John Lewis cafe revamp is officially happening across 32 UK stores, bringing redesigned dining spaces, upgraded menus, and a refreshed in-store hospitality experience for shoppers. John Lewis has partnered with well-known café brand Benugo to transform its cafés and restaurants in phases through to 2027, starting this summer.
Key highlights shoppers should know include:
- A new partnership with Benugo to modernise in-store cafés
- Fresh menus featuring bakery, deli, and pizza options
- Initial rollouts at flagship and regional stores
- A focus on quality ingredients and welcoming spaces
This update signals a major shift in how John Lewis blends retail with food and leisure across the UK.
Why Is John Lewis Revamping Its In-Store Cafés?
The decision behind the john lewis cafe revamp reflects the retailer’s wider strategy to enhance the in-store experience at a time when physical shopping must offer more than just products.
John Lewis has acknowledged that cafés and restaurants play a vital role in encouraging longer visits and improving customer satisfaction.
Shoppers increasingly expect department stores to deliver comfortable spaces where they can relax, socialise, and dine while shopping. The existing café formats, while popular, no longer fully reflected modern expectations around menu quality, design, or atmosphere.
By refreshing these spaces, John Lewis aims to create environments that feel contemporary, inviting, and aligned with customer lifestyles.
Several factors have influenced the revamp decision:
- Growing demand for better food and drink options within retail spaces
- The need to modernise ageing café interiors
- A desire to strengthen customer loyalty through improved hospitality
- Opportunities to work with an established café partner
The revamp also supports John Lewis’s broader store investment plans, as seen in updated locations like Liverpool ONE, where improved food offerings sit alongside expanded beauty, fashion, and service areas.
Who Is Benugo and What Will They Bring to the Table?
The success of the john lewis cafe revamp relies heavily on its partnership with Benugo, a respected name in the UK hospitality sector. John Lewis has chosen Benugo due to its proven ability to deliver high-quality food in busy, high-footfall environments.
Overview of Benugo as a Café and Deli Chain
Founded in 1998, Benugo has grown into an award-winning café and deli brand with locations across the UK. The company operates cafés in well-known cultural, travel, and leisure destinations, making it experienced in serving diverse customer groups. Its reputation is built on combining fresh food with efficient service and welcoming surroundings.
Benugo’s existing footprint includes cafés in iconic UK venues, reinforcing its ability to maintain quality while operating at scale. This experience positions the brand well to manage a multi-year rollout across John Lewis stores nationwide.
Past Collaborations with John Lewis
Benugo is not new to John Lewis. Prior to the expanded agreement, the café brand already operated 10 outlets within John Lewis stores, including its flagship Oxford Street location. This longstanding relationship, built over more than a decade, laid the foundation for the broader partnership.
The new agreement followed around two years of planning and discussion. This extended preparation period suggests both brands were focused on aligning values, service standards, and long-term goals before committing to the full revamp programme.
Focus on Quality and Locally Sourced Ingredients
A key element Benugo brings is its commitment to quality ingredients. Menus across the revamped cafés will prioritise fresh produce, with a strong emphasis on locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.
Customers can expect bakery items, deli-style meals, and freshly prepared pizzas that reflect Benugo’s food-led approach. This focus aligns with John Lewis’s reputation for quality and trust, ensuring the café revamp feels consistent with the wider brand promise.
Which John Lewis Stores Are Getting the Café Revamp First?
The john lewis cafe revamp will not happen all at once. Instead, John Lewis has confirmed a phased rollout, beginning with six locations set to reopen from the summer. These stores were selected due to their size, footfall, and strategic importance within the retail network.
The first wave of locations includes the fifth floor restaurant at the Oxford Street flagship store in London, alongside regional stores in Bluewater, Chichester, Norwich, Nottingham, and Reading. Construction work at these sites is expected to begin between May and June.
Beyond these initial locations, John Lewis Liverpool provides insight into how café upgrades fit into broader store improvements. The Liverpool ONE store now features a brand-new café as part of a wider transformation that includes an expanded beauty hall, new brands, and enhanced customer services.
Further store locations will be announced as the rollout progresses. All 32 revamped cafés are scheduled for completion by 2027, ensuring a consistent experience across the UK estate.
What’s Changing Inside the New Cafés?
Shoppers visiting the revamped cafés will notice immediate differences in both design and food offering. The john lewis cafe revamp is not a simple refresh but a complete reimagining of how in-store dining looks and feels.
Interior spaces are being redesigned to feel brighter, more modern, and more comfortable. Seating layouts will encourage both short breaks and longer stays, making cafés suitable for solo shoppers, families, and friends meeting up.
Key changes customers can expect include:
- A new café brand identity that will be revealed as sites reopen
- Menus focused on bakery items, deli meals, and handmade pizzas
- Improved layout and flow for smoother service
- A stronger emphasis on fresh food prepared daily
The cafés are also being designed to complement other in-store services. At locations like Liverpool, the café experience fits naturally alongside fashion, beauty, home, and expert-led services, reinforcing the store as a full-day destination rather than a quick shopping stop.
How Will the Cafe Experience Improve for Customers?
The primary aim of the john lewis cafe revamp is to deliver a better overall experience for shoppers. John Lewis has made it clear that food quality, service, and atmosphere are all central to the changes.
Customers can expect improved menus that feel more contemporary and varied, appealing to a wider range of tastes. The focus on freshly prepared food and locally sourced ingredients adds to the sense of quality and care.
Service standards are also a priority. Benugo’s experience in high-traffic locations means staff training and operational efficiency are built into the rollout. This should result in faster service without compromising friendliness or attention to detail.
Combined with upgraded interiors, the new cafés are designed to become places shoppers actively look forward to visiting, rather than simply convenient stops during a shopping trip.
When Will All 32 Stores Be Revamped?
Timing is a key question surrounding the john lewis cafe revamp, and John Lewis has provided a clear long-term plan. The transformation will take place over several years, with all 32 locations scheduled for completion by 2027.
The first six cafés are expected to open from the summer, following refurbishment work starting in late spring. Additional locations will follow in stages, allowing John Lewis to manage disruption while maintaining service across its store network.
This phased approach also allows the retailer to gather customer feedback from early locations and refine the experience before wider rollout. Shoppers should expect announcements over time as more stores are confirmed and reopening dates are shared.
What Has John Lewis Said About the Revamp?
John Lewis has been vocal about its ambitions for the café revamp. Katie Papakonstantinou, Director of Services and Hospitality, described the changes as delivering a fresh and exciting hospitality experience for customers.
She emphasised that the new cafés and restaurants will combine delicious food and drinks with the personal service customers expect from John Lewis. The revamp is also about reimagining how store space is used, ensuring cafés feel integrated rather than secondary.
According to John Lewis, the plans reflect careful consideration of customer needs and preferences. The aim is not only to improve food offerings but to create spaces that enhance the overall shopping journey.
What Does Benugo Say About the Partnership?
Benugo’s leadership has expressed strong enthusiasm for the expanded partnership. Founder Ben Warner highlighted pride in the longstanding relationship with John Lewis and excitement about growing it into a new brand experience.
He has stressed Benugo’s commitment to great food made with fresh, quality ingredients that are thoughtfully sourced. The partnership also places importance on staff training and support, ensuring teams feel confident delivering warm and welcoming hospitality.
From Benugo’s perspective, the revamp represents an opportunity to bring its food philosophy to a wider audience while working closely with a trusted retail partner.
Will This Revamp Affect Other Store Services?
The john lewis cafe revamp forms part of a broader approach to improving in-store experiences. Rather than existing in isolation, the cafés are designed to complement other services offered within John Lewis stores.
At locations like Liverpool, shoppers can combine café visits with personal styling, nursery advice, and home design services. This integrated approach encourages longer visits and positions stores as lifestyle destinations.
The revamp does not replace existing services but enhances how customers move through the store. By aligning cafés with upgraded retail areas, John Lewis aims to create a seamless experience that feels modern, convenient, and enjoyable.
What Can Shoppers Really Expect from the John Lewis Café Revamp?
Ultimately, the john lewis cafe revamp is about raising standards across the board. Shoppers can expect visible improvements that go beyond surface-level changes.
Key expectations include:
- More appealing café interiors designed for comfort
- Better quality food with clearer menu choices
- Consistent service across multiple store locations
- Cafés that feel like destinations in their own right
For regular customers, the revamp promises a noticeable difference in how in-store dining fits into their shopping routine. For new visitors, the cafés may act as a reason to explore John Lewis stores for longer.
With a trusted partner, a phased rollout, and a clear focus on quality, the café revamp marks one of the most significant hospitality upgrades John Lewis has undertaken in recent years.
Conclusion
The john lewis cafe revamp represents a strategic investment in the future of physical retail. By partnering with Benugo, John Lewis is transforming its cafés into modern, welcoming spaces that reflect changing customer expectations.
The phased rollout across 32 stores, starting this summer and completing by 2027, ensures careful execution and consistent quality. Shoppers can look forward to improved menus, refreshed interiors, and better service that complements the wider shopping experience.
As seen in upgraded locations like Liverpool, cafés are becoming central to how John Lewis positions its stores as destinations rather than just retail spaces. For UK shoppers, this revamp signals a positive shift that blends quality shopping with enjoyable dining.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of food will the new John Lewis cafés offer?
The revamped cafés will serve bakery items, deli-style meals, and handmade pizzas. Menus will focus on fresh, quality ingredients with an emphasis on local sourcing.
When will the new cafés open in my local John Lewis store?
The first locations are reopening from the summer, with more stores added in phases. All 32 cafés are scheduled for completion by 2027.
Are all 32 café locations confirmed?
John Lewis has confirmed the total number of locations but not all store names yet. Additional locations will be announced over time.
Will the café menu be the same in every store?
While menus will follow the same core concept, there may be variations based on store size and location. All cafés will maintain the same quality standards.
Is Benugo a well-known brand in the UK?
Yes, Benugo is an established café and deli brand founded in 1998. It operates in many well-known UK locations and venues.
How is this revamp different from past updates at John Lewis?
This revamp is a full transformation rather than a simple refresh. It includes new branding, redesigned spaces, and a long-term partnership.
What other upgrades are happening in stores besides the cafés?
Many stores are also upgrading beauty halls, introducing new brands, and expanding in-store services. The café revamp supports these wider improvements.
