Fortnum & Mason

Creating a world class foodhall to attract the next generation gastronomes without alienating existing clientele. 

Everything in the store is bespoke, from the mahogany carved counters to the Georgian curiosity cabinets, reflecting the rarities on offer.

Fortnum & Mason commissioned Kinnersley Kent Design to redevelop their world famous food hall in time for their 300th anniversary. Located in the prime ground floor area of the flagship Piccadilly store, the food hall is central to Fortnum’s reputation and identity. Our brief was to create a world class foodhall to attract the next generation gastronomes without alienating existing clientele. We responded with an exciting design which doubled the store’s core food hall over the ground and lower ground floors, linked via a dramatic sweeping staircase.

The design balances historical references with appropriate innovation. The concept is that of a Georgian house with the ground floor representing a grand state room, with a more contemporary, but luxurious pantry underneath it on the lower ground floor. It is grand without being intimidating. Quality finishes and fittings have been used throughout the food hall to ensure that each element down to the last detail has been given integrity and meaning. Everything in the store is bespoke, from the mahogany carved counters to the Georgian curiosity cabinets, reflecting the rarities on offer.

The quality of the finishes and detailing ensures the design will improve with age, providing continuity between a distinguished past and an exciting future. The design’s sensitivity to historical resonances combined with innovation, is both reassuring to existing clientele and able to attract new customers. The store was opened by HRH Prince Charles during a private ceremony. The design has won numerous international awards, most notably an 'Interior Excellence Award' and 'Most Innovative Retail Concept of the Year' award.