The story of Van Arthur, so far.
Every flower tells a story, and ours began in 2015 with a car boot full of blooms and a lot of determination. At just 22, Sri Aathavan, born and raised in Harrow and a former Nower Hill student, started selling flowers directly to local florists in London and Essex. It was hands-on, back-to-basics work that gave him a deep understanding of the trade and forged lasting relationships with growers, wholesalers, and fellow florists.
When Sri came across a long-empty shop in North Harrow, something just clicked. The space had once been a café, but years earlier it was a florist called Flower Fayre. It felt right to bring it back to life. In 2015, the doors opened again under the name Special Delivery, chosen for the feeling flowers bring when they arrive at someone’s door.
Two years later, the shop found its true identity as Van Arthur. The name was inspired by Sri’s own, Aathavan, while also paying tribute to the Dutch (“Van”) and English (“Arthur”) roots of the flower trade.
By 2018, Van Arthur had grown beyond Harrow. A second shop opened in London’s Liverpool Street, specialising in corporate and contract floristry. Even though that branch closed in 2020, Van Arthur’s ties with corporate clients remain strong to this day.
But through every stage of growth, one thing has stayed the same: our focus on flowers that make people stop and say wow.
"By far the best florist I've yet come across
(and I've been through a fair few!)"
- N. Patel (A Google reviewer)
At Van Arthur, quality comes before everything. Every stem is handpicked, kept fresh in state-of-the-art temperature-controlled rooms, and arranged by experienced florists who know that flowers aren’t just bought, they’re felt.
We work with farms in Holland, Kenya, and Ecuador, and we’re mindful of our impact on the planet. From sourcing to storage, everything is done with care so your flowers arrive as fresh and beautiful as the day they were cut.
Whether it’s a bouquet for someone special, flowers for a wedding, or designs for a corporate space, Van Arthur is about more than flowers. It’s about moments, memories, and the simple joy of giving and receiving something truly beautiful.