DesignLSM have recently completed work on the redesign and relaunch of the iconic fine dining Indian restaurant – Bombay Brasserie. It has been a thoroughly exciting project to work on, enabling our designers to work with many unusual and authentic elements.

The entrance to the restaurant has been dramatically re-envisaged. A beautiful metal fret work curved screen has been installed, which is gently back lit; providing a warm welcome to the patrons and complimenting the rows of Indian petrol lanterns that sit in recessed shelves within the screen. A domed barrisol ceiling created with a cream fabric and furnished with an elaborate steel framed chandelier completes the foyer.

The restaurant itself is a large space, which has a variety of seating areas – relaxed, formal, private and a large conservatory – each of which needed redefining and harmonising with an overall interior concept. DesignLSM draw upon the restaurant’s established heritage and emphasized its colonial style. This included sourcing furniture hand crafted from India, original photos from the period and commissioning artwork from a renowned Indian artist – which was painted onto a large canvas and carefully shipped to the UK for installation.

A prominent feature is the bar, which has been designed to replicate an open drinks cabinet. The mirrored back and glass shelves are back lit, helping the cabinet to create a striking presence within the large space. The surrounding bar is topped with black veined marble complete with a brass trim and black hexagonal tiles on the front. Handmade brass pendants and wall lights, all crafted in India, provide ambient low level lighting.

The room is furnished with an intricately patterned handmade rug, antique wooden concertina screen, plantation shutters and an eclectic mix of framed photographs depicting colonial scenes. These elements combined with a varied use of rich materials, such as velvet and leather, and bold colours help to create a sumptuous relaxing environment. A distinctive aspect of the restaurant is the large circular conservatory – the designers stripped this area back, removed cladding to expose the metal structure and with the addition of planting created a setting reminiscent of a tropical ‘orangery’. The lighting within the conservatory required careful consideration, to create different atmospheres dependent upon the time of day – fresh, vibrant during the day, whilst in the evening a more intimate warm setting.

Our designers also introduced an external seating area, which is accessed via the conservatory through bi-fold doors. A slatted raft roof, with hanging pendants, sumptuous cushioned seating and softly lit planted troughs create a calm oasis.

DesignLSM’s branding team collaborated with the interior designers to produce a suite of printed collateral including stationery and menus utilising metallic colours and gold foil detailing. The logo mark was refined to highlight the restaurant’s established heritage. DesignLSM worked closely with the client to create a truly authentic environment in which patrons can immerse themselves into Indian cuisine and culture, making a memorable dining experience.

Design: DesignLSM
Photography: James French