John Lewis has opened the Jamie Oliver Cookery School and Jamie Oliver Cafe at its Oxford Street store.

The retailer said that the 4,600 sq ft space, which contains two classrooms and a 50-seat restaurant overseen by the chef, responds to the growing demand from customer to combine shopping with eating and drinking.

The company’s hospitality sales have risen six per cent over the past twelve months, with one in five transactions made in a John Lewis store taking place at a cafe or restaurant.

John Lewis said restaurants are a key part of its in-store strategy, with its Place to Eat restaurants visited by three quarters of a million more customers than the previous year.

The retailer said that five more cafe and restaurant openings are planned to take place this year, taking the total space given to hospitality up by 11,000 sq ft by the end of the year and the total number of cafes and restaurants in John Lewis shops to 62.

As well as permanent fixtures, John Lewis said more seasonal pop ups will appear in shops to give customers original and topical experiences. One pop-up next month will serve a selection of English wine to mark the Chelsea Flower show.

“Whether it’s a chance to ponder a purchase, or an escape from the bustle of the shop floor, having a varied and exciting assortment of hospitality offerings within our stores is vital for our customer experience,” said Katie Papakonstantinou, director of services & hospitality for John Lewis. “It’s why we are continuing to invest in new offerings, and why by the end of the year we plan to have over 60 dedicated hospitality spaces across our 36 stores.”

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