When you think about Knightsbridge, the first thing that comes to mind is Harrods, but don’t forget about Harvey Nichols, another elegant London store with a long and distinguished history.
Harvey Nichols is a British luxury department store business that was founded in 1831 and is best known for its Knightsbridge location. Dickson Concepts, a Hong Kong-based luxury goods firm, owns and operates the store, which sells men’s and women’s fashion lines, fashion accessories, beauty items, wine, and cuisine.
Harvey Nichols opened its first independent restaurant in London in 1996, the OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie, which overlooks the River Thames and was the company’s first autonomous restaurant.
Photo: © Copyright Christine Matthews and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons License .
Located on the junction of Knightsbridge and Sloane Street in London, Benjamin Harvey founded a linen store in 1831. He had previously worked as a tailor.
Furs were once again available for purchase at Harvey Nichols in 2013, bucking the trend that had been in place for ten years before that.
In 1835, the shop moved to the number 8 location next door, and it would continue to grow in succeeding years, acquiring other buildings.
Benjamin employed James Nichols, a member of the Oxfordshire family, in 1841. Nichols was elevated to management in 1845, and in 1848, he married Harvey’s niece, Anne Beale, who was born in 1845. Harvey and Nichols initially worked together in 1848, according to historical records.
This already successful business was aided by its close proximity to the newly established South Kensington neighbourhood following the Great Exhibition of 1851in Hyde Park. It eventually expanded to Knightsbridge and became one of the most popular stores in this area.
The original facility was destroyed in 1889 to make room for a new department store, which opened in 1890. The structure, designed by CW Stephens and constructed in sections between 1889 and 1894, was dedicated in 1894. The headquarters moved to 109 – 125 Knightsbridge in 1904, after which it was known as the Knightsbridge Building.
For those in the United Kingdom, Harvey Nichols has stores in the capital city of London as well as Leeds, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, and Bristol, as well as a Beauty Bazaar at the Harvey Nichols store in Liverpool. His primary store is, unsurprisingly, located in Knightsbridge.
You can also order online here .
