WH Smith Launches Its First Ever Café in Southampton Hospital

For many, WH Smith is synonymous with buying books, magazines, or picking up stationery. Now, after 232 years of operation, WH Smith has ventured into the café business by opening its very first café.

The inaugural Smith’s Kitchen officially welcomed customers on Thursday at Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton. This 26-seat, 495 sq ft café offers both takeaway and dine-in options and is set for expansion to other hospital locations. This new venture follows the recent launch of WH Smith’s own-brand food range, which includes 30 products such as sandwiches.

“Whether it’s in a hospital or during their journeys, customers consistently tell us that high-quality food and drink options are top priorities in the various locations we serve,” said Andrew Harrison, WH Smith’s UK travel managing director. “That’s why we’ve been intensifying our efforts to enhance our food offerings and formats.”

Founded in 1792, WH Smith opened its first store—a newsagent—by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna in Little Grosvenor Street, London. In 1848, the company launched the first-ever travel retail store at London’s Euston station.

Today, WH Smith’s travel sector is the largest division, operating 590 stores across Britain in airports, hospitals, and railway stations. With passenger numbers climbing, the company is keen on cementing its status as a one-stop-shop for travel essentials.

One of the fastest-growing segments of WH Smith’s travel business is its hospital division, which includes over 140 stores and franchises in UK hospitals. Just in the past eight weeks, four new locations have been unveiled.

In June, the retailer reported a 5 percent rise in group sales for the three months ending June 1, following an 8 percent increase in the first half of the year. The travel division saw an 8 percent growth, driven by a 15 percent surge in the “rest of the world” unit.

Conversely, WH Smith’s high street segment continues to struggle with declining sales as it competes with cheaper online retailers such as Amazon.

WH Smith’s shares closed up by 10p, or 0.8 percent, at £12.25.