Long celebrated for decadent ice cream creations, nostalgic treats and unapologetic indulgence, The Parlour has undergone an imaginative transformation in collaboration with our very own Jonathan Burton. The result? Surreally Nice to Meet You, an immersive world of eccentric characters, playful storytelling and quietly absurd charm, now unfolding across the walls of one of Fortnum’s most beloved dining spaces.
Now officially launched, the large-scale installation transforms The Parlour into something between an illustrated dreamscape and a gloriously decorated daydream, where curious creatures roam, bees seem to have somewhere urgent to be, and the occasional cherry appears suspiciously competitive. The project includes wall vinyls, menus and playful visual interventions, all working together to blur the line between dining room and storybook.
Before a single sketch was drawn, Jonathan visited The Parlour to understand the scale of the challenge, a first impression he admits prompted “slight panic”, quickly replaced by excitement. With wraparound columns, varied wall heights, windows and intimate corners, it proved a wonderfully complex canvas.
“The biggest technical challenge I had was to fill the many different shapes and sizes of the walls,” he says. “I had to consider the seating arrangements, the windows and the much smaller spaces in between. I have to admit it was a head scratcher!”
Rather than arriving with a rigid masterplan, Jonathan let ideas emerge naturally.
My process is to let things happen naturally and not to be too attached to an idea early on. It’s very fluid and I draw and redraw and move things around until there’s a spark of an idea.
His first instinct was to tackle the panoramic walls, long, narrow stretches that demanded movement and narrative. Rough characters began appearing, travelling in different directions, until one small detail brought the world together: conversation.
“When I tried a speech bubble of one character saying hello to another,” Jonathan recalls, “it became a lovely way to bring all of these odd characters together.”
That social spirit became central to the concept. When pitching the idea to Fortnum’s Head of Brand & Creative Production, Ange Loftus, Jonathan imagined “a world of odd characters greeting each other in an overly polite way”, something distinctly Pythonesque in mood. That eccentric Englishness runs throughout the work, blending refinement with absurdity and drawing on the surreal wit of Monty Python's Flying Circus, the dream logic of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the playful nonsense of Edward Lear.
Despite the whimsy, the detail is meticulous. Jonathan wanted diners to feel rewarded for looking closely.
“With such a large scale I wanted to engage diners with detail and storytelling,” he says. “While the overall decoration will be immersive in its atmosphere, the work really rewards those who look closely.”
A world of playful details unfolds across the room. A flying caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, a nod to Eric Carle, while purposeful bees, racing cherries and a Burton-esque take on the Lion and Unicorn crest reimagine familiar Fortnum’s motifs. Tiny creatures mingle with oversized animals, and characters drift from wall to wall, inviting diners to follow the story between courses, or at least between spoonfuls of Knickerbocker Glory.
The setting feels particularly fitting. Long celebrated for joyful excess, The Parlour remains home to Fortnum’s iconic sweet treats, including the legendary Knickerbocker Glory, first introduced in 1955, alongside savoury favourites like Scotch eggs and prawn cocktail. The refreshed menu leans into nostalgia with Banana Splits, Black Forest Gâteau and playful drinks such as a Gin & Tonic Float.
But Jonathan’s contribution transforms the experience into something more immersive, culminating in a whimsical interactive installation nearby, part funfair, part Heath Robinson, with a hint of Wonka inspired eccentricity.
In other words: expect delight, curiosity and every excuse to linger.
Photography: ©David Loftus
