Nostalgia, Graffiti, and Mini Cheddars—It’s All Play and No Work at The Village’s Latest Concept Store
Class is officially in session at Chelsea County Grammar School—but don’t worry, there’s no homework here. Instead, expect a cheeky dose of nostalgia, top-of-the-class accessories, and more than a few sugary treats as Anya Hindmarch opens the doors to Anya’s Tuck Shop, the sixth concept store in her delightfully eccentric Village.
Running from August 23 through October 12, the shop taps into the chaotic charm of going back to school—think offbeat graffiti, wonky handwriting fonts, stationery galore, and the kind of ‘uniform aesthetic’ that’s far too cool for detention. “Back to school were never words that brought me much joy… until now,” says Hindmarch. “This time it’s all play and no work.”
Inside, the store is a playground of schoolyard memories filtered through Anya’s signature wit and craftsmanship. Pencil cases riff on British snack icons—Kit-Kat, Nerds, Skips, Sun-Maid Raisins—while Mini Cheddars and Penguin biscuits find new life as leather charms. There are graffiti-scrawled notebooks, badges, stickers, and even uniform-inspired accessories like a wool school scarf and PE socks in the house colors of fictional Chelsea County Grammar.
And of course, there’s a bag—this is Anya, after all. Midway through term, the Tuck Shop will launch a special striped edition of the Universal Bag (in mini and large sizes), its smart tie-like pattern a nod to the school uniforms we all loved to hate. The Universal Bag, a project aimed at reducing single-use plastics in collaboration with 26 global grocers, gets a scholarly refresh—sold in pairs, like matching school satchels for you and your chicest classmate.
Located in the same building that’s previously housed a surreal ice cream parlor, a 1970s garden center, and a Peanuts playground, this latest chapter in The Village continues Anya Hindmarch’s reign as headmistress of experiential retail. The shelves are stocked with fizzy pops from Karma Drinks, penny sweets, and Yorkshire Crisps packaged to perfection. It’s part tuck shop, part concept store, and entirely tongue-in-cheek.
So grab your backpack (preferably one with a Skips keychain), sharpen your pencils, and get ready to indulge in the only school run worth making this season.
