Fortnum & Mason has unveiled plans to create an experiential hub dedicated to food and drink innovation on the third floor of its flagship store at 181 Piccadilly. The new space aims to provide customers with an interactive platform to engage with live cooking demonstrations, workshops and tastings in a multi-use kitchen. In addition, over 100 Fortnum & Mason chefs will use the purpose-built kitchen as a production hub to create classic recipes such as Scotch Eggs and Beef Wellingtons.
The Food and Drink Studio will also host a programme of events, including chef’s tables, supper clubs, masterclasses and workshops, book launches, and podcasts. The studio will be an open platform for both established and emerging chefs and pioneers from across the globe to showcase their talent. Additionally, customers can visit the Fortnum & Mason distillery, featuring a fully operational copper vacuum still. Here, they can create a personalised small-batch ‘Made in Piccadilly’ London Dry or Pink Gin, co-distilled with The Craft Distilling Business.
The third-floor space will also feature a new cook shop, offering an expertly curated selection of cookware, utensils and ingredients, as well as a dedicated library and bookshop with cookbooks and guides from both in-house and celebrity chefs. In addition, Fortnum & Mason’s iconic hamper range will have its own dedicated area, featuring new personalisation options and a focus on re-use and recycling.
The food and drink hub combines Fortnum & Mason’s historic charm with the latest in sustainable design, using future-focused materials and construction methods. CEO Tom Athron said, “Ever since William Fortnum met Hugh Mason and started a business, Fortnum & Mason have been in search of extraordinary new food and drink experiences, so it seems only natural to create a home dedicated to this search.
Set in the heart of 181 Piccadilly, the new 3rd floor is an experiential space designed for sharing our knowledge of and love for food. It’s a space where all are welcome, to experiment and learn, craft and produce; where beginners are encouraged to participate in the joys of food and drink and where playing with food is absolutely encouraged.
With the launch of our new Food & Drink Studio and all that comes with it, we are looking forward to a new era of retail with sustainability, innovation and customer experience at its very core.”
Fortnum & Mason’s new experiential food and drink hub is set to open on March 31st, 2023.
