John Lewis unveils new in-store hospitality brand
John Lewis has unveiled a new hospitality brand that it will introduce to its department stores.
The concept, called Platter John Lewis, will replace the department store chain’s The Place To Eat brand across 32 cafés, with the first three refurbished spaces opening this month.
This forms part of John Lewis’ £800m multi-year investment in its brand, stores and customer experience, as the retailer looks to focus on giving customers more reasons to visit, meet, and spend time in its shops.
Refurbishment is already underway at three John Lewis stores, with Chichester, Reading and Oxford Street the first branches to undergo investment. The latter will undergo the most extensive refurbishment and will reopen in August as the flagship Platter John Lewis. All 32 cafés will be refurbished and rebranded by the end of 2027.
There are currently 62 cafés and restaurants across John Lewis’ store estate, with hospitality accounting for over 20% of the business’s in-store transactions.
Katie Papakonstantinou, director of services and hospitality for John Lewis, said: “Customers are spending more time in our shops, and food and drink is an increasingly important part of that experience. Platter John Lewis will give customers a more modern, welcoming place to pause, meet and enjoy something delicious while they shop.
“This is an exciting investment in our hospitality offer and an important part of how we’re making John Lewis shops even better places to visit. We’re pleased to get the first refurbishments underway and look forward to opening our flagship at Oxford Street this summer.”