brief: interior design scheme for a lounge bar and restaurant

A lot has been written about the demise of the British pub. It has been estimated that up to forty a week are closing down across the UK, widely attributed to cheap prices offered by supermarkets, the smoking ban and the effects of the recession.

However, reports of the death of the pub are, thankfully, greatly exaggerated, especially when you consider that the total number of alcohol licenses issued has not significantly changed. This reflects an ongoing shift towards a café bar culture.

Like any small business independent pubs need to adapt to survive. Our work with developers Johal Munshi, and hospitality experts Goosedale Limited demonstrates that fresh ideas, good commercial common sense and great interior design can go a long way towards breathing new life into a failing venue. As their retained design consultants we have offered interior design advice for retail shops, offices, restaurants wedding venues, conference centres and hotel interiors. It is a business relationship stretching back over 20 years.

Their purchase of The White Lion Pub in Calverton, Nottinghamshire provided a great opportunity to create a state of the art Lounge Bar and Restaurant. To compete effectively they knew a bar needs to offer more than an excellent pint of beer and a bite to eat. Design CLD were appointed to provide that something extra.

Above: one of the Mood boards for Oscar's.

Our approach was to create an intimate environment focusing on elegance and comfort, the bar design was broken into six different areas. We humanised the monolithic exterior with a two-tone colour scheme emphasizing the varied history of the building. Innovative cladding materials and signage drew attention to the main entrance. The sense of expectation created was rewarded with a stunning reception lobby featuring funky optical wall finishes and furniture. With an eye on budget, the existing bar design was modified to include concealed lighting and branding. The rest of the space was subdivided into a deli, lounge, dining area and snug (complete with its own open fire).

The refurbished venue was christened Oscar’s, a name chosen to reflect the opulent and high quality finish. in addition to the restaurant design, Design CLD prepared the logo, menu design, and exterior signage designs.

Above left and middle: the tired pub exterior needed smartening up and we used two colours to break up the otherwise bland building.

Above right: The brushed aluminium exterior signs are backlit to attract attention at night.

Find out more about Oscar's lounge bar and restaurant on their own web site:
oscarsloungeandrestaurant.co.uk