Dishoom in Birmingham, once known as the ‘city of a thousand trades’, is inspired by South Bombay’s marketplaces and the faded elegance of private residences. The design takes guests back to the early 1900s, where emphasis was placed on buying local and making do by repurposing existing materials, this was all with a nod to ‘Jugaad’, the Hindi word meaning frugal innovation. A research trip to Bombay led us to historic bazaars and its oldest shops, which still sell everything from padlocks to paper. For the glass panels and cabinetry, we back-painted advertisements and idiosyncratic messages, which are often found in the Irani cafés.The walls are lined with shelved glazed cabinets to evoke the eccentric and overflowing shops of historic bazaars. The design also references the grand architecture and panelled interiors of old dilapidated private homes, once belonging to the likes of David Sassoon and local businessman Premchand Roychand. Materials were kept simple, true to the ‘make do and mend’ ideal, using stained timber, painted finishes, and materials with a natural patina. Hard to find opalescent ceiling sconces enhance the transportive nature of Birmingham’s design.
All Case Studies
Located in Soho London, Singapulah transports guests on a cultural journey through the vibrant tapestry of 1970s Singapore.
Departing from the Dishoom’s conventional DNA, this drink-centric offer draws inspiration from the iconic permit rooms and quarter bars of Bombay. We aimed to skilfully blend this Indian reference point with the contemporary vibe of the classic British pub featuring live music and DJ sessions.
Housed in the former National Bank of Ireland, Hawksmoor Dublin is a remarkable restoration project and a significant landmark. With Italianate Neoclassical styles and unique features such as a 40-ft cast iron dome, we saw an exceptional opportunity to restore this historical building.
We embarked on an immersive design journey to bring Hawksmoor (the British steakhouse) to New York City. We restored the historic United Charities Building in Gramercy Park, preserving its landmark status – the dining room’s grandeur was meticulously brought back to life, featuring Ionic pilasters and coffered vaults.
Hawksmoor Wood Wharf, a floating pavilion in London’s docklands, provided us with a unique design opportunity. Drawing inspiration from travel’s golden age, the interiors capture the glamour of Hawksmoor in Manhattan and ocean liner aesthetics.
Hawksmoor Liverpool, built between 1924-32, blends Italian Renaissance and American Beau-Arts styles, and pays homage to the city’s maritime history.
The Lowback, sitting below deck at Hawksmoor Wood Wharf, presented a unique design challenge. The existing floor-to-ceiling glass allowed us to further enhance the space into a remarkable environment featuring a 9-metre brass serving area and a halo-lit Deco-style back bar.
In 1807, the Watney-Combe brewery’s original owner, Alderman Combe, hosted a steak supper for London’s elite, including the Prince of Wales. Drawing inspiration from the rich history of Hawksmoor Seven Dials, our task was to design a distinctive British steakhouse and cocktail bar to exude sophistication, creativity and grandeur.
Hawksmoor Manchester is a luxurious restaurant and cocktail bar located in a Grade II listed building that used to be the city’s former High Court Registry Office.
Hawksmoor Borough, located near London Bridge and a fantastic fresh food market, is situated in a former hops warehouse which was repurposed as a fruit warehouse and auction hall in 1932. Our challenge was to maintain the building’s heritage while reflecting Hawksmoor’s distinct personality.
Hawksmoor Air Street, located on the first floor of Regent Street’s grand crescent, draws inspiration from the former Art Deco heart of London, Piccadilly.
Located near the site of Dolly’s, the world’s first steakhouse – Hawksmoor Guildhall is a 250-cover restaurant and bar with a private dining room that honours London’s most exceptional steak.
Hawksmoor Spitalfields was the first restaurant from the award-winning steakhouse and cocktail bar, opening in 2006. The restaurant features bespoke stained glass windows, plush emerald green leather banquettes, and decorative lighting. The subterranean cocktail bar has a Prohibition New York speakeasy vibe, with bespoke peacock blue wall tiles.
Hawksmoor Knightsbridge is located in the subterranean Yeoman’s Row, surrounded by the prestige of Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and the V&A. Inspired by early Viennese architecture and the glamour of Art Deco, we created a restaurant and bar with a gently curvaceous ceiling and sleek, feminine brass arched windows.
Hawksmoor St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Scotland’s first Hawksmoor, is located in a Grade A listed building which was once the Royal Bank of Scotland’s 1930s home. A considered approach was required, respecting the building’s grand Neoclassical style, influenced by American banking halls, by either incorporating or replicating original features such as mouldings and joinery.
We collaborated with BAO London to create Café BAO, a flagship restaurant and bakery at Pancras Square in King’s Cross.
Welcome to Flat Iron’s first venture in the North of England. Nestled within the Grade II listed historic former Church Institute Building on Lands Lane it was originally designed by architect duo Richard Adams and John Kelly. The building commands attention with its striking facade and prime position on a corner overlooking Albion Place.
Occupying prime position on the Southern Terrace of Westfield London, a palette of dark-stained oak panelling and rich wood finishes makes this instantly recognisable as a signature Flat Iron restaurant.
Dishoom, Battersea is a compelling design journey, mirroring the two phases of the Power Station’s construction. Our approach unfolded with a fascinating dual perspective. We envisioned an Irani café set in the 2020’s as imagined through a 1930’s lens. This liberated us from conformity to determine a broader and eclectic narrative.
The design story for Dishoom Canary Wharf evolved to imagine the fictional owner of the restaurant to be a financial fraudster from the 1970s operating close to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Situated in a Grade II* listed former stable block of the Western Transit Shed, Dishoom Kings Cross transports diners to 1930s Bombay while celebrating the building’s Victorian industrial heritage.
New Dishoom in Covent Garden, London celebrates the golden age of Parsi theatre, the talkies of Bombay, and the city’s old Irani cafes and private residences. A newly acquired space adjacent to the original Dishoom restaurant meant we could increase the overall footprint – touches of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and mid-century design provide a layered, textured aesthetic.
Dishoom in Birmingham, once known as the ‘city of a thousand trades’, is inspired by South Bombay’s marketplaces and the faded elegance of private residences.
In the corner of Kensington’s Grade II listed Barkers Building, we aimed to transport guests back to Jazz Age Bombay, incorporating authentic details of the traditional Irani cafes and Art Deco cinemas of southern Bombay.
Dishoom’s restaurants are each based on a unique story set in Bombay, which informs the design narrative. For the seventh restaurant and bar located in Manchester Hall, a Grade II listed masonic lodge building, the story revolves around Bombay’s freemasonry.
Dishoom Edinburgh is a three-floor restaurant located in the south side of St. Andrew Square. It is housed in a grade A listed building that was formerly an extension of Forsyth’s department store.
Dishoom celebrates the culture of South Bombay’s Irani cafes, with a design that is inspired by the youth-driven cultural revolution that took place in London’s Carnaby Street during the mid-1960s.
Caravan’s all-day coffee roasteries and restaurants in London offer a well-travelled feel. Our interior design for Bankside, City and Fitzrovia responds to their casual menu and philosophy of exploration.
Arcade Food Theatre is housed within a Grade II listed modernist building designed by R. Seifert & Partners in 1966. Originally a bus garage, the 12,500 sq ft space has been transformed into a playhouse for culinary experimentation.
Macaulay Sinclair were naturally drawn to reflect the site’s impressive industrial and canal-side heritage, but were equally compelled to create a luxurious backdrop, with a laidback feel.
Set in the heart of Nottingham’s Island Quarter development, industrial heritage inspired the creative thinking for this stunning all day restaurant, bar and entertainment setting.
The Journeyman, once an interwar-era automotive garage on Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross, underwent a stunning transformation. While honouring its historical significance our aim was to create a sophisticated dining experience and bar with a lively outdoor terrace.
Set on the riverbank of the Thames in Circus West Village within the eagerly anticipated Battersea Power Station development, Francesco Mazzei’s latest restaurant patronage in partnership with D&D London is an ode to the relaxed casual dining of Mezzogiorno, his Southern Italian homeland.
Located within London’s landmark Grade II* listed Battersea Power Station development with the River Thames as backdrop, it was essential for Wright Brothers’ fifth restaurant to have a sense of establishment.
The Light Bar in Shoreditch pays homage to the borough’s 1900 motto of “more light, more power.” Housed in a Victorian power station built in 1893, the bar has a double-height space with remarkable industrial features that reflect its pioneering role in the development of electric power in London.