Two Walpole members have collaborated to create Moët & Chandon's largest standalone Champagne bar in Europe: Harrods, where the new establishment is situated, and architectural design firm Sybarite, who crafted the look and feel of the space.
Located on the lower ground floor of the historic Knightsbridge department store, the space is dominated by a dramatic, undulating, hand-sculpted gold chandelier set (pictured above) around the intimate 34-seated bar that offers a full selection Moët & Chandon wines, all served in a range of formats from by the glass to magnum.
To accompany each glass, decadent and delicious food pairings, both savory and sweet, have been created by Harrods specialist team of in-house chefs, from fresh seafood favourites to a fine selection of pastries. From the bar’s signature ‘Choux Love’ dish (a dessert of choux pastry buns with a mango and passion fruit diplomat filling, each branded with one of the four M O Ë T letters) to the tempting ‘Cheese Délice' (a Burrata Stracciatella, spicy Kimchi & black sesame toastie).
Other notable dishes include the aptly named ‘The World Is Your Oyster’ (rock oysters, pear & cucumber, Oscietra caviar), the vegan-friendly ‘Not Another Faux Pas’ (faux gras, rhubarb, ginger and bread), and the unctuous ‘Moët Caramel’ (a dark chocolate shell, cleverly cast in the shape of a Moët & Chandon embossed bottle plaque, filled with 66 per cent dark chocolate mousse and salted caramel, served on a crunchy biscuit).
To enhance the unique customer experience, dishes will be presented on a selection of bespoke plates each bearing a different famous champagne quote, including “Pleasure without champagne is purely artificial” by Oscar Wilde and “My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough champagne”, a remark once made British Economist John Maynard Keynes.
The Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar at Harrods marks the first time since the Champagne house was founded in 1743 that it has had a permentant outpost in Europe.
"We are delighted to announce the opening of an iconic European permanent Champagne bar," says Berta de Pablos-Barbier, President & CEO of Moët & Chandon. "We look forward to delivering extraordinary experiences and creating lasting celebratory memories within the world’s most iconic department store, honouring the vision of our founder Claude Moët to ‘share the magic of champagne with the world’ in opening this special destination."
"We are delighted to welcome the addition of this exceptionally designed customer experience which promises to be an iconic destination for both Londoners and international visitors," comments comments Michael Ward, Managing Director of Harrods. "The Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar will be the perfect addition to our food and beverage offering, sitting alongside our leading chef-led restaurants and world-famous Food Hall destinations."
Designed by fellow Walpole member Sybarite, the Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar at Harrods uses materials and forms inspired by the heritege of the House, most notably the glowing, curvaceous bar counter which channels the linearity of the terroir and topography of the Epernay Champagne region where the Maison's grapes are grown.
"The Moët & Chandon bar at Harrods is a dramatic and contemporary space, delivered through architectural form and materiality inspired by the heritage brand," says Simon Mitchell, Co-founder of Sybarite. "The sculpted central chandelier, composed of degradé metallic discs, sweeps, undulates and dips overhead, drawing one in with an anticipation of celebration and effervescence.
“Working with heritage brands LVMH, Moët & Chandon and Harrods was an opportunity to design a show-stopping backdrop injected with all the drama and theatre one anticipates with the pleasure of drinking champagne. Contemporary design references create an immersive environment which conveys the story of the terroir, the sense of place and brings the philosophy of the Grand Maison to life at Harrods."
The Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar is now open on the Ground Floor at Harrods, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL. harrods.com
