Four names, three generations and two locations mark the history of an 84-year-old much-loved tea hut which currently has an uncertain future.

In 1930, just two years after Britain’s first Speedway meeting was held in High Beech, Ernie Miller opened Epping Forest’s first tea hut in Fairmead Road.

The business quickly became a popular meeting point for bikers, horse riders, cyclists and forest walkers.

After 50 years, Mr Miller passed the hut onto his brother, Bert, beginning a family legacy and the nickname ‘Bert’s Tea Hut’, which is still used today.

The green hut, which has been known as Popsie’s, Mins, Berts and now Bradley’s, who is the current manager, was recently relocated 10 metres away from its original location in a bid to save one of Essex’s most loved tree’s, which was said to be suffocating.

But the hut has only been altered slightly since it was introduced to the area 84 years ago.

Nephew of hut founder Ernie, Bradley Melton, who took over the business in 2000, said the hut has always been a popular meeting ground.

“I have always had the tea hut in my life, I have grown up with everyone who visits there,” he said.

“We have been visited by so many different people, from people passing through with families to locals who have been regulars for the last 50 years.

“Once we had Rupert Grint from Harry Potter!

“The hut has been part of the forest’s legacy for the past 84 years.

“However, we are now fighting to keep it in our family as it has been all of my life.”

The City of London Corporation made the surprise announcement earlier this year that the management of the hut would be put out to tender, claiming the facility needs to be upgraded and offer a wider range of products.

Following an 8,000-signature petition calling for it to remain in Mr Melton’s family, the hut’s lease, which was due to expire this month, was temporarily extended until March.

Mr Melton added: “We are feeling fairly positive but we are still uncertain as to what the outcome will be.

“The tea hut is a big part of my family history and we would like to keep it that way.”

The future of the tea hut is set to be decided at a meeting on January 12.