LOST & FOUND
ANOTHER?
This stunning bar evokes a sense of a bygone era.
Nottingham’s first self-serve wine bar.
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DESIGNING FOR A SMALL VENUE… How to make the most of your space.
TÉATRO Playful and powerful, with all the fun of the theatre. — page 6-7
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Spring/Summer 2018
The Concorde Times CONCORDE BGW brings you the latest design and build news
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Lost & Found L eed s , A lbion Place — Leeds Club, 3 Albion Place, Leeds, LS1 6JL Lost & Found Leeds Club, is the fourth in a successful line of the Lost & Found bar and restaurant concept, and the second to open in Leeds City Centre. Formally a private members’ club, the iconic, Grade II listed Leeds Club building on Albion Place has been transformed into a must-visit destination cocktail bar and restaurant. Having previously worked on the refurbishment of other Lost & Found sites, the team at Concorde BGW were brought on board for the extensive design and build project. — Continued on page 2
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Life is for the living and that’s precisely what we should all do
Professor Benedict Pike
— From front page
The bar is themed around the fictional character, Professor Benedict Pike, who was a chemistry specialist and the historic building has been transformed into a spectacular Victorian hideaway complete with an extensive cocktail menu.
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The stunning period features have been sympathetically restored, and the sophisticated décor scheme throughout creates a venue with a real sense of style whilst reflecting the heritage of the building. From Victorian sofas and velvet fringed chairs, to deep-buttoned winged leather armchairs, the eclectic mix of furniture that has been used throughout helps to create a sense of a bygone era. There is even a decadent secret den, complete with timber panelled bar, distressed paint finishing and a range of quirky bric-a-brac. In the words of Professor Benedict Pike, “Life is for the living and that’s precisely what we should all do.” leedsclub@the-lostandfound.com
Lost & Found on Albion Place in Leeds, is the fourth in a successful line for the Revere Pub Co. Last year, Concorde BGW completed an extensive design and build project for Lost & Found in Knutsford, transforming a Grade II listed, former town hall into a beautiful avant-garde site. We were delighted that Lost & Found Knutsford was named the Best Restaurant/Bar in a Heritage Building at the 2017 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.
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Hitchin
— 31 Market Pl, Hitchin SG5 1DY
The refreshed entrance to the bar sets the tone for the interior throughout. Greenery hangs from the ceiling, with glass lighting nestled amongst it that casts atmospheric shadows across the entrance. The walkway into the venue is framed with an array of plants, along with a hanging chair entwined with ivy, and of course, the resident piano. From rich jewel-toned velvets, and eye-catching patterns to dusky pink leathers, the mix of upholsteries used
throughout creates a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The bandstand in the centre of the space has been transformed with trailing ivy creating a stunning focal point. What was once a music room, has now been transformed into a private dining area. Black and pink hexagonal tiles have been arranged in retro flower patterns, perfectly complementing the dusky pink wall panelling. The area has been finished with retro dining furniture, adding an injection of masculinity into an otherwise soft and feminine scheme. The subtle colour scheme, and eclectic mix of upholsteries used throughout the bar allows the modern, sleek space to seamlessly transition from day to night and cater to all visitors, no matter the occasion.
Photography: Ben Carpenter
A former Corn Exchange, Pitcher and Piano in Hitchin, is a stunning venue that boasts gorgeous high ceilings and plenty of natural light. Concorde BGW were tasked with breathing new life into the popular eating and drinking establishment.
Pitcher & Piano
Reading
Photography: Ben Carpenter
— 18 Friar St, Reading RG1 1DB
The Revere Pub Company approached Concorde BGW with the task of refreshing the interior of the popular Pitcher and Piano bar in the heart of Reading town centre. It was important that the space worked just as well for a spot of lunch after a morning shopping, as it did for a cocktail or two after work, or a big night out. Drawing inspiration from traditional English interiors, subtle paint finishes were used to create a warm and welcoming, home-fromhome environment which was enhanced by an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional furniture. The existing bar still remains at the heart of the site but has been brought into the modern day with sleek marble tiles, industrial
pendant lighting and comfortable bar stools. A warm and welcoming glow has been created by the filament lighting, which floods through the large bay windows onto the busy streets of Reading. It was important that the dining spaces were flexible and allowed for a seamless transition from daytime lunching to evening cocktails. The fixed seating has been upholstered in a variety patterned fabrics, injecting pops of colour into the scheme and creating a striking and comfortable pew for customers to sit back and enjoy a glass of wine. pitcherandpiano.com
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In conversation with…
Laura Lowe Head of Design, North Concorde BGW Small but perfectly formed, Another? Wine Bar is a 900 sq. ft. venue that can seat an impressive 56 covers whilst still retaining a relaxed, unstated and informal vibe. It can often be challenging to know how to make the best use out of your small space, so we thought there was no one better to talk to than Laura, our Head of Design, North, who transformed the Another? Wine Bar.
When Concorde BGW teamed up with Samuel Benjamin to create Nottingham’s first self-serve wine bar, a disused office building was transformed from uninspiring workspace to the hottest bar in town.
Q What are the most important elements to consider when designing for a small space? A The number of covers is always important for any bar or restaurant. It can be difficult in small spaces to achieve a suitable number of covers whilst still creating a comfortable and inviting place to spend time. Q What are the biggest challenges? A The biggest challenge with Another? was finding the right balance between front of house space and back of house space. We didn’t want to give up too much of the trade area for non-customer space so it was important to make features within the areas that could be utilised for storage but also form nice displays. Q How do you maximise the amount of covers, without over-cluttering the space? A To maximise covers but still makes the areas comfortable to sit, we used runs of fixed seating, along with smaller tub chairs and smaller tables. Another? is a wine bar which only offers little bites to eat so we didn’t need too much room on the tables for things such as cutlery and napkins. Q Do you have any particular decorating tips for small spaces? A How you decorate a small space will depend on the atmosphere you are striving to achieve. At Another? the smaller room sizes almost work to the bar’s advantage as the client wanted it to be a warm, cosy environment where you can enjoy and learn about wine. We exposed a lot of the existing brick and paired it with painted timber panelling and a vintage style wallpaper to add colour. The areas are brought to life with elements of brass, lighting and styling items.
Another? Wine Bar Ashburton Rd, Newton Abbot, TQ12 6JW
Comprised of two floors, the original space that Concorde BGW was presented with housed tired, office-space interiors with a distinct lack of style; think dated woodchip walls, greying carpet tiles and harsh fluorescent tube lighting. Concorde BGW set about to strip this back and uncover the bones of the building, bringing its industrial roots to the fore to present customers with a cosy yet contemporary place to enjoy a drink with friends. Unrecognisable as the characterless workspace that it once was, Another? Wine Bar greets customers with a distinctive, industrialchic vibe. Stripped timber floorboards, exposed redbrick walls and traditional beams blend the traditional with the contemporary, whilst
vintage leather banquettes, reclaimed cast iron fire surrounds and warm filament lamps give the space a warm, intimate feel. Statement brass shelving offers an eye-catching solution for storing Another’s all-important wine glasses, sat against reclaimed Moroccan-style tiling to give the bar area an authentic, old-world look. Carrying this theme throughout the bar are vintage novels, traditional maps and vintagestyle copper furnishings, subtly completing the classic-meets-contemporary design that Concorde BGW has created from scratch. anotherwinebar.co.uk
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Playful and powerful was the design brief when it came to creating Cirencester’s hottest new restaurant and bar concept, teaming up with Concorde BGW to develop a memorable space with all the fun of the theatre.
Téatro
— Beeches Road, Circencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1BN
Téatro, aptly named thanks to the Barn Theatre which sits next door, is the first stage of a major theatre renovation project which aims to put Cirencester’s stage credentials well and truly on the map. To do so, Téatro had to be memorable; a unique, eccentric, must-see dining destination for pre-theatre cocktails or a post-play meal. Concorde BGW developed a space to tick the eccentricity box in every measure, something bright and brave, to get the people of this traditional Cotswold market town talking. Working to a tight time-scale and in harmony with the restraints of the listed building within which it sits, an art-deco inspired restaurant and bar was born.
Inside, guests are greeted with an intimate, speakeasy-style vibe, with rich mahoganies, gold and marble tables, oak flooring and brass fixtures and fittings giving the space a distinctly art-deco feel. Through to the restaurant’s dining room, the ‘bold’ feel comes to life thanks to eye-catching flamingo wallpaper, sea-green leather banquettes and vibrant parquet flooring; a cheeky spin on theatrical ‘green rooms’ backstage. Even the lavatories have been given the stage-treatment thanks to black sanitary-ware, white marble walls and striking monochrome wallpaper; a subtle nod to the black and white film era for dramatic effect. teatro-ciren.co.uk
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revivalist.co.uk
From a small sparkle, to a full refurbishment Revivalist can do it all and help
Unit 15A J3 Business Park Balby Carr Bank Doncaster, DN4 8DE + 44 (0) 1302 639 210 info@revivalist.co.uk
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A much-loved local pub with an excellent reputation, The Crown & Cushion came to Concorde BGW with a brief to increase the pub’s capacity with an extension and improved layout, enabling it to better cater for the crowds it was pulling in on a regular basis without alienating the pub’s loyal customer base
The Crown & Cushion — Minley Rd, Minley, Surrey GU17 9UA
Now housing an impressive extension, The Crown & Cushion’s transformed layout seamlessly blends the old with the new. The pub’s original building remains at the heart of the building, re-modified to cope with larger numbers, with the original bar area sitting at its centre to ensure it retains the distinctive character that locals know and love. Flowing smoothly from the pub’s original building is its extension, the chief focus of the renovation project and home to its new restaurant dining space, split into two areas: the dining room itself and a transition area, dedicated solely to providing a gentle, sympathetic customer journey from the old to the new. Concorde BGW also took the pub’s garden to task, counteracting a reduction in size to accommodate the
new extension with an improved functional outdoor heated space. Décor is sleek yet homely; a pub for all that doesn’t scrimp on style. The old building’s traditional central bar still sits at its heart, brought into the modern day with chic metal stools, burnt orange tiling and attracting blue wooden panelling, whilst throughout the pub and restaurant bright pops of colour, avant-garde artwork and industrial-chic design features bring it well and truly into the modern day. The true centrepiece of the extension is its pyramid central skylight, flooding the room with natural light, plus floor-to-ceiling doors that evoke a sense of indoor/outdoor dining for those keen to keep an eye on the cricket being played next door. baronspubs.com
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The Grape & Grain A rkel l s Brewer y — Kingsdown, Upper Stratton, Swindon SN2 7RU
Arkells Brewery approached Concorde BGW with the challenge of converting a disused storage warehouse into an interactive commercial shop area for visitors to enjoy. Tasked with creating an inspiring, interactive space that would not only enable customers to get to know the history of the Arkells brand, but effectively showcase the produce on offer, Concorde BGW conceptualised a space that would blend the old with the new; balancing the heritage of the building with modern, industrial touches. Keen to keep and re-purpose as many original features of the building as possible, the result was an innovative blend of contemporary finishes, traditional brewery equipment and quirky design features. Visitors are greeted with a vast, light-filled double height space on entry, with impressive bottle chandeliers acting as the striking centrepieces to the space. Throughout, exposed brick walls, stripped timber floors and polished steel features evoke a sense of the Brewery’s industrial heritage, with sealed concrete floors, industrial light fittings and steel storage shelves giving the space a contemporary feel. Attentive nods to the beer-making process have been incorporated to create a number of clever design features; a counter-top formed from Arkells beer caps and reclaimed parts from the warehouse’s original conveyor belt; bespoke water features formed from Arkells beer barrels; a meeting table formed from the original Coopers work bench. Far from your average brewery shop, The Grape and Grain Shop also features interactive elements showcasing the history of the Brewery, bespoke artwork depicting the brewing process and an ingredients room, all designed to work in harmony and truly immerse visitors within the Arkells brewing experience. grapeandgrainwarehouse.co.uk
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Coming Soon...
The Signal Box Eu ston Stat ion Concorde BGW are currently working with Fuller’s and Network Rail on the development of the Signal Box at Euston Station. This will be a pub, serving a range of food and will feature an external seating area within the concourse of Euston station.
The Bedford B a l ha m The Bedford in Balham is an exciting project that Concorde BGW are currently working on with Three Cheers having previously redeveloped a number of their other London sites including The Bolingbroke, The Avalon and The Tommyfield. Already a popular entertainment venue, the theatre on the ground floor will be staging live performances with a decadent ballroom and cocktail bar on the first floor. The two upper floors will be home to 15 en-suite bedrooms. The Bedford will be opening later in 2018 – stayed tuned!
The award-winning design & build specialist to the leisure & hospitality sectors
Concorde BGW are the award-winning design and build specialists of the hospitality sectors delivering excellent projects to countless bars, pubs and hotels in the UK. For the past 25 years our reputation has been built on a belief that our work should speak for itself, whilst providing unique experiences, beautiful aesthetic and proven returns.
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With offices in London and South Yorkshire, our team of experienced experts are qualified in each of their specialist fields and are all passionate advocates of good design with an immeasurable love for hospitality.
Palmer Street Hyde Park Doncaster DN4 5DD
Unit 114 Screenworks 22 Highbury Grove London N5 2EF
01302 361 024
020 3355 2297 info@concordebgw.com
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