The Shed Coffeehouse in Epping Forest - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Took over an hour for the food to come, loads of people came in afterwards and were served before us. Seems like they treat the regular customers and take always first. Food ok, lucky they have no competition nearby. Unorganised, bill incorrect. No great shakes.

One: the service is excellent, two: the food is excellent, three: the price is affordable, to round it up, go there experience the happy go lucky vibe.

Best breakfast for miles I've tried them all! Great sausages every thing cooked perfectly not the cheapest 11 quid with 2 toast but quality 👌

We entered, the place was busy, but just stood there, eventually a lady said "do you want a table" she looked around and said table 12, we couldn't see any table numbers but there was only one empty table, after waiting twenty minutes my wife went to the same woman and asked how we order, she replied "you want o order" they seem to employ a lot of staff but they don't attend to customers, 30 minutes later our Salt beef sandwiches and coffee arrived, as we had waited so long we expected them to be spectacular, no a minimal amount of meat, some mustered and a bit of pickle, possibly the worst sandwiches either of us had ever eaten, actually my wife left most of hers. We tried it as we had heard good reports, we won't be returning.

First class, service and people. Everything cooked fresh, so a small wait but god it was worth it. Amazing food, Will always be returning here.

This was the first time we have visited The Shed for probably 8 years because we now live in Swansea. The staff were friendly, welcoming, helpful and polite. I had a Mexican beef sandwich which was absolutely fantastic providing you like jalapeños!!! My wife had a fish finger sandwich which she thoroughly enjoyed. We had two mugs of coffee which were flavoursome and hot. Looking around, the portions are big!! If you have a small appetite, mention it to the waitress. Our lunch cost us £17.50 which we thought was very reasonable. I can thoroughly recommend the Shed and we will definitely be returning on our next visit..

As soon as we walked in it was really smoky i asked if i could open the window i was told they would turn the extractor up higher which made no difference my eyes started to water with all the smoke. My food was not very nice I left most of it the hash browns were soggy the beans weren’t hot the bacon was NOT well done like I asked. I asked for brown bread I got seeded. I left hungry. Waitress was friendly. Wont be going back.

Have been coming to the shed cafe for over four years and can safely say I've never had a bad meal or experience. the staff are always friendly and helpful, the food selection is marvellous from hearty cooked breakfast to a light salad. and while I cannot squeeze one of their delicious home-made cakes in after my lunch i'll gladly take one home for later, couldn't recommend them more.

I really don’t like to write negative reviews, but unfortunately I had a terrible experience this week. I’ve always been a bit sceptical in here as a vegetarian as you can see whilst the team are cooking that there’s a lot of opportunity for cross contamination. I’ve been lucky to not have had any issues in the past. However, this week there was chicken in my side salad which I didn’t see as it was in between some lettuce leaves and ended up in my mouth. After 6 years as a vegetarian, it was quite traumatic to be honest. I went in to complain and I was offered a slice of cake…. I don’t think this offer of compensation was enough. It was really busy and I got my money back but again I don’t think that was enough given the experience.

A great little place. The food is great with generous portions. Serve all types of bread, including sourdough. Also do delicious cakes to eat in or takeaway. Staff are friendly. You will definitely return to this place.

We visited this cafe whilst walking from Stortford to Harlow along the Stort valley river. We loved it and will visit again. The sandwiches were overfilled with delicious fillings. the coffee and tea were first class. Prices were also good. Lovely staff. It demands another visit.

The cafe was very busy but we were made aware by the charming young lady serving us that there could be a wait for our food order so that was fine by us. As it turned out we actually didn't have to wait too long and I would have to say that we had a really lovely chicken salad sandwich with side salad and crisps! It was very nicely presented and the sandwich itself was overflowing with chicken and salad......a very generous portion and great value for money! Staff were all very pleasant and we will most definitely return at some point in the future.

This afternoon I went to the shed with my boyfriend. The lady that seated us was very rude and questioned my boyfriend about the food he ordered saying it was “too much” then we ordered milk shakes and they took 50 minutes to come out. I must say these milk shakes taste like pure milk. When the lady came to give us our drinks we had been asking for she say “sorry I haven’t got six hands only got one unfortunately” personally I think that was very rude since we were waiting 50 mins for a milkshake. The food wasn’t bad overall and the blonde lady (sorry I don’t know her know) was lovely. Overall I wouldn’t go back and fyi he finished all his food

Great atmosphere. Great coffee. Fantastic pastries and cakes. Easy parking outside. Highly recommended.

Excellent find great food and plenty of it we had the chicken and bacon club, and coranation chicken on flat bread , went down a treat will visit again soon, next time we'll bring our bikes for a ride along the tow paths. Keep up the great work.

great location and could be an interesting coffee house, but the service station decor and sandwich-focused menu doesn't do much to make you want to stay. I was also pretty much put off by the look of the kitchen floor - a complete mess of food detritus, egg shell etc. Is that normal?? Ended up getting staples which were no different really to what I could have got in any supermarket. Having said that the staff were friendly and the prices seemed reasonable.

Exceeds being the best of quality, value for money and the friendliness of places. People come from near and far and however busy it gets everyone is still met with a friendly greeting & the quality of the food & service is never sacrificed. The Shed is very popular, it gets busy that’s testament enough of how good the food and service is!!! Been regulars since it opened and yet to find anywhere more friendly, excellent variety & quality of food.

After reading such good reviews and being new to the area decided to try The shed coffee house for the full English breakfast. Very disappointed, had to wait a long time, the toast came but still waited for the breakfast. The bacon was over cooked, hash browns rather soggy, not nice and crisp and food was lukewarm. As the waitress wasn’t approachable We felt we couldn’t raise the issue. Felt it was over priced for such poor quality - Total bill for 2 English breakfast, one tea and one coffee £19:20. Most places include a drink. Wish I had stuck to my local cafe. Maybe we selected the wrong thing as the sandwiches looked more appealing. Unfortunately I won’t be trying it again

Perfect place for a pit stop. Grab a coffee and a slice of one of their majestic cakes and you will go away happy!

Visited for the first time today having read such glowing reviews and will definitely be visiting again before too long. Such a wide and varied menu - you’ll be spoilt for choice - and the staff were so lovely and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. Don’t know how we never found this place sooner but so glad we did. Pay a visit. You won’t be disappointed!

Great venue, tucked away of the main high street. Value for money. Coffee VG, Service, plenty of staff. Excellent Full Cooked English on the money. Will visit again. Full English, Jacket Pot/Prawns/Salad, 2 x Mugs Coffee £16:50. Well done Staff @ The Shed

Couldn’t have been more helpful and welcoming. We arrived with our dogs and all the outside seats were taken . They went abs got us a callapsable table and chairs 😁. Perfect. Food delicious.

We live about 45 minutes away... but make the trip as often as we can for Brunch or Lunch. This place is a hidden gem with wonderful staff, homemade cakes, amazing sandwich fillings, incredible salad bowls and such a good range of vegetarian and vegan...

Good range of food, very popular with cyclists at the weekends. Parking may be a bit of a challenge, better to park at the front of the main building, or in the station carpark.

I don't know where to begin! 5 stars isn't enough! This place serves the best and tastiest sandwich you will ever get in your life. Really reasonably price, less than £5 come with bit of salad and delicious home made coleslaw. Lovely fresh thick wholegrain...

Great sandwiches & breakfast! Good coffee & amazing cakes! Friendly staff. That’s all I have to say.

Came here today as it was our very first visit to Sawbridgeworth. Looked online for a cafe for breakfast and The Shed caught our eye. Great Covid restrictions in place! We both ordered a breakfast sandwich which consisted of scrambled egg (our choice) bacon and...

I'm a visitor to The Shed, their food is always fantastic and the personal service is second to none, will remain my favorite lunch spot!

Popped into the Shed for a coffee and the best bacon sandwich I’ve ever had. Very friendly and efficient staff.

Popped in for a breakfast sandwich, quality was amazing, tasted really yummy. Staff were as always really friendly and professional. I really can't recommend this place enough

This was my first trip to Sawbridgeworth. I brought my Mum to the antique shops for her birthday, and she offered to treat me to lunch. As a vegan, I’m often wary of eating out due to the lack of choice available. There is nothing...

Wonderful atmosphere and staff. Extensive range of wonderful fresh and delicious food wth great choices for vegans and vegetarians. Love going to The Shed. Felt very safe, good Covid protection in place.

Lovely breakfast and really nice coffee. Parking is easy and nice atmosphere. Highly recommend. Definitely come back

Lovely, friendly coffee house, with really tasty sandwiches. Not just your usual sarnies...the hubby had a New York Deli, which was amazing and could have fed 2 people. The ham, mustard mayo, gerkin & cheese toasty was really tasty and the coffee's were silky smooth....

Fantastic cafe. Doesn't look much from the outside but when we stepped in we were warmly greeted by the extremely friendly staff. Prices are competitive and their menu is vast. Nothing is too much bother for them. Looking forward to our next visit.

Large selection of cakes and hot drinks Friendly efficient staff and parking nearby cheesecakes and bread pudding were excellent Cheesecake and bread pudding

Not great actually. The place needs a lick of paint and a good clean.The food is very basic and the staff were quite grumpy. The cutlery was not clean and the young kids serving cpuldmt really care less. We were told it was great, sadly we dont agree, however if you want a cheap quick meal and dont care about the above you'll be fine, we wont be back sorry.

I buy my coffee every morning from here before my long commute to london and always been a great cuppa to get my day started.

We were riding our bikes along the towpath so made a beeline for the Shed as we are almost certain to receive a warm welcome and excellent fare. Once again we were not disappointed as the welcome, pot of fruit tea and my tuna melt panini were all top-notch. This was delivered to me in good time and with a smile.I really couldn't ask for more.

Popped in today for the first time. I had vegetarian breakfast. Quite simply the best breakfast ever. I wish I was hungrier as I couldn't eat it all but really wanted to.The staff were really lovely the cafe was really clean and had a welcoming atmosphere. Really good value for money and amazing variety of food on offer. Will definitely return. I totally recommend this wonderful gem.

We are regular visitors to this restaurant which is run by great staff who are friendly and accommodating. They have a good breakfast and lunch menu, and the food is always great.They've recently added an extensive selection of vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, which we are looking forward to trying out.The place is clean and bright, in a great location, within the Maltings, adjacent to the River Stort.Highly recommended.

A huge range of sandwiches and home made cakes on offer to choose from. The largest range of vegetarian options as well as non vegetarian that I have seen. A good find I will be returning to for sure

A shed done out a bit like a diner, but very cosy and friendly. They cater for food allergies, so I had dairy-free spread on gluten-free bread for my ham salad sandwich. Unfortunately, I couldn't have any of the cakes, but that's normal for me in most cafes. I will definitely cycle here again from St Albans.

We again visited the Shed and as with so many reviewers, I found it faultless.

Popped in after a walk along the canal for a slice of cake and a cup of tea and were not disappointed. We had the Victoria sponge with blackcurrant filling and it was moist fresh and full of flavour. Tea and coffee was nice and hot too. Would like to say thank you for still serving us even though you were about to close it was much appreciated.

Lovely cafe , great staff , had coronation chicken sandwich and I must say I have never seen so much filling in a sandwich . Delicious . Good value for money and great coffee too . Gluten free , vegetarian and vegan options available too . A very well run business

We come here regularly with friends and family for good coffee and lovely food.

I use The Shed Coffee house regularly both for takeaway and eat in, it never disappoints as the food and the service are always spot on! Ideal for breakfast and fresh cold meat selection is always available - would highly recommend

It was very busy with the lunchtime trade but the service was still warm and friendly. The coffee was very good, but the lemon cheesecake was a delight. Most definitely one of the best I have ever tasted.

I came across The Shed by accident while waiting for my car to be serviced one Friday morning. Looking at it from the outside, I wasn’t even sure it was open. That was a false impression as it was really buzzing with only one table free.

Popped in for breakfast when we were visiting the Acorn Auctions. Just toast, a cake and coffees. Very tasty. Nice thick toast. Friendly service and very comfortable seating. Clean and efficient. Nice location right next to the river.

Visited after a recommendation. Really friendly staff, good size portions and was quickly bought out. Parking is a bit tricky but glad we stopped by. Thanks guys for the re-fuel, we needed it after a busy house viewing day!

Was hoping to get a nice breakfast in but it’s over priced and a tiny breakfast with cheap sausages I paid nearly £9 for this

First time at the shed, menu choices were unusual and very nice (chicken Caesar sandwich and Yorkshire pudding wrap with beef and horseradish .,!! ). Staff friendly, busy on a cold winter day, must be super busy when the weather is good. Will visit again.

Can't complain - standard run of the mill cakes and drinks. Very very small. Not my cup of tea but I'm sure others will love

I often visit the shed and just love it there. The food is creative and delicious, prepared just how you like it. The staff are really friendly and nothing is too much trouble. The price is reasonable.

The fruit tea was acceptable but the apple pie wasn't up to their usual ultra high standard. The pie was very good, but they have set the bar so high with the other confections, regrettably, this didn't quite make the mark.

Aimed to reach the Shed Cafe from Pishiobury Park Car Park on foot with a buggy.

Popped over for some breakfast, this was our first visit. For starters all the staff just looked at us weird as we walked in looking for somewhere to sit, no one offered us any assistance. The menu is very vague. I asked for fried onions in a sandwich and my partner was told they dont do them! Okay. She then proceeded to pay for the order in £2 coins to which the women taking her order and payment made faces like it was a hindrance, usually these places like change! Regardless, its still money. Then walks in around 30 sweaty smelly cyclists, did not eat all our sandwiches as the smell put us off. Sandwich was dry. My partner asked for ketchup for her sandwich to which the lady responded “its already in there” in quite a rude abrupt way!

Really nice food, and very friendly and efficient staff. All you could ask for. My daughter is Vegan and they were very careful about making sure the falafel sandwich was suitable. Sandwiches came with very fresh side salad.

Every time I go to the Shed I am always satisfied with the service and quality of the fare. We enjoyed an Americano that came with a jug of hot milk and we ordered two cakes to be put aside for us, so we could eat them two hours later on the return journey after lunching in Stortford.

I was looking forward to my visit to The Shed and I am pleased to say I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.

Bit surprised when we found it as it really is a small shed around 6 tables inside and a couple out front Staff a bit laid back but friendly and efficient. Situated in an interesting small complex of mainly antique shops. Quite a comprehensive menu Meals, all day Breakfasts, sandwiches, Panninis, and a good range of drinks and desserts. Food was served promptly and well presented generous portions. Could not believe the prices. 4 of us ate for £28.50 including 4 soft drinks and 2 large pieces of cheesecake. Will definitely recommend and go again

I met my daughter here for lunch last week. The location was a little disappointing because it is squashed in amongst businesses near to the railway and the river and the parking was really difficult. Having said that I cannot fault the service or the food. There was a great lunch menu and I had a chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich on lovely brown bread which was so filling that I didn't need my evening meal that night. It tasted great. The coffee was great too and I would recommend this for a lunch despite the parking issues. We had lots to catch up on and the friendly staff never hassled us to leave! I would have had some lovely looking cake too but I had no room! Very clean inside and so were the toilets!!

tried this place for the first time on bank holiday Monday,found the staff very friendly and the service way very quick. I had a full English breakfast & my Wife had an omelet. all very good and found the food to be a a good standard.location next to the river Stort and many Antiques shops nearby. .

Good coffee and a great variety of meals and treats for all tastes, not to expensive, great atmosphere and friendly service, good place to meet friends or have a drink after a nice walk along the river

We have been before and can confirm it is still as good as ever, we had the Full English with Large Cappuccino and a Pot of Tea.

Fabulous food, really interesting sandwiches, stuffed full of unusual and delicious fillings. This is our second visit and both times have been impressed with the quality, amount and price of dishes on the menu. Will be back!

First time visited today, customer service was first class, plenty of choice on the menu, all seemed reasonably price, lovely setting and really clean, choice of both hot and cold foods. My partner chose A Ham & Cheese sandwich, i chose a bacon, both came with a side salad, beautifully presented, we both had a coffee which was pipping hot. Really enjoyed and the price was good. Will hope to go back when in the area again. Fully recommend

Others a wet and cold Sunday in January and having looked around one antique outlet we wanted a bite to eat before going on to another .

Visited the Maltings and had lunch with my friend. Coffee was great as was the food . So much to choose from and great value. Highly recommended. Good service.

I live down the road to the shed, so at least once a week I get a coffee there. Occasionally I have eaten in and taken the kids there after a walk along the river.

Friendly staff - excellent fresh food all reasonably priced and to finish off lovely fresh home baked cakes

It’s OK but the coffee was very weak / watery and in this age it ought to be better, we...

If you have tried the rest then try the best. Good selection of fresh food made to order, lovely coffee...

The Shed provides tasty food in a very comfortable setting. Nothing is fried, but everything is delicious My favourite is...

Comfortable seating and friendly staff. The food is good and the coffee is decent quality. Very close to the railway station makes it an ideal stop.

The Shed is a few minutes from Sawbridgeworth Station. Nice decor and feels comfortable. Varied and interesting menu. We had a jacket potato and falafel, humous and rocket sandwich. All good with great customer service. Recommend.

Great Menu, friendly staff, fresh & modern ,toilets spotless! Tasty food and presented beautifully, and very competitive priced . enjoyed the ambiance in lovely settings surrounded by Antique centres, lovely day out. do visit this if in the area!!

This cafe is now one of my regular destinations when out walking or cycling . It is spotless and people are friendly and welcoming. There is a varied choice on the menu and everything is freshly made to order. I love this place and so pleased to have discovered it .

Sitting outside on comfortable chairs in glorious sunshine is always going to give any review a helping hand for the proprietor, but in this case five stars was well deserved.I ordered a chicken and chorizo panini melt, plus a flat white coffee.This was served to us at the table with a smile in quick time.The panini was piping hot, with the cheese melted and the combination of chicken and the spicy sausage was excellent.The coffee was just as good as last time we were there.

Dropped by for lunch whilst visiting the numerous warehouses selling antiques just opposite. Very impressed with the quality of food, good portion size and excellent value. The Coronation Chicken Flatbread is highly recommended. Absolutely delicious!

Popped in here for a lunchtime sandwich and tea. The sandwich was really tasty - Pesto, Tomato and Mozzarella, freshly made. The tea was fresh and tasty. The selection of cakes on show was amazing, although didn't try any this visit. The restaurant was quite busy, but easy to get a table and service was friendly and prompt.

Whenever I have time I always make a walk to this lovely little coffee retreat. Not only do they serve a great selection of food but they make excellent coffee too.Service is always with a smile and there is even a water bowl for 4 legged friends.Always get tempted by a homemade cake.

On holiday & fancied a good breakfast. As ever, consulted Trip advisor & read a review a couple of weeks old. The reviewer raged, 'enjoyed the best breakfast ever'. Now, this could only possibly be true, if the reviewer's idea of 'the best breakfast ever' was a microwaved plate of reheated rubbery bacon, congealed scrambled egg & hash browns like leather. If only I had read slightly older reviews I would have found confirmation that the breakfasts are indeed microwaved. Really, I should have asked for my money back, but not wanting a confrontation & being very hungry, we grumbled to ourselves & left. Having said all this, the staff were friendly & efficient & the place seemed clean & tidy. Additionally I did not see anything to suggest that the sandwiches, teas & coffees in anyway reflected the quality of the breakfast. Clearly, The Shed does not have the facilities to prepare & present freshly fried food & should concentrate on those things it does best. If it does not, then those in search of a proper breakfast are likely to feel very short changed indeed after handing over £16.00 for two breakfasts & a pot of tea.

I enjoyed the best breakfast ever and wish I had been here before. The staff are friendly and attentive and the food just lovely and great value.

My wife and I had delicious meals for lunch here as we stopped for antiques in this town. We also had tea accompanied by "home"-prepared desserts before traveling back to London.

I have no problem with a 'no dogs' policy, but being rude to prospective customers who have the temerity to ask is bad business. When this happened to me yesterday a very kind lady - another customer - dashed outside to me to make me feel better. She even bought me a coffee. - and such kindness went a long way to brightening the day. The irony is that I am a regular customer when I don't have the pup with me - or rather, I was.

We nipped into this place, which is right on the canal (river?), for lunch. It didn't look like it was open so we could have easily missed it but if you go round the back there is a door (which still doesn't look like its open!) The service was super quick and the staff very friendly. There was a big menu including salads, deli sandwiches, jacket potatoes, breakfasts etc and the cakes looked absolutely glorious. I am usually very wary of big menus but I just think they have such good trade that they can have all those ingredients fresh. My husband had a full English and I had a sandwich with chicken, turkey, stuffing, cranberry and emantal on gorgeous brown bread (proper bread not standard sliced) We had two very good lattes too one with syrup and the whole lot came to about £16. I highly recommend it for lunch or a coffee break. A real gem. Hope you found that helpful. Drop me a helpful vote if you did

I've walked past The Shed many times and always thought it was probably a 'Greasy Joes' cafe. One day I was passing so took a chance and went in. Surprise! Clean, efficient, great crowd and I was served the most marvelous breakfast and tea. Great place to stop off if you're taking a walk along the river or visiting units in The Maltings.

Out on the bikes we were looking for a short pit stop and were so lucky to find this gem of a cafe. The service was exceptional, the chocolate marble cake sublime and the herbal fruit tea hot and tasted good.On top of this it was sunshine at 22 degrees and we sat outside at the table and chairs provided.They bought the tea to us seated outside and it really was service with a smile. It was a large slice of cake that we shared and we both agreed that it was of very good flavour and moist.All together a most pleasurable visit and one that I hope to repeat again soon.

This cosy small littler unique cafe called the shed is a must visit if your down the south east of England . To everyone in the local area it's well known for its lovely British food and has beautiful coffee and teas .... especially the cakes . Pure genius and love

Nice and cosy, lovely sofas, great coffee and even papers to read.Friendly people, no rush, Just chill and enjoy.

I have going to The Shed since it opened and taken many friends when vsiting the various antique centres in the immediate area , staff are always friendsly and the food fresh and looks worth eating from scrambled eggs and smoke salmon to a slice of freshly baked cake to coffee is avaialbe .But on a Sunday they close at 3pm which is a pity as it would be nice to go to the centres and then to the shed for afternoon tea , last Sunday arrived at 2.40 and could not be served any food a great pity as it is a super place to visit.

Stopped here for lunch before visiting the antiques centre. Had a lovely panini with a delicious cappuccino.Prices were very reasonable, the staff very friendly and a lovely location. Even though it was cold outside, the temperature inside 'The Shed' was spot on!Will definitely visit again.

I recently visited the shed with a couple of my friends after a strol down the river. I have to say I could not have felt more welcomed! We were greeted at the door by the cheerful staff who helped with my 1yr olds pushchair! It was busy to all but one table were full, one of the lovely lady behind the counter soon came over to us and said she'd clear the table for us and when I questioned if I could grab a high chair off she went and came back with one for my son and placed it at the end of the table. The coffee was wonderful so full of flavour especially with some caramel syrup! I had a jacket potatoe and was surprised I could pick any filling of my choice. The jacket was massive I couldn't finish it all and so full of flavour, the toilets were so clean I had no fuss of changing my son on the changing table. Overall brilliant experience! The staff are wonderful and so bubbly nothings too much to ask these girls, you can tell their happy there!! 100% will be returning very soon! (Oh and decor is amazing since referb!)

This café has no frying facilities so breakfast is reheated bacon or sausage in the microwave. Eggs gave to be scrambled again in Microwave.

Took grandchildren for Sunday lunch after a trip to see a local Santa Grotto. The staff are very friendly and helpful with a wide selection of sandwiches, jacket potatoes and related snacks.Order food at the counter and the staff bring it to your table, take-a-way also available. Seating and tables are clean and well set out.The staff willingly heated children's meal we had for one of our grandchildren and the rest of us enjoyed sandwiches and jacket potatoes. The fillings were plentiful and came with coleslaw and salad. Nothing left on the plates so we are guessing it was a hit for everyone!Staff interacted with the children and it was a very pleasant experience and good value. It is next to the tow path so will go back in the summer for a walk and coffeeThere are a number of antique outlets in the road so an ideal location to spend a sunday.Recommended better than the coffee shop chain optionsToilets on siteNote - There are steps to get into the premises.

Was behaving our car cleaned in the moorings ( great value ) so popped into shed for a coffee. Ended up sharing a lovely sandwich with my husband and a lush piece of lemon drizzle. A leisurely and relaxed atmosphere where we felt that we were not being rushed to leave Not easy to enter as steps pretty steep - but worth the effort - team really helpful with holding the door open etc etc Coffee in a large mug and great value. Will go back again and again. Thank you team

We enjoy coming to The Shed as it's a really friendly place to visit. Reasonable prices and quality food too. Can get busy at times but it's worth the wait.