John Lewis has added three new hospitality destinations to its stores ahead of the festive shopping season.
The department store giant, which recently introduced a VIP lounge to its Oxford Street flagship, has opened a 250 sq ft champagne bar in the atrium of Peter Jones, Sloane Square.
The pop-up festive bar, which will remain in place until early January, features twenty stools around a central bar, alongside additional small tables.
In a European first, Warabi-Mochi Kamakura, a premium Japanese brand specialising in matcha and warabi mochi, opened this weekend at John Lewis Oxford Street.
The site occupies 450 sq ft at the entrance to the Waitrose Foodhall within John Lewis Oxford Street.
John Lewis Southampton has also launched a new Ori Caffe, bringing its Mediterranean style menu to the second floor of the store. The opening marks the eleventh Ori Caffe across the John Lewis portfolio.
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The hospitality openings come in response to continued demand from customers to combine shopping with wider experiences, according to John Lewis.
The retailer noted that this was reflected in its hospitality sales, which rose almost 10% over the past year across its hospitality outlets.
The move means 63 cafes and restaurants now feature within John Lewis 36 stores.
John Lewis director of services and hospitality Katie Papakonstantinou said: “We’re continually looking for ways to enhance the John Lewis experience, and the addition of the Lanson Champagne Bar, Warabi-Mochi Kamakura, and our new Ori Caffe in Southampton is a direct response to our customers’ growing desire to combine shopping with unique and enjoyable experiences.
“We have also recently expanded the Benugo cafes in our Norwich and Leeds stores, and this year also added Ori Caffes in our Liverpool and Solihull stores, and expanded our Ori Caffe in Bluewater – this is a countrywide investment.”
She added: “Our growth in hospitality sales over the past year is a clear sign that this strategy is resonating, and these exciting new concepts are central to our commitment to making our stores a true destination – for the festive season and beyond.”
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