Press Release
Fortnum & Mason X Charlie Macksey X The Mole
Illustrator Charlie Mackesy Brings his Beloved Mole Character to The Parlour at Fortnum & Mason.
Mackesy says of the collaboration: “Ever since I was a child, Fortnums conjured up visions of tea, cake and delicious treats to eat. It seemed like the cake capital of the world – the mole’s dream – which is why it’s such a thrill to create something like this together.”
Running from 9th October to 4th January, Fortnum’s ice cream parlour will be taken over with bespoke Charlie Mackesy designs covering the walls, alongside a limited-edition menu that reflects his heartwarming narration and gentle philosophy. Renowned for his bestselling book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Mackesy is recognised globally for his poignant illustrations and stories of kindness, friendship and hope. Mackey’s hugely anticipated new book Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm is set to be published on 9th October.
From October, families and guests visiting The Parlour will have the opportunity to step inside the mystical world of his characters, to enjoy the specially-created dishes surrounded by his new illustrations which will adorn the walls. On the special edition menu, Fortnum & Mason will breathe life into Mackesy’s fictional Mole cake (£8.50), an ode to his beloved Mole character, whose bravery and love of cake has brought much joy to readers. Alongside, guests can choose between the Cornish Brie toastie with fig and fennel chutney (£11.50) and a Blackberry and lemon curd trifle (£10.50) each developed by Executive Pastry Chef Roger Pizey, in collaboration with Mackesy for a taste of Fortnum's patisserie in The Parlour.
Roger has created a cake which is as fun as it is traditional, a three-tiered sponge filled with strawberries and cream, a nod to both the book and the quintessential British heritage of Fortnum & Mason. The Mole Cake will be available for purchase at the patisserie counter on the ground floor (£6.95). For every Mole Cake bought at the Patisserie Counter or The Parlour Restaurant, £1 will be donated to Centrepoint, giving shoppers the chance to take home an edible piece of the story alongside the bespoke book bag or the Mole plush toy, which are also available for sale. Customers can additionally purchase a bundle that includes the book, Mole toy, strawberry preserve, and a recipe card for the bespoke Mole cake. Mackesy will also be illustrating the walls of The Parlour within store operating hours, allowing guests to see his work brought to life in front of their eyes on the day of the launch.
Situated on the first floor of the British department store, The Parlour embodies Fortnum & Mason’s’ commitment to playful decadence. Inspired by traditional ice cream parlours of the 1950s, the Charlie Mackesy menu will accompany a regular selection of ice creams, savoury snacks, tarts, sweet treats and of course, the staple Knickerbocker Glory, which was first developed in 1956 by Fortnum & Mason’s The Soda Fountain.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Sweet Way to Support Centrepoint
For every Mole Cake purchased at the Patisserie Counter or The Parlour Restaurant, £1 will be donated to Centrepoint (Registered Charity No. 292411), the UK’s leading charity providing accommodation and vital support to young people experiencing homelessness. Learn more about their work at centrepoint.org.uk.
Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER
Monday-Thursday: 11:30pm-8:00pm
Friday-Thursday: 11:00am-8:00pm
Sunday 11:30am-6:00pm
For further information, please contact Fortnum & Mason at Gemma Bell and Company on: gregor@gemmabellandcompany.com or harriet@gemmabellandcompany.com
About Fortnum & Mason:
At the Piccadilly flagship store, the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon remains the undisputed home of Afternoon Tea — a relaxed and refined spot where thousands of pots of extraordinary tea are poured, and countless scones, fresh-baked cakes and perfectly-cut sandwiches are devoured daily. The intimate lower ground floor Wine Bar has an enviable list of bottles from around the world, and the first-floor Parlour boasts award-winning ice cream creations. Next door, 45 Jermyn St is Fortnum’s exquisite restaurant inspired by the golden age of glamour. A little further afield is the Fortnum's Bar & Restaurant at The Royal Exchange, as well as the pre-flight The Fortnum’s bar at Heathrow T5, and the 181 Restaurant at the Victoria Dockside in Hong Kong, with specially-curated menu and harbourside views.
Follow Fortnum’s on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
About Charlie Macksey:
British artist, illustrator and author Charlie Mackesy began his career as a cartoonist, before becoming a book illustrator for Oxford University Press. His award-winning work has been featured in books, galleries, school classrooms, hospital wards, prisons and public spaces around the world. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse was published in October 2019 and has now reached over 10 million readers around the world. It holds the record for the most consecutive weeks in the Sunday Times Non-Fiction Chart across all formats, as well as being the longest running Non-Fiction number one of all time. A number one New York Times bestseller, it is has also remained on the NYT list since publication. Charlie’s beloved book is the first ever book to be awarded both the Waterstones Book of the Year and Barnes and Noble Book of the Year, and has been translated into over 50 languages. In 2023, Charlie co-wrote and directed the short animated film adaption, which won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film, the Academy Award for Best Animated Short film and five Annie Awards including Best Special Production. Charlie worked with Richard Curtis on the set of ‘Love Actually’ to create a set of drawings for Comic Relief, and with Nelson Mandela on a lithograph project, The Unity Series. His bronzes can be found in public spaces in London, including Highgate Cemetery and the Brompton Road. Away from art, Charlie co-runs Mama Buci, a honey social enterprise in Zambia that helps families of low and no income become beekeepers. He lives between Brixton and Suffolk. Find him on Instagram @charliemackesy