Daily Mail

Why House of Fraser is swapping coffee for champagne

-

HOUSE of Fraser is looking at opening champagne and gin bars to attract shoppers.

The department store chain wants to go more upmarket and has opened branches of coffee chain Caffe Nero in stores.

But it is understood these have not been as successful as hoped so it is now turning to champagne and gin after launching a hit gin bar in a Glasgow shop earlier this year, where shoppers can order an afternoon tea with gin-soaked scones.

House of Fraser already has a popular champagne bar in its Belfast store. It said: ‘House of Fraser is keen to create experience­s which suit each store and food and beverage is important in achieving this.’ The move comes as the 169-year-old chain fights landlords over proposals to shut a third of stores and get rent reductions.

The restructur­ing would be a lifeline, with the Chinese owner of Hamleys, C Banner, taking a majority stake and providing cash. House of Fraser has 59 stores and employs 17,500 people.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom