Fortnum & Mason

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The fruit and flowers section on the ground floor of Fortnum and Mason.

Fortnum & Mason, often shortened to just "Fortnum's", is a department store situated in Piccadilly, London and established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason. Its fame rests almost entirely on its upmarket food hall, though only two of its several floors are devoted to food. It is also the location of a celebrated tea shop and has Britain's only hair salon dedicated to long hair.^[1]

In 1761, William Fortnum's grandson Charles went into the service of Queen Charlotte, and the royal 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 1964 its owner, Garfield Weston, commissioned a four-ton clock be installed above the main entrance of the store as a tribute to its founders. Every hour four-foot models of William Fortnum and Hugh Mason emerge and bow to each other, with chimes and 18th century-style music playing in the background.

Fortnum & Mason is also famed for its luxury picnic hampers, which the store first distributed to Victorian era high society at events such as the Henley Regatta and the Ascot Races. These hampers — which contain luxury items such as Stilton cheese, champagne and smoked salmon — remain popular with England's upper classes, especially at Christmas time.

The store was acquired by Canadian billionaire W. Garfield Weston (1898-1978), who became its Chairman. It is currently run by his granddaughters, Jana Weston Khayat and Kate Weston Hobhouse.

Reports in newspapers in late 2005^[who?] stated that the store had been overwhelmed by orders for Christmas goods. A number of orders could not be fulfilled resulting in complaints. Its Christmas deliveries are also renowned for being sent by horse and carriage.

The store underwent a £24 million refurbishment in 2007, celebrating 300 years of existence.