The founders of high-end footwear brand Fairfax & Favor have hit on a novel idea to encourage people into their new shop – a permanent gin bar.
Marcus Fairfax Fountaine and business partner Felix Favor Parker opened their first ever shop in Holt with a launch party on Thursday night. And they unveiled a canny concept in making shoe shopping even more fun with a large bar built into the first floor where they serve up gin cocktails from locally-made Twelve Keys gin.
"We want to make shopping a really fun, enjoyable experience and so we thought why not build a bar in the shop?" said Marcus. The bosses are also positive about moving into the high street with their first ever physical shop when some businesses are choosing to move out and go online only.
"We couldn't have opened the shop without our online business doing so well but we believe in the high street and we'll never give up on going to the shows," he added.
MORE: Opening date for Norwich's new Primark store
Fairfax & Favor have built their brand by selling their footwear at country shows including some of the most prestigious eventing venues. Next month they'll have a presence at Cheltenham and in December at the Olympia Horse Show. The new shop, 23, High Street, in a former opticians, is over two floors and the interior decor has been carefully chosen to match their trademark dark blue colours, with Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue used and there are even two flags flying outside.
The firm was started six years ago by the business duo, both 28, and now have more than 50 stockists across England, Scotland and Ireland. Famous clients include television's racing presenter Clare Balding and Josh Patterson from Made in Chelsea. At the launch in Holt were some of their influential clients including Augusta Campos-Martyn, @country_sport, an Olympic trap shooter, Emma Foot @emmafoot724 who farms in Dorset, Terri-ann Bethell, @a_girl_and_a_gun who is regional director of the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club in the Midlands and a novice clay shooter and Lexi Wrench @beautyinthecotswolds, a lifestyle and fashion blogger.
The Fairfax & Favor business is based locally, at Narford Hall in west Norfolk. They have made a name for themselves for their long women's boots as well as men's loafers - all which come with the firm's signature coloured tassles which you can add to customise boots, shoes or bags and belts.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here