Fortnum & Mason, often shortened to just “Fortnum’s”, is possibly one of the most famous stores in the world, has held many Royal Warrants for over 150 years and is the shop most closely associated with the British Royal Family. It is an upmarket department store situated in Piccadilly, London, established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason.

Its fame rests almost entirely on its magnificent food hall, (though only two of its several floors are devoted to food), stocking an extraordinary variety of exotic, speciality and also ‘basic’ provisions. It is also the location of a celebrated tea shop and has Britain’s only hair salon dedicated to long hair.

In 1761, William Fortnum’s grandson Charles went into the service of Queen Charlotte and the Royal Court affiliation led to an increase in business. The store began to stock speciality items, namely ready-to-eat luxury meals such as fresh poultry or game served in aspic jelly.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the emporium supplied dried fruit, spices and other preserves to the British officers and during the Victorian era it was frequently called upon to provide food for prestigious Court functions. Queen Victoria even sent shipments of Fortnum and Mason’s concentrated beef tea to Florence Nightingale’s hospitals during the Crimean War.

In 1851 Fortnum & Mason first created the Scotch egg and in 1886, after having bought the entire stock of five cases of a new product made by a Mr Heinz, became the first store in the world to stock baked beans.

I went there on my first day in London visiting Nicky, and decided to drink this famous tea. I felt like the Queen! Great Tea, ok only cakes. I have eaten much better cakes.

My rating :- 7/10

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Tags: England, Food, fortnum & manson, london, tea

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