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It took the Great Fire to bring a Fortnum family member to London. In 1705 his cousin William arrived, and he quickly fell in with a man called Hugh Mason.
Mr Mason had a small shop in St James's Market and he provided lodging for William. In 1707 William became a footman in the Royal Household of Queen Anne, thereby establishing a connection with the Royal Family which has continued without a break to the present day.
In the 1970's Fortnums was the first to stock Zandra Rhodes and Salvatore Ferragamo and continues to anticipate new trends with a wide range of goods from contemporary designers.
In 1981, the Ground Floor was completely redesigned - a foretaste of the momentous two year refurbishment which commenced in 1996. The Lower Ground Floor acquired one of the most prestigious displays of fine crystal and china to be seen anywhere in London - classic Lalique, Limoges and Herend porcelain mingling with contemporary Laura Japy and William Yeoward. The Fourth Floor gained the Burlington Room - a unique and exclusive venue available for private hire. Ladies' and Gentlemen's Fashions were able to further extend their exclusive ranges and the Bed Linen and Bathroom Accessories Department opened on the Second Floor.
Almost every method of pleasing the mind and body is now proffered, from aromatherapy treatments to monogrammed bed linen to expertly wrapped gifts. What better way to refresh a pampered appetite than wild salmon, Beluga caviar and the finest Champagne from the new Salmon & Champagne Bar?
For many years, hungry passengers had turned to Fortnum & Mason to protect them from unpredictable airline and railway catering with a hamper or two. By the 1990's the opening of the Channel Tunnel presented a new opportunity. Eurostar travellers could now purchase hampers prior to their journey and tuck in en route. Airline passengers can now purchase many of Fortnum's most popular delicacies from tea to biscuits from Heathrow and provincial airports. Christmas hampers became available to order on line via the website, one of the first e-commerce sites for a London store.
Now Fortnums is looking forward to its 300 year anniversary in 2007, and beyond. What sort of a world will it be in the 23rd century? Impossible to say with any certainty, but somehow one feels Fortnum & Mason will still be in Piccadilly, rocketing game pies to the edge of the universe, providing hampers for space travellers and advising on the best tea to suit the waters of the moon via the world wide web.
Further information...
address: Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER, UK
tel: +44 (0)20 7734 8040
fax: +44 (0)20 7437 3278
email:
web: www.fortnumandmason.com
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