Gallery The Savoy LONDON BradyWilliams breathes new life into a London icon by blending heritage charm with sumptuous vision. Words: Abby Lowe • Photography: © BradyWilliams
L
ondon in 1912 was a largely conservative city, where restrictive social constructs were the norm. But there are always outliers, and two revealed themselves one
evening at The Savoy. During the hotel’s renowned dinner service, one daring couple leapt up to dance in the small gaps between the tables. This spur of the moment spin started a penchant for dinner dances, a trend that The Savoy embraced by installing a dance floor. In the dark war years that followed, people enthusiastically tangoed between courses, lifting spirits and escaping the grim realities that dogged daily life. The same pioneering pair are once again mainstays at The Savoy, only this time appearing as elegant silhouettes sweeping across the walls of its newly refurbished restaurant, Gallery. When considering the renovation, Shayne Brady, Director at London-based studio BradyWilliams, instinctively knew it was a tribute he had to make. “It’s our ode to them,” he says, tucking into a scone with lemon curd as part of the restaurant’s legendary afternoon tea. “It’s a lovely feeling to sit in the room and watch them dance.” These striking artworks by Michael May and Atma Studio are just one standout element of a venue that’s studded with understated flamboyance, perhaps an inevitable consequence of Brady’s innate extroversion. “I think all our projects are considered theatrical,” he muses. “But at the same time, we don’t scream for attention. It’s more about making something feel timeless and modern.” Understandably then, The Savoy called on BradyWilliams
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