A huge Japanese and Nordic-themed dining and shopping destination is launched this month in Belgravia and it is set to be London’s biggest new retail venture since lockdown.
The five-storey Pantechnicon store in the heart of the capital’s most exclusive district will have bars, restaurants and a roof terrace as well as two floors of brands all from Japan or the Nordic countries. It will fill a 190-year-old Georgian building fronted by vast Doric columns that started life as an arts and crafts bazaar before becoming a warehouse for the collections of wealthy Victorians.
Most of the building on Motcomb Street burned down in 1874 but the façade survived and is Grade II listed. It has stood largely empty for five years while being restored in partnership with the Duke of Westminster’s family property company Grosvenor.
Backer Barry Hirst, whose company was behind Belgravia pubs such as the Thomas Cubitt, originally planned to launch it in June but was forced to delay. It will now open on September 22 with about 120 staff.
Mr Hirst said he had been inspired by travels in Japan and Scandinavia when he fell in love with their cultures.
He said: “I loved the atmosphere, the people, the design and the people are so understated. All the products will be Japanese and Nordic and that is unique in London.
“It’s not an elitist thing, it will be a very democratic experience with something for everyone.”
The ground floor will offer a collection of gifts including watches, clothes and leather goods in a space called The Edit. The first-floor “Studio” includes beauty products from Japanese wellbeing brand Bijo, as well as electronic gadgets and jewellery.
