Christmas cabs for Cath Kidston fans

Cath Kidson devotees can travel in vintage style as they do their Christmas shopping after the designer launched patterned taxis to ferry fans to the brand’s flagship store for a week.

As a Christmas “gift” to London, carollers, fake snow and roasted chestnuts entertained crowds in Marble Arch yesterday before a giant wrapped present burst open to reveal two Hackney Cabs decked out in Cath Kidston print.

They were then joined by six others in a convoy to the homeware and fashion brand’s three-storey flagship store in Piccadilly. For the next week, any customers within zones one and two of London can be chaperoned there.

In addition to the taxi rides, the first 180 customers to the store at 180 Piccadilly were awarded gift vouchers of between £1.80 and £180, and Kidston herself, inset, kept queueing customers warm with tea and croissants.

Olivia Hulme, a 21-year-old student living in Brixton, queued for three hours with friends.

She said: “It was freezing queuing here but luckily we were brought tea in Cath Kidston mugs.

“She seems like a really relatable person and makes lovely prints.”