Twinings’ one and only bricks-and-mortar store has reopened to the public after an extensive refurbishment on the centuries-old site. One-on-one personalised experiences at Twinings. Image: Supplied. The 216 Strand store in London is the oldest tea shop in the city, first opened by Thomas Twining in 1706, and has proven popular with tourists over the years. Inside Twinings’ ‘spiritual home’ at its London flagship store. Image: Supplied. Creative agency Dalziel & Pow
el & Pow came onboard with the goal to transform the 80sqm transactional retail space into the “true spiritual home of the Twinings brand”.
“It was such an amazing opportunity to have a site like that, which Twinings has held on to for so long. We kept and restored all the original elements the best we could,” Jemima Berridge, design team leader, brand environments, Dalziel & Pow, told Inside Retail.
“We reinstated ceiling rows and refurbished all the cornices and things like that, which ended up being just such a stunning backdrop for the actual interior, which is quite contemporary in a lot of ways.”
A portrait of founder Thomas Twining hangs proudly at the tasting bar. Image: Supplied.
While paying tribute to the rich heritage of the brand, the design has a modern feel. Warm lighting glows over a host of natural and quality materials such as grasscloth, raw oak, brass and stone.
Visitors can touch, smell and taste the tea during the entire brewing process, while slow-moving images of gardens and herb fields tell the story of its origins.
Visitors can hear the stories of Twinings tea growers through an audio message.Image: Supplied
Interactive experiences punctuate the customer journey and the basement has been transformed into a private tea-tasting bar which also offers masterclasses.
Stephen Twining, director of corporate relations and tenth generation of the Twining family, said the brand is very proud of the new look.
“This extensive redesign will give all our visitors a chance to better understand the skills and good work we do at Twinings, while walking in the footsteps of many notable customers,” he said.
Team members are recognised for their part in the Twinings story. Image: Supplied.
And while the pandemic has prevented a grand reopening ceremony, Twining is hopeful that they will be able to mark the opening in the near future.
“It’s been a very quiet low key affair, but we’re getting the message out that anyone passing by can come in and have this new experience,” he told Inside Retail.
“As soon as we’re allowed, we will be celebrating and inviting as many people as we [can].”
Interactive ‘Moments of Curiosity’ allow customers to experience the tea brand in a unique way. Image: Supplied.
The quintessentially British tea served in a London-themed mug. Image: Supplied.
Customers are invited to immerse themselves in the world of Twinings. Image: Supplied
