Friday 12 April 2013

Exploring the exclusive department store Harrods, London

It is not so easy on the busy Brompton Road to take a decent picture of the Harrods department store. An additional problem was that the lower floors of the building were in the shade. I am however happy with the picture of the dome and roof decorations. The exclusive shop is now property of a Qatar Holding, like many top properties in London. The Arab community is investing all over the city.

The inside of the department store is just fabulous. On each entrance door it is written that you can’t take pictures. I requested permission from the security and it was granted but I shouldn’t take shots of people’s faces. For me the food departments were the most impressive, the room with all the candy and chocolate was decorated for Easter. The ceiling of the fish department is unique, there is bar were you can eat oysters, have a sea food platter or sushi. There is off course also Champagne and caviar.

In the Egyptian room, they sell handbags, belts and shoes. It is here on the ground floor that the memorial of Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed stands, they died in a car accident in Paris in 1997. Harrods was owned by Dodi’s father Mohamed Al-Fayed who is from Egypt.

Het is niet zo gemakkelijk om op de drukke Bromton Road een mooie foto te nemen van Harrods dat nog eens half in de schaduw staat. Ik was echter wel tevreden met de foto van de koepel en de dakdecoraties. De exclusieve winkel is nu in eigendom van een Qatar Holding net zoals veel onroerend goed in Londen. De Arabische wereld koopt vele panden op in deze top metropool. 

Binnen in het warenhuis is het ongelooflijk mooi en luxueus. Op iedere deur staat echter dat je geen foto’s mag trekken. Ik vroeg hiervoor toelating aan de beveiliging en het was toegestaan indien ik geen gezichten van klanten fotografeerde. Voor mij is de afdeling voeding het meest indrukwekkende, de zaal met snoep en chocolade was volledig versierd voor het Paasfeest. Het plafond van de visafdeling is uniek, er staat een bar waar je oesters, zeevruchten of sushi kan eten. Er is natuurlijk ook Champagne en kaviaar. 

In de Egyptische zaal worden er handtassen, schoenen en lederen producten verkocht. Op het benedenverdiep staat hier het herdenkingsmonument van Princes Diana en Dodi Al-Fayed, zij stierven samen in een auto ongeval in Parijs in 1997. Harrods was eigendom van Dodi’s vader Mohamed Al-Fayed die Egyptenaar is.. 
 
Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

Harrods London

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14 comments:

  1. 'k Was er toen, Filip, in '97... De herinneringen zijn levendig...
    Lie(f)s.

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  2. I agree that the food department is the best part of the store too - I love the art nouveaux tiles in the atrium.

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  3. Thank you! This so reminds me of our trip there! I really enjoyed their toy department too, and the food we ate was delicious! The statues were some a bit too much for me, but it made sense I imagine. I am happy we took time to visit here too!

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  4. What an exclusive looking store this is. Reminds me a bit of the old marshall field in chicago. It is interesting that they do not allow photos of the inside of such a famous place as this. So much of interest to photograph.

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  5. Forget the shadows in the first picture, this shot has managed to make the whole building look like it is made of gold!!!

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  6. Wow! Very beautiful post!

    Special greetings from the Netherlands,
    DzjieDzjee

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  7. Beautiful building, it would be nice to see.
    Of course buying nothing, just looking :)
    Greetings

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  8. Une superbe série de photos avec une très belle lumière! merci du partage! c'est très beau! bisoussssssssssss

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  9. Het is een imposant gebouw, ik vond de afdeling met designer kleding het leukst.

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  10. I've been to that Harrods! Branded department were full with people!

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  11. Ik ben er vroeger een paar keer geweest, het is een heel apart gebouw en warenhuis. Altijd van alles te zien en te beleven. De laatste foto, dat hoekje was er nog niet toen :)

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  12. very interesting, I have never been inside...love the roof painting/deco too!

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