Overview
Neighbourhood restaurant Poppy’s Place to open
Holiday Inn Darlington North implements IHG open lobby concept
Marriott’s Moxy Hotels on the way
Red’s True Barbecue Restaurant & Bar in Manchester
Neighbourhood restaurant Poppy’s Place to open
Poppy’s Place, a new address for all-day dining in Fulham, is to open its doors in March 2014. Poppy’s Place is the first venture from the young team of restaurateur and consultant Scarlett Guess and Chef Alastair Prichard. It will offer a ‘farm-to-table’ cafe menu of seasonal breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes by day, and will, by night, transform itself into a candlelit neighbourhood restaurant serving robust British flavours with a focus on steak.
Alastair Prichard, an experienced young chef who runs a prominent West London catering company Alastair David, will take the helm in the kitchen. Business partner Scarlett Guess, who has experience running her family’s restaurant, the St James’ stalwart Rowley’s on Jermyn Street, and has consulted on a number of restaurant projects, will manage the restaurant.
The Poppy’s Place day will begin with the extensive breakfast menu covering the full range from a quick croissant and a cup of Workshop Coffee to hearty English breakfasts and brunch dishes such as hash browns and hot smoked salmon with horseradish crème fraîche.
Lunch at Poppy’s Place is set to become a local fixture thanks to a special ‘toastie’ menu featuring classics such as grilled ham and cheese alongside roast beef and emmental with gravy dip. There will also be a regularly changing choice of soups and salads as well as delicious sandwiches on artisan bread.
Children and families will be made very welcome at Poppy’s Place and there will be crayons and paper available to keep them amused as well as a special ‘Little Munsters’ menu, with sample dishes such as beef and tomato ragu pasta bake and chicken with potato wedges and peas, all served with cordial.
In the evening when Poppy’s Place undergoes its transformation from cafe to restaurant, it will offer a menu of small plates (e.g. endive with celeriac and ham remoulade; beetroot, squash, goats’ cheese and croutons), daily changing specials and steaks.
The unique look of Poppy’s Place, a home-from-home environment rich in atmosphere and style, has been created by Nicola Harding Design. The light-filled, panelled room is furnished with an eclectic mix of vintage furniture and quirky lighting. Low lighting, candles and elegant tableware will transform the cosy space into an inviting restaurant.
Poppy’s Place, 255 Munster Road, London, SW6 6BW.
020 7920 6420
Holiday Inn Darlington North implements IHG open lobby concept
Dominvs Hospitality, the Hospitality arm of the Dominvs Group, today announced its grand opening date for its Holiday Inn Darlington North Hotel.
The Holiday Inn Darlington North hotel is the fourth hotel to implement the innovative IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) open lobby concept in Europe.
The transformation of their 80-bedroom hotel in Darlington involved the conversion of the traditional hotel lobby by combining the front desk, restaurant, bar, lounge area and business centre into one open, cohesive space, while refreshing the design to give it a more contemporary feel.
“The notion was conceptualized by understanding how people use space at home in order to give guests the most flexibility, whether they’re looking to eat, relax, work, or have fun in one integrated space” says Preet Ahluwalia, Director of Dominvs Hospitality.
The novel concept also offers a new dynamic dining experience for local residents to enjoy great food in a relaxed atmosphere. Guests can order from the all-day dining menu or have a drink in the bar with friends and colleagues.
In addition to the ample informal meeting space and comfortable seating options, the hotel now proudly serves Starbucks coffee, giving guests the flexibility to eat in, eat out or enjoy take-away items in their rooms.
Patricia MacInnes, General Manager at Holiday Inn Darlington North says: “The Holiday Inn open lobby concept is a fresh offering which combines the various guest experiences in a brand new refreshing way. It is a casual, unpretentious space designed to make everyone feel welcome whether travelling alone or with a group, with kids or with colleagues.”
The Holiday Inn Darlington site opened on Friday 28 February 2014.
Marriott’s Moxy Hotels on the way
Following the debut of Moxy Hotels this September at the Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy, Marriott International has announced that it plans to open five additional locations in key cities throughout Europe by 2015 including Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt in Germany, as well as Oslo, Norway.
Marriott expects to sign a further 13 hotels in Europe by the end of 2014.
A fresh and innovative lifestyle hotel brand created especially for the millennial traveller which combines contemporary design (see illustrations above and below for Milan Malpensa) and approachable service at a reasonable price, Moxy Hotels is projected to reach 150 hotels within the next ten years.
The following Moxy hotels are expected to open by 2015:
- The 162-room MOXY Milan Malpensa Airport, conveniently located at Terminal Two and scheduled to open in September, 2014
- The 317-room MOXY Munich Airport, located approximately five minutes from the main terminal and scheduled to open in spring, 2015
- The 190-room MOXY Berlin Ostbahnhof, centrally located near Ostbahnhof train station and scheduled to open in spring, 2015
- The 305-room MOXY Frankfurt Gateway Gardens, located approximately five minutes from Frankfurt Airport and scheduled to open in summer, 2015
- The 266-room MOXY Berlin Airport, located at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport and scheduled to open in autumn, 2015
- The 229-room MOXY Oslo Exporama, located approximately 15 minutes from both the airport and city center and scheduled to open in autumn, 2015
Stylish + modern technology + affordable
“Today’s global traveller is looking for a stylish travel experience with modern technology at an affordable price, said Amy McPherson, president and managing director of Marriott International in Europe. “The economy sector is the fastest growing segment in Europe, and we see tremendous opportunity to deliver a product that truly exceeds expectation. With the planned opening of the Moxy Milan Malpensa this year, we are hopeful that we can redefine economy travel for the next generation traveller.”
Latest technology
Created in partnership with Nordic Hospitality and with Inter Hospitality Holding as the owner and developer of the first six properties, Moxy Hotels is one of the newest and most exciting brands within the Marriott International global portfolio. Following extensive research on the rapidly emerging millennial traveller and a response to their unique needs, each hotel will be designed with the latest in technology so guests can connect amidst inviting social spaces with self-sufficient service elements.
Design
The design and colour palette will feature calming, neutral tones reminiscent of rich brown leather, combined with natural materials to evoke an organic, comfortable and restorative feel. Each room will feature a floor to ceiling signature “art wall” that is hand selected to reflect the unique destination. Guestrooms will be functional and well-designed, with upscale bath amenities, large flat screen televisions and built-in USB ports conveniently located throughout the room.
Public spaces
Adaptable public spaces will invite guests to relax and socialise, offering healthy continental breakfast options each morning and a bar/lounge atmosphere in the evening featuring wines by the glass and local beer. Each Moxy Hotel will offer “Plug and Meet” meeting spaces throughout the public space, designed with stylish ergonomic seating, writing walls and large television screens for presentation projection. The lobby space will also include state-of-the art computers available to guests and a 24/7 market for snacks on the go.
Sustainability
In keeping with Marriott International’s commitment to sustainability, each Moxy Hotel is expected to meet the requirements for LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council
Moxy Hotels will be part of Marriott Rewards, Marriott International’s award-winning global guest loyalty program which allows more than 45 million members to earn points at nearly 3,800 hotels in 71 countries worldwide.
Red’s True Barbecue Restaurant & Bar in Manchester
Blacksheep design and branding studio have recently revealed their latest design for the new Red’s True Barbecue restaurant and bar, which officially opened on 13 February in the heart of Manchester’s Albert Square. With the brand already proving a big hit in Leeds, owners James Douglas and Scott Munro approached Blacksheep to design a new restaurant and bar that would reflect the character of the Red’s experience, a concept drawn deep from the love of traditional American low n slow style barbecuing.
The Blacksheep team approached the project by treating the 6,000sq foot venue as a blank canvas for which they could communicate the world of Red’s True Barbecue, drawing inspiration from the brand’s traditions, values and beliefs.
The overall design puts theatre at the very heart of the experience, with the owners themselves likening it to a ‘twisted fairground’. The restaurant’s kitchen, covered with wire chain fence, is open plan and offers the ultimate sensory experience for meat lovers. Pitmasters can be seen taking meat from huge bespoke Oklahoman smokers and flame grilling burgers over the charcoal barata grill, building a sense of anticipation for the diner and inviting them to experience the joy of true barbecue. Bright Yes/No neon signs are hung around the kitchen’s perimeter to communicate the availability of the food, smoked on site every day, to the brand’s hungry believers.
At night, the kitchen provides a backdrop to the bar, which showcases a bespoke feature light reminiscent of a fairground. The lit bar flaunts the vast selection of craft beers and cocktails on offer, whilst a raised ‘pulpit’ like DJ Booth sits aloft, from which Red’s can entertain diners through their love of rock music.
The venue offers two enclosed dining areas to enjoy the Red’s True Barbecue experience. Behind the front kitchen sits a 48 cover room suitable for private hire. Using upholstered banquettes and blackened burnt timber paneling, the room reflects an unearthed burnt out pit and conjures up images of the traditional barbecoa method of cooking meat.
Another unique and dramatic space takes the form of the ‘rub room’. An almost hidden space, it again echoes the barbecue process whilst presenting the ultimate voyeurs experience offering a direct view into the kitchen and the action within.
Jordan Littler, Lead Designer on the project commented, “Throughout the design religious iconography and messages converse with mortuary-like tables and butchers curtains to remind the guest of the journey of the product and the primal connection between man and beast. Reclaimed finishes, key clamp frames and exposed brickwork all enforce the raw nature of the product while neon signage and bespoke artwork layers to convey the attitude and distinct humor of the brand.”
A design not for the faint hearted, it is dramatic in its approach, in your face and fiercely intense, much like the brand’s promise itself.
James Douglas, co-founder at Red’s True Barbecue, said: “Based on our initial brief, the guys at Blacksheep took what was seen to be a slightly off beat idea and turned it into what we feel is the best restaurant in Manchester!
“Together we managed to bottle the atmosphere and feeling of our first site in Leeds and faithfully re-create it, by injecting more punch and humour. Initial feedback from diners, both in person and on social media, has been incredible and that’s what it’s all about.”
About Blacksheep
Recently voted one of the UK’s Top 50 Consultancies by Design Week’s Creative Survey, Blacksheep is an international, independent and innovative design agency that creates unique and memorable experiences for powerful global brands. Experts in the hospitality sector, Blacksheep embodies the culture of the industry through the way it partners with its clients. The agency supports the belief that the hospitality industry is, ultimately, driven by people and how they interact with brands, thus it promotes this attitude through the relationships they themselves build with their partners.
Blacksheep aspires to work with the best brands and people the industry has to offer as it believes its most successful work comes from building and maintaining strong relationships with like-minded professionals. Over the past 10 years, Blacksheep has collaborated with a wide range of brands from the Food & Beverage industry such as Jamie Oliver, Four Seasons, Fairmount, Hilton, Hermes, Gordon Ramsey, BA, Bloomingdales, Wedgewood and Diageo.
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