John Lewis opens Jamie Oliver cookery school and cafe at Oxford Street store

John Lewis has opened a Jamie Oliver cookery school and cafe at its store in London’s Oxford Street.

Spanning 4,600 square feet on the third floor, the space includes two cookery classrooms and a cafe that can seat up to 50 people.

The retailer has seen its hospitality sales rise by 6% over the last twelve months and one in five transactions made in a John Lewis shop is now made in a cafe or restaurant.

John Lewis will be launching five more cafe and restaurant this year to take the total number in John Lewis shops to 62. Building on their success in eight stores, new Ori Caffes will open in the retailer’s Liverpool and Solihull shops later this year and another cafe will open in Southampton.

John Lewis will also be launching seasonal pop-ups to give customers original and topical experiences. This will include the ground floor of the Peter Jones atrium being transformed with a pop-up floral centerpiece wine bar to coincide with the Chelsea Flower Show.

Katie Papakonstantinou, director of services & hospitality for John Lewis, said: “Opening the Jamie Oliver Cookery School and Cafe is a fantastic addition to our Oxford Street store.

“Whether it’s a chance to ponder a purchase, or an escape from the bustle of the shop floor, having a varied and exciting assortment of hospitality offerings within our stores is vital for our customer experience.

“It’s why we are continuing to invest in new offerings, and why by the end of the year we plan to have over 60 dedicated hospitality spaces across our 36 stores.”

The investment in hospitality forms part of the broader John Lewis store transformation plan, which includes major refurbishments at its Liverpool and Bluewater stores, significant glow ups at five beauty halls, and wider improvements across the full store portfolio.