Panzer's Deli
Why is it significant?
Panzer's Delicatessen in St John's Wood, London, is an historic grocer founded in 1944 by refugees that is famous for its hand-cut smoked salmon. Opened on Circus Road by Mr Panzer and Walter Vogl, the deli was run by the Vogl family for over 70 years. Master slicer Stefan spent over 25 years hand-slicing smoked salmon at the counter, before lifelong customer David Josephs bought and renovated the shop in 2015.
Key Facts
| Place | Panzer's Deli |
|---|---|
| Address | 13-19 Circus Road, London NW8 6PB |
| Geo Coordinates | 51.53348, -0.17220 |
| Audio Duration | ~3 min |
| Part of Walk | Regent's Canal Towpath: Little Venice to Camden Lock |
| Generated | Generated |
What to look for?
- Austrian refugee Mr Panzer and Czechoslovakian refugee Walter Vogl founded Panzer's Delicatessen on Circus Road in 1944.
- Master slicer Stefan spent over 25 years hand-cutting paper-thin slices of oak-smoked salmon at Panzer's Delicatessen.
- Lifelong customer David Josephs bought and renovated Panzer's Delicatessen in 2015 to preserve its heritage.
- Pop star Harry Styles once ordered 3,000 pounds worth of sea bass from Panzer's Delicatessen for Liam Gallagher.
Photo: Google
Who founded Panzer's Delicatessen in London in 1944?
If you step off the quiet canal path into the leafy streets of St John's Wood, you will quickly spot the iconic dark green awnings of Panzer's Delicatessen. To the untrained eye, it might look like a stylish neighborhood grocer, but this shop is a true London institution with a remarkable history. The story began in nineteen forty-four, during the final harrowing months of World War Two. Two Jewish refugees, Mr Panzer from Austria and Walter Vogl from Czechoslovakia, opened a modest store on Circus Road. For families who had fled violence and persecution across war-torn Europe, this shop offered something far deeper than groceries; it brought back the familiar tastes, aromas, and comforting traditions of a home they had lost. While Mr Panzer departed early on, Walter Vogl and his son Peter ran the business for over seventy years. Together, they built a world-famous reputation around simple staples executed with extraordinary precision: freshly baked bagels, rich cream cheese, and above all, hand-cut smoked salmon. For over twenty-five years, a legendary master slicer named Stefan stood behind the counter, using a razor-sharp knife to carve paper-thin, translucent slices from oak-smoked wild salmon. By two thousand and fifteen, the aging deli was at risk of turning into a generic chain store. That was until David Josephs, a lifelong customer whose grandfather brought him here as a six-year-old boy, stepped in to rescue it! He carefully renovated the store, expanding it into a thriving emporium without losing its soulful heritage. Today, food writers like Nigella Lawson and Yotam Ottolenghi regularly fill their shopping baskets here. Pop star Harry Styles even once ordered three thousand pounds worth of fresh sea bass from the counter to deliver to his friend Liam Gallagher! Inside, shelves are packed with luxury delicacies from around the world, from French artisanal butter to fresh, hand-braided challah bread. Pick up a warm bagel piled high with paper-thin smoked salmon, step outside onto Circus Road, and taste over eighty years of resilience, tradition, and culinary magic.