Harrods opens its rooftop Helideck for prestige PR events

When it comes to the kind of high-end London spaces in which one might choose to hold a glitzy launch, luxury brands have been rather spoilt for choice over the years. Banqueting House in Whitehall, with its ceiling painted by Flemish Baroque artist Sir Peter Paul Rubens, and Somerset House’s neoclassical riverside courtyard are just two venues that are high on many event organisers’ hit lists. Recent ultra-luxe hotel openings such as the Peninsula London and Raffles London at the OWO have also made the hottest tickets in town that little bit hotter. 

Now, the bar has been raised again: Harrods, a century and three quarters after it began life as a modest grocery shop in the east end of London, has opened up its Helideck event space to brands stocked at the famous store, seriously raising the game when it comes to prestigious spaces in the British capital for high-profile brands to host breakfasts, dinners, cocktails and other such toasts to their latest launches and openings.

Views of London's skyline

The rooftop of the Knightsbridge department store – whose motto is ‘Omnia Omnibus Ubique’, Latin for ‘All things for all people, everywhere’ – offers a 360-degree view of London’s skyline, encompassing landmarks such as the London Eye, Big Ben, the Shard and Battersea power station.

“We’re delighted to announce the opening of our Harrods Helideck event space,” says Alex Unitt, partnerships director at Harrods of an ultra-glam space which is booked up until the end of the year. 

“[It offers] a never-seen-before panoramic view of the London skyline, a beautifully finished pavilion space, state-of-the-art-facilities, all crafted with Harrods’ passion for unparalleled quality. It’s a canvas for creativity in events and experiences and set to be an iconic addition to rooftop spaces in the capital.”

Harrods is regularly frequented by royalty, both showbiz and actual, and welcomes around 100,000 people daily to the seven floors of its Grade II listed building on London’s Brompton Road, which first opened its doors in 1905. It was purchased from the Al-Fayed family in 2010 by the Gulf state of Qatar for £1.5bn, via its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority.

This development marks the first time Harrods’ rooftop has been made available for guest access. The store may review the possibility of opening the Helideck to external brands next year, depending on availability.

Nick Scott is a freelance journalist. A former editor-in-chief of Robb Report UK and the Rake, he spent several years as a staffer at UK Esquire and GQ Australia, and is a regular contributor to the FT’s How to Spend It.

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