GRAND CENTRAL, BRIGHTON
- Pub and restaurant | Design and Build
- Oct 30, 2015
- 2 min read
An unofficial gateway to Brighton. This Victorian railway hotel has been a pub since the roaring twenties but had lost some of its verve in recent years. The client required a sympathetic restoration whilst at the same time celebrating the modern cosmopolitan culture of the city. The overall interior design and build brief was to rediscover its truly grand character.
Traditional elements needed to be uncovered and fused with a new modern décor to produce an authentic vintage design with some refined contemporary touches. There was also the need for a respectful nod to the elaborate architecture of the famous railway station and an exciting fusion of periods and genres that would reflect the colourful past of the venue.
As a stop off for commuters and the thousands of tourists that flock to the south coast an all day offer needed to be suitable for a number of occasions and a broad range customers. This required a varied but flowing scheme on the ground floor with the addition of an intimate live venue upstairs for the night owls.
Design and Build Solution
The main room harks back to the simplicity of the classic public bar as warm woods fuse with deep leathers and frame exquisite period features.Metro tiled walls and the elegant centerpiece bar are illuminated by a contemporary twist on traditional light fittings. A stylish transition area leads to the bistro and lounge that combine a bright café feel with a soft vintage aesthetic including deeply upholstered benches and upcycled furniture supplied by The Revivalist (as link). To the rear of the lounge area a small set of steps leads along a walled lobby overlooking the Brighton rooftops to the roof terrace. Displaying an eclectic, almost Mediterranean chic this quiet sun-trap completes the scheme and connects the past with the present using vintage doors and industrial seating accented by vibrant, modern furniture.
Upstairs, The Nightingale Room celebrates the hedonism of early art deco. The striking brass pillar lights illuminate a French chevron parquet floor, luxurious quilted fabrics, raised booth seats and a series of quirky period artworks. Boasting a dedicated live stage, separate cocktail bar and opulent décor this destination venue will undoubtedly tap into the thriving nightlife of Brighton with live music, theatre and comedy.
