hut regular and supporter Paul Morris took a photograph of Mr Perry as he visited.

“He used to be a long-time regular back in the 90s, before he was famous,” said Mr Morris.

“Me and a couple of friends went to his first exhibition.

“He’s a nice bloke, certainly a character.”

He added: “Most people who are regulars know him.

“He used to have a workshop in Leytonstone, an old pottery place, and he was a regular for a good few years.

“He gave the thumbs up and he’ll be up here again.”

An avid supporter of cycling in the forest, Mr Perry also picked the tea hut as his “hidden gem” of London in a 2015 Evening Standard campaign.

It is hoped that the café’s move to the larger container, with upgraded facilities and improved services, will “bring it into the 21st century” after originally opening in 1930.

The move comes after the City of London Corporation told manager Bradley Melton the hut’s management would be put out to tender in 2014, before backtracking following a popular public campaign backed by the Guardian and 8,000 petition signatories.

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing is expected to help re-open the hut at 10am on July 29.