The Double Helix Staircase
A good cup of Fortnum’s tea usually takes about three minutes to brew. But some things take a little longer to perfect - and over the last two years, we’ve been working on the most ambitious architectural update to our famous Piccadilly flagship since our doors first opened back in the early 18th century.
Hidden in plain sight, visitors to our store in recent months will have admired a colourful collage of illustrations by the great Zebedee Helm, standing in the centre of the store. But behind the charming facade, we’ve been busily working away on our new Double Helix Staircase - and now that it’s unveiled, we’re so excited that shoppers can now walk each of its masterly crafted steps.
A striking architectural showpiece that is both a timeless work of art and a feat of modern engineering, this swirling staircase ascends from the Lower Ground Floor all the way to the Second Floor - and has been completed just in time for the most magical time of the year in the Fortnum’s calendar. So be certain to visit us this season to see it for yourself, or read on to learn more about how we brought this extraordinary vision to life.
"The result of this endeavor has far exceeded our expectations. The Double Helix Staircase is more than a feat of engineering; it is a work of art, a restoration of architectural integrity, and a symbol of our faith in Fortnum’s future."
Tom Athron, CEO, Fortnum & Mason
This new centrepiece to Piccadilly was created in collaboration with celebrated architecture and design firm, Ben Pentreath Studio, led by architectural designer Ben Pentreath - and will truly transform the way visitors move through our store.
The design of the staircase is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s vision of the double helix staircase, of which today only a handful exist globally. One is in the Château de Chambord, famous for its French Renaissance architecture, while the other is in a little known place called the Vatican, where its named the Bramante Staircase. Two separate spiral staircases wrap around the centre of the building’s atrium in the style of twisting strands of DNA - an eyecatching and arresting centrepiece in the beating heart of Fortnum’s. The staircases, which appear as one single structure, ribbon their way up to allow shoppers to ascend and descend at the same time without encountering each other - a very welcome touch up for keeping the hustle and bustle flowing smoothly throughout the store.
This remarkable two-year project is a marvel of complex engineering and exquisite craftsmanship, created to honour our flagship’s iconic building. Dreamed up and hand-built in sections by a talented team of craftspeople in Sussex, the staircase rises through the store like a piece of art in motion.
Each of its 132 steps - that’s 66 risers and goings per flight - invites you upward, guided by 340 metres of elegantly curved handrail, glowing softly with discreet lighting. Along the way, the journey is framed by 330 bespoke balustrades, every one a miniature masterpiece adorned with 8 hand-forged scrolls - a dazzling total of 2,640 swirling scrolls catching the light. And glimmering among them, 660 polished brass rosettes sparkle, each one perfectly placed to celebrate the craft behind the creation.
The staircase brings together more than 3,000 hand-forged details, each cast by a master blacksmith and assembled with extraordinary care. Timber steps and fine plasterwork add warmth and depth, while the entire design - modelled in 3D to achieve absolute precision - nestles seamlessly into this historic building. The result is a staircase that takes you on a journey through craftsmanship, creativity, and pure imagination, floor by floor.
“It has been a privilege to work with Fortnum & Mason on such a rare and ambitious project,” says architectural designer Ben Pentreath, whose portfolio spans the restoration of historic landmarks alongside masterplans at Dumfries House to work for the Duchy of Cornwall. “The Double Helix Staircase is at once a technical marvel and a deeply human piece of design, marrying engineering precision with craft at the highest level. Our aim has been to create a structure that feels timeless, one that restores architectural integrity to the store while also delivering beauty and joy for the millions who pass through its doors each year.”
The Double Helix Staircase is now open at Piccadilly, and begins an exciting new chapter in the story of Fortnum’s. Visitors from around the world will not only discover a new way of exploring the store, they’ll also be part of a historic moment in that story.
Inspiration
Discover The Journal, home to a host of our most delicious stories.
Visit Our Christmas Shop
The History of Fortnum's