Waitrose has agreed a deal with King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP) to open a food and wine shop and cookery school in one of the development’s listed buildings.
The company has signed a 25 year lease for the 29,000sq ft gross food and wine shop and a 10 year lease for the 3,000sq ft cookery school.
They will occupy part of the Grade II listed Midland Goods Shed and East Handyside Canopy, in the heart of the 67 acre site at King’s Cross. The retailer also has plans for a store café with tables spilling out at the southern end of the building, beside the Regent’s Canal.
Waitrose is currently the only UK supermarket to have its own cookery school after opening its first above its John Barnes shop in Finchley Road in autumn 2010.
In addition to offering paid-for courses, Waitrose will work with KCCLP and Camden Council to provide a series of free sessions throughout the year for school and other priority groups from the local area. The aim of the free sessions is to develop the culinary skills of the capital’s young cooks by teaching basic cooking skills and inspiring a passion for good food. The sessions would cover nutrition, healthy eating and balanced diets.
Applications for reserved matters approval and listed building consent are likely to be submitted in May. Construction is anticipated to start in late 2013 with the shop and cook school due to open at King’s Cross in spring 2015.
The King’s Cross branch will create 170 new jobs.
Waitrose managing director, Mark Price, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the continuing regeneration of King’s Cross and are looking forward to creating up to 170 new jobs and building on the success of our school in Finchley Road.
“We always believe that, as a food retailer, we have responsibility to help educate and inspire people not only when it comes to their weekly shop but also when it comes to creating and enjoying good food. It’s fantastic to give even more people the opportunity to develop their culinary skills.”
