Sisters Victoria Sheppard (31), a marketing hospitality executive and Grace Sheppard (29) a luxury interior designer, are delighted to announce the opening of their debut hospitality venture “Queens” located at 17 Queen Street, Mayfair, London, on Monday 7th September 2020, after their August soft launch.
Grace & Victoria Sheppard
Victoria has a background at a senior level in PR & Marketing strategy in luxury hospitality. Most recently as PR & Marketing Director of Marc Group, which owns UMU & The Greenhouse. Previously Victoria has worked as Hospitality Marketing Manager for Fortnum & Mason, 45 Jermyn St, and multiple luxury campaigns. In January 2019 Victoria made the “30 under 30” list for Hospitality Marketing sponsored by Schweppes and JustEat, and previously awarded “30 under 30” in Media by The Mail on Sunday and MediaWeek.
Meanwhile, Grace, 20 years vegetarian has studied nutrition and launched Hammer Holdings venue The Wedding Gallery ( “the World’s First Wedding Department Store”), overseeing the placement of pestegust global brands and events. Grace curates and manages international interior design projects for HNW clients at luxury property company Chartwell, based in Mayfair & Monaco. Grace developed and oversaw the design and project management of Queens. Making sure the vision of a homely deli, comfortable coffee shop and relaxing wine bar setting was achieved, going from day to night effortlessly.
Queens Of Mayfair
Housed within a traditional Georgian building, Queens will be open from breakfast through to dinner, moving effortlessly from casual coffee spot to buzzing evening cocktail and wine bar, serving light bites such as cheese and charcuterie boards.
For those on the go, Queens will provide a takeaway “grab and go” area at breakfast and lunchtime, with a selection of freshly made pastries and artisan sundry items. And with 30 covers for dine-in customers, signature items on the carefully curated menu include: Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with optional Truffle, Queen’s Truffle Cheese Toastie, Nectarine and Fennel salad with smoked chicken and the Prince Harry cocktail. Queens soft launch has already seen huge popularity on the weekend Laurent Perrier champagne brunch.
For the discerning coffee drinkers, Queens is also excited to announce an exclusive partnership with Difference Coffee. Difference is currently served in over 60 Michelin star restaurants around the world and Queens will be the supplier’s only collaboration outside of the fine dining sphere.
As well as Difference Coffee, the sisters are looking forward to working with some of the top specialist suppliers including Hedone Bakery, renowned for its famous white and brown sourdough breads, and world chocolate specialists Charbonnel & Walker.
Queens is committed to using local, seasonal and British ingredients, with suppliers including Wiltshire Truffles, Brown and Forest Smokery in Somerset, plus spirits from their cocktail menu delving to Grace and Victoria’s Dorset roots with Black Cow Vodka and Conker Gin.
Victoria Sheppard commented: “At Queens we see an opportunity to bring local Mayfair commuters something different from the chain cafes they would be used to frequenting. We have partnered with some of the top suppliers to bring customers premium homemade food at a competitive price point for the prestigious area.
“We want to be the middle ground between the pubs and five star hotels in Mayfair for local workers to catch up on lost socialising.” Victoria added.
Grace commented: “Our vision was to bring to life both a homely and comfortable coffee bar and deli, but also a relaxing luxury wine bar setting for diners to drop in to drink or dine at any time of the day. Having worked in the area for over eight years, I realised that there was a gap in the market for classic British food served in a modern and relaxed way.
I wanted to create a space that you could pop in to pick up a pastry and coffee on your way to the office, enjoy a juice after a PT session or have after-work drinks with colleagues or a date night. Queens will also be dog friendly, which is important given I am a dog owner and often want to socialise when I have my Cockapoo, Sir Stanley, with me. ”
Due to launch in March 2020, though unfortunately delayed due to Covid-19, Queens has now formally opened its doors. Whilst the governments Eat Out to Help scheme has finished Queens are offering 50% off cocktails and sharing boards throughout September.
The venue is also available for private hire and functions within government guidelines. Newly appointed General manager Melissa Thomas joins Queens from Adam Handlings “The Frog” and says “It’s exciting to be part of this exciting venture that bridges the gap between takeaway chains and private members clubs in Mayfair.”
Monday to Friday 7.30am to 10pm. Saturday 10.30am to 7.30pm. Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm.
17 Queen Street, Mayfair, W1J 5PH @queensofmayfair www.queensofmayfair.com reservations@queensofmayfair.com
Join the discussion!