Fortnum & Mason to open its first new UK store in 300 years

FORTNUM & Mason, the department store known for selling travel hampers to well-heeled customers, plans to open its first new British shop in more than 300 years at St Pancras train station.

Fortnums, based in Piccadilly since 1707, hopes to tempt travellers passing through St Pancras into a new outlet that will open in November.

“St Pancras is London’s Grand Central Station,” said Ewan Venters, chief executive. “We feel the centre of gravity in London is moving north and east from Piccadilly.”

The department store has sold its wares online since 1999, and opened two Japanese outlets in 2004. It also briefly ran a branch on Madison Avenue in New York in the 1930s.

Fortnums is owned by Wittington Investments, which is controlled by a branch of the Weston family.