Fitzrovia is known for its innovation, and the latest addition to Cavendish Street is no exception. Stand & Deliver, a boutique queue-standing service, is now offering Londoners the chance to avoid the drudgery of waiting in line by hiring a professional queuer to do it for them. Whether it’s securing tickets to a sold-out theatre show, getting the first bite of a hyped new restaurant, or simply beating the rush at the post office, Stand & Deliver’s highly trained experts will stand in line so you don’t have to.
“I realised there was a gap in the market when I found myself queueing for a pop-up artisan croissant shop for four hours and thought, ‘Why am I doing this? I have a life,’” said the company’s founder, Sebastian Rindleforth, a former hedge fund manager turned “Queue Concierge.” “Then I realised—I could be making someone else do this for money.”
The Service
For a modest fee, Stand & Deliver offers Fitzrovians a range of queueing options. The Classic Queue package ensures someone will hold your place for as long as necessary, sending live updates via WhatsApp. The Overnight Queue guarantees a dedicated stander for big product launches, such as limited-edition trainers or celebrity-endorsed oat milk.
For those who truly want the VIP experience, the Luxury Queue package includes a professional who will dress in period costume and loudly reminisce about the “good old days” to deter queue jumpers.
The Staff
Sebastian is particularly proud of his team, which includes former personal assistants, a retired butler, and even a professional Wimbledon queue-goer who once held a spot for 36 consecutive hours. “These people are the elite of standing still,” he said. “They have stamina, discipline, and a deep knowledge of queue etiquette. You won’t find them absentmindedly scrolling Instagram or, heaven forbid, losing your spot.”
The Clients
Despite being open for less than a month, business is booming. Local resident and self-proclaimed “experience collector” Lucinda de Monte told The Fitzrovian: “I simply must try every trendy restaurant, but I also must never wait in line. Sebastian’s service is a godsend. Last week, I had someone queue for six hours at Gluten & Regret so I could waltz in and pretend I’d been waiting like a commoner.”
Other clients include tech executives, politicians, and at least one anonymous member of the aristocracy who allegedly hired a queue stander to wait for him outside his own castle.
The Future of Queueing?
While some Fitzrovians have embraced the service, others are skeptical. “It’s madness,” said longtime local Eric Blemish. “Queueing is a sacred British tradition. If we outsource it, what’s next? Someone to drink our tea for us?”
But Sebastian remains unfazed. “People once thought Uber was a silly idea too,” he said confidently. “Mark my words—this is the future. In fact, we’re already working on a premium service where someone will queue with you, so you don’t have to suffer alone.”
For now, Fitzrovia residents will have to decide: is time more valuable than tradition? Either way, one thing’s for certain—at Stand & Deliver, business is standing strong.
