How We Design a Restaurant, Bar or Café

Every venue we design starts with a story. Here's how we take yours from first conversation to opening night, and what you can expect from us at each stage.

We bring the detail and warmth of residential design to every venue, so guests feel at home and want to stay.

Most of our hospitality projects take three to six months from first meeting to opening. When time is tight, we can move faster: we took Cántaro from concept to opening in just twelve weeks.

Discovery

We start with a conversation and a site visit. We want to understand your food, your customers, your budget and your opening date, as well as what the building allows: services, drainage, extraction and access. We'll talk openly about your budget from the start, so the design is shaped around what's realistic for your venue. Most of our hospitality projects have a total budget between £50,000 and £250,000.

You receive: initial consultation and site visit · measured survey · agreed brief, budget and programme

Space Planning

Before anything looks beautiful, it has to work. We plan covers, customer flow, bar and kitchen positions, staff routes and accessible WCs, and coordinate with your kitchen designer.

You receive: layout options in 2D and 3D · final agreed floor plan

Concept & Story

We translate your story into a design concept: the palette, materials and atmosphere that make your venue unmistakably yours, along with the key design strategies we'll develop in the next stage.

You receive: concept board · design rationale

Developed Design

We design every detail: bespoke joinery for the bar, banquettes and service stations, a lighting plan that works from lunch to late evening, and full furniture and finishes schedules. We research materials and makers specifically for your venue, so the finishes tell your story and, wherever possible, meet sustainable criteria. Detailed 3D visuals let you see the finished venue before building starts.

You receive: bespoke joinery designs · 3D visuals · lighting and electrical plans · furniture and finishes schedule · shopfront and signage design · samples

Drawings & Builder Tender

We produce a technical drawing package detailed enough for builders to price accurately, then run the tender and help you compare quotes and appoint your contractor.

You receive: contractor pack (technical drawings, specifications and scope of works) · tender management · quote comparison and recommendation

Procurement

We source and order everything specified for your venue: furniture, lighting, fabrics, tiles and finishes, all contract-grade and suited to commercial use. We pass on our trade discounts, manage lead times so nothing holds up your opening, and coordinate deliveries with the build.

You receive: procurement schedule with lead times · orders placed with trade discounts · delivery coordination

On Site

During the build, we can be as involved as you need: from regular site supervision, checking that what gets built matches what was designed, to full project management, coordinating trades, programme and budget through to opening.

You receive: site visits · progress updates · snagging list · programme and budget tracking (full project management)

Installation & Opening

We oversee installation, styling and snagging, so your venue is ready for its first guests. Then we photograph it, and you open the doors.

You receive: furniture installation and styling · final snagging sign-off · professional photography

Every project is different. Some clients bring us in for the design only, others for the whole journey. Either way, we'd love to hear your story.