David Mellor shops
David Mellor Country Shop
The Country Shop is the perfect place to choose your special presents. It stocks the full range of David Mellor cutlery as well as a collection of the finest British crafts: handmade pottery, woodware, glass, English baskets, horn and marble, jams and honeys. We sell a professional range of kitchen equipment and superb David Mellor kitchen knives.
The idea behind the David Mellor shop is to combine a prime selection of British rural crafts with design from the best international modern manufacturers.
The shop is dog friendly.
Contact us
Telephone 01433 650220
Email sales@davidmellordesign.co.uk
The Round Building, Hathersage, Sheffield, S32 1BA
Opening hours
We are open the following hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday 11am – 5pm
Seasonal opening hours
We are open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
| Sun 24th December 2023 | 11am – 4pm |
| Mon 25th December 2023 | Closed |
| Tue 26th December 2023 | Closed |
| Wed 27th December 2023 | 11am – 5pm |
| Sun 31st December 2023 | 11am – 4pm |
| Mon 1st January 2024 | Closed |
Directions
The Round Building
David Mellor cutlery is manufactured in a unique purpose built factory designed by Sir Michael Hopkins. The circular factory has been described as a minor masterpiece of modern architecture and has received numerous important architectural and environmental awards, including the Financial Times Architecture at Work Award, RIBA National Award, Civic Trust Award, Campaign for the Protection of Rural England Award and the prestigious BBC Design Prize for the Environment.
David Mellor worked closely with the architect, Sir Michael Hopkins, to evolve a design which is highly functional and technologically advanced and which at the same time enhances its setting in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
The five acre site just outside of Hathersage, in the Peak National Park, was previously the village gas works erected in 1906-7 and the concrete foundations of the old circular gas holder provided the basis for the design of the factory.
The circular shape of the factory is perfectly suited the manufacture of cutlery allowing for a circular progression as processes anti-clockwise round the factory floor, moving from the cutting and manipulation of metals to semi-automatic grinding to hand finishing processes and then to the final stages of cleaning and packing.
The aim was to combine traditional materials with modern structural techniques resulting in a building that sits comfortably in its surrounding environment. The factory is constructed from natural stone and steel. A thick stone rim runs around the perimeter of the building and from this rim the giant bicycle-wheel structure of the roof rises towards its central glass hub which allows natural light to flood the interior of the building. A steel perimeter tie bar holds the structure together.
The roof itself is built up of a series of double-skinned sectional panels in Finnish pine plywood hooking onto the circular purlins, this allows the building to be ventilated by the more or less traditional method of passage of air through the panels.
Working closely with the architects, David Mellor supervised the construction and manufacture of many of the components of the building. He and his workforce laid the huge circular concrete floor over the original gasometer slab. They cast the concrete quoins and padstones used in the walls, and constructed the 480 Finnish plywood roof panels of varying sizes.
Tours
Join our expertly guided factory tour to learn more about the history of the company, David Mellor and his influence on British Design. Within the stunning architecture of the Round Building factory you will be given an overview of the manufacturing processes and craftsmanship involved in the making of David Mellor cutlery, along with an insight into the design process and the company moving forwards.
The factory tour typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes and places are limited to ensure the best experience for every visitor.
Tours take place on Sunday. Click here to book your tickets now
Please note that the final tour of 2023 will be on the 10th December. Tours will resume again in February 2024.
Design Museum and café
David Mellor was one of the best known 20th century British designers. The museum shows the full historic collection of his work and that of his son, Corin Mellor, extending from marvellous examples of Mellor's handmade silver to the traffic lights we stop at every day.
David Mellor was internationally famous for his cutlery design. The museum shows exactly why he is so often referred to as 'the cutlery king'. This wide-ranging exhibition is an eye-opener for anybody with an interest in design.
One of David Mellor's great aims as a designer was to improve the quality of the everyday urban environment. His modern lighting columns, bus shelters, litter bins and post boxes, bollards and outdoor seating were widely distributed and altered the appearance of the street scene throughout the UK.
The Design Museum café is a beautiful, unusual environment for relaxation and discussion. The 42-seat café faces out towards Michael Hopkins's Round Building and in summer the doors slide open to provide extra seating on the terrace. Designed by Corin Mellor the café is itself a fine example of informal modern dining style, equipped with the best David Mellor tableware.
Championing local producers and businesses, Riverside Kitchen at David Mellor, offer a menu packed with variety and flavour all made from the very best quality ingredients.
Serving specialist teas, coffees, pastries and cakes alongside delicious lunches the café provides a warm and friendly welcome within a stunning location.
Please check the Riverside Kitchen social media accounts for more information:
Please note that we operate a walk-in service and do not take bookings.
The café is dog friendly.
Opening Hours
The café is open the following hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm (last orders at 4.30pm)
Sunday 11am – 5.00pm (last orders at 4.30pm)
Lunch is served between 11.30am – 3.00pm every day
