Design Clarity is responsible for the refresh and design reinvigoration of Mitchells & Butlers’ ‘crown jewel’ brand – Browns. To Mitchells & Butlers, Browns is their most treasured and important F&B brand and there are plans for our new fresh-eyed concept design thinking to be applied to all their existing drinking and dining premises across the UK.

Approaching the project strategically, Design Clarity understood the new brand positioning of ‘The English Brasserie’, researched the market and profiled existing and target customers. Old Jewry, in the conservation area of the City of London was used as a test site for the new design, followed by West India Quay – both sites in complex heritage buildings in London. Browns design work is now underway for new and remodel sites in Bath, Bristol, Nottingham, Glasgow, Cambridge, Windsor and Leeds.

The design encompasses the classically ‘English Brasserie’ look and feel, delivering a more efficient layout to accommodate varied table sizes and occasions. We worked hard to ensure the new Browns was one which took all the best parts if the existing design, improved efficiencies in operation and modernised the brand identity through more luxury furniture and finishes. This new concept draws on a number of collaborations including a bespoke wallpaper designed for the brand by the renowned Scottish design duo Timorous Beasties.

Design Clarity has created a completely modern ‘grounded grandeur’ concept true to the brief for a client craving a cocktail of ideas; a design refresh that is considered, elegant and quintessentially British.

Photography by Guy Archard