Stanfords travels to Mercer Walk
The Mercers’ Company has announced that the UK’s leading specialist retailer of maps, travel books and other travel accessories, Stanfords, has signed for a new London flagship location at 7 Mercer Walk.
Due to open in November, the 4,165 sq ft store will be located close to H&M, Hobbs and Jack Wolfskin, and offers the world’s largest stock of maps and travel guides under one roof. Designed by Caulder Moore, and fitted out by Bluecrow Projects, the store interior will feature a modern, urban aesthetic, complemented with ‘travel inspired’ installations, through to black and white photography of explorers. The basement will be brought to life with its extensive collection of travel books as well as maritime and print on demand services.
Staying true to the original flagship, the newly relocated store will expand on their much-loved café by introducing an adventurous menu offering coffees of the world and globally inspired foods. The café will have space for more than 25 covers, including an outside seating area. Stanfords also holds various events including book launches and signings, and so the new Mercer Walk store has been designed to maximise flexibility and space for these occasions. Stanfords’ collection of furniture and globes create a focal point in a double height feature ‘illuminated’ wall.
Vivien Godfrey, Chairman and CEO at Stanfords commented: “This bustling location has helped our brand become a success since the day we opened in 1901, and we’ve had many famous faces start their journeys here, including Ranulph Fiennes, Michael Palin and Levison Wood. We are very excited to open our new London flagship alongside some inspiring new restaurants within the Mercer Walk development. Set in the heart of our home Covent Garden, our new store offers a great space to showcase our vast range. We will open the Stanfords Gift Boutique on the ground floor only in November before moving our entire stock after Christmas.”
Simon Taylor, Property Director at The Mercers’ Company added: “The Mercer’s Company are delighted to be able to accommodate Stanfords on our Covent Garden estate and welcome them to a now fully let Mercer Walk. Stanfords’ long standing heritage is a huge asset to the area and we look forward in anticipation to the opening.”
This follows a string of successful pop-ups at 7 Mercer Walk including a debut physical store for luxury sleepwear brand, Desmond and Dempsey, and the biggest and most central pop-up to date for luxury interior brand, Swoon. Modern kebab restaurant, Maison Bab is the newest dining offer to launch at Mercer Walk and joins Temper that opened earlier in the summer.
JLL and Hanover Green acted for The Mercers’ Company and Brazier Freeth advised Stanfords.
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For further information, please contact Amy Cassidy at Aver via: amycassidy@aver.uk.com
Notes to Editors
About The Mercers Company
Over the centuries The Mercers’ Company have looked after the welfare and interests of mercers in the City of London, managed charities, almshouses, and schools, and played a prominent role in London civic life.
During this time The Mercers Company have accumulated a large property portfolio, located mainly in the City of London, and in Covent Garden in the West End of London, including a Joint Venture with Shaftesbury PLC for St Martins Courtyard.
Income derived from the Company’s investments, particularly from property, funds the Company’s other activities and charitable works.