History Of Selfridges Roof Garden

From a 1920s pleasure garden a pop up restaurant with a michelin starred chef and a glowing green boating lake we take a look back at the extraordinary rare uses of this sky high space throughout our 103 year history.

History of selfridges roof garden. Harry gordon selfridge sr. The selfridges summer rooftop is now an annual fixture but did you know that it was closed for over 70 years. As well as a post office a theatre booking office a library and an information bureau there were galleries displaying works of art a comfortable silence room for resting restaurants and a roof garden. However this isn t the first time our legendary roof has entertained londoners and others alike.

This summer selfridges london launches the big rooftop tea golf party transforming the roof into the coolest destination to eat and play. As with much of central london during world war ii selfridges suffered serious damage on a number of occasions during the 57 nights of the london blitz from 7 september 1940 and in 1941 and 1944. In the store s early days many forms of entertainment took place in the roof. The flagship store on london s oxford street is the second largest shop in the uk after harrods and opened 15 march 1909.

Foreign visitors were provided with interpreters and a trained nurse was on hand to administer first aid if it was needed. The history of the selfridges roof. In 1930 the roof garden was still green but it was grass not water which covered the top of selfridges genteel. Customers in 1930 enjoy a drink on the roof terrace history of the store.

11 january 1858 8 may 1947 was an american british retail magnate who founded the london based department store selfridges his 20 year leadership of selfridges led to his becoming one of the most respected and wealthy retail magnates in the united kingdom. Other selfridges stores opened in the trafford centre 1998 and exchange square 2002 in manchester and in the bullring in birmingham 2003. The roof with its views across london was a common place for strolling after a shopping trip and was often used for fashion shows.