The traditional Scouse-Manc rivalry has taken a new twist since the beginning of this month, when Liverpool at last got a taste of luxury eating Harvey Nichols-style as the retailer opened a ‘Foodmarket’ on St Peter’s Lane.
St Peter’s is part of the luxury arm of Grosvenor’s Liverpool One development, and this 1,883 sq ft shop is open until Christmas and stocks exactly what you’d expect as the season of goodwill hovers once more into view.
In practice, this means “own-label Christmas essentials, festive treats and exclusive food and wines from around he world”. So much for the blurb, but the real question is how do you take an upscale brand and turn it into a temporary shop that will reflect both luxury and the kind of reach-me-down chic associated with a pop-up?
Harvey Nichols has opted to use a mix of shiny wire mid-shop equipment (of the kind being used by Carrefour in the roll-out of its eponymous Planet format, and also Italian food theme park Eataly in Manhattan), wooden palettes and a store window filled with transfers across the glassline. The high point, however, is probably the cash-taking area, which features a net containing brown and black boxes above the counter. This too has been done by Aussie skincare brand Aesop in its pop-up shop in Merci, in Paris, in the run-up to Christmas 2010.
You can’t blame Harvey Nics for soaking up these influences. It has created a food environment that makes you want to take a look around and maybe go on an ill-advised festive splurge. The shop stays open until New Year’s Eve.
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