This project went far beyond design—shaping everything from concept to completion, service and menus to licensing, and heat loss calculations to establishing the live music offer. Operational set-up was included, from hiring the team and securing planning permissions to negotiating contracts, sourcing suppliers, and running tables. A true passion project with a touch of ‘right time, right place,’ it became a celebrated venue and eatery—drawing plenty eager to claim involvement. You know you’ve done something worthwhile when the credit pinching begins.

The design goal was ‘simple’: open to all - a welcoming, well-balanced space, with clean symmetry and a fuss-free fabric, all working within a tight budget. Once a long-derelict social ‘anti-social’ hotspot, my first job was clearing needles from the lobby.

Low ceilings and dim lighting called for a major transformation—wall-to-wall windows, sliding doors, bespoke wire fencing, and espaliered fruit trees to balance openness and privacy. Durability was key, ensuring the space could shift easily from morning coffee crowds to late-night play, with discreet sound attenuation, heavy curtains, and warm wood softening the edges.

Efficiency shaped every detail— a high-output but compact kitchen, a five-person back bar, and a ‘floating’ sound engineer station—all refined through close collaboration and improvisation.

What remains is a well-rounded, high-quality (if slightly rough around the edges) space, where the building fabric seamlessly complements the wider experience. Little has changed since its inception.