The Devonshire Terrace boasts stylish restaurant and sassy, sexy bar

1st June 2011, 11:10am

London bar operator Corney & Barrow, which recently purchased Devonshire Terrace, has invested £500,000 in a complete refit of the interior and exterior of the venue. We find out more about the project.

The venture has a total of 270 covers and features four private rooms; complete with sliding doors and access to a private balcony area. Private rooms can be reserved individually as well as together and be booked for dinners and lunches from four people upwards.

Lucy Knowles, managing director at Corney & Barrow, seen this project as a massive opportunity for the business: "As the leading bar operator in the city we understand that we are missing an opportunity by predominantly focusing on drink-led business. The purchase of Devonshire Terrace has given us the chance to offer our customers somewhere to go for a high quality but less corporate lunch experience."

"The city has changed enormously over the last few years and whilst people are still looking for good value for money they are also looking for great quality. The mistake many operators are making is thinking that by offering blanket happy hours including cut price, poor quality food and drink offers, they will fill their venues."

Q. What was your aim when designing this project? 

To take Devonshire Terrace from being a good restaurant in a great location in the heart of the city to being a sophisticated venue which incorporates a slick and professional restaurant by day with a sexy/sassy bar by night.  I wanted to offer informal excellence in an environment which is aspirational whilst also relaxed and unpretentious. I wanted to give people somewhere to go in the city which delivers excellent service and product in an environment which feels independent and totally non-corporate.   

Another reason for buying Devonshire Terrace was that we wanted to focus on our reputation within food-led business. Corney & Barrow is renowned as an excellent bar operator but it is very difficult to persuade our customers that we can do good food too. 

With Devonshire Terrace we have bought the food reputation, improved it and then layered across the top the Corney & Barrow bar concept which works so successfully in the city. To really make your venue sweat you need to make sure you are maximizing all day parts and with this concept this is exactly what we are doing.

Q. How did you achieve this? 

Devonshire Terrace's interior pays homage to golden age glamour, with a chic 'Mad Men-esque' take on décor; using carefully chosen pieces of belle époque furniture, white washed floors and dark wood fittings. Its eclectic feel helps to deliver that feeling of somewhere non-corporate.

Q. What would you describe as the key and unique features? 

The lounge area has huge antique mirrors, lime velvet wing-back chairs and mushroom style coffee tables. Feature furniture pieces include a unique goatskin reception dresser and the focal point curved 'top table' in front of the kitchen with dark wood lattice and a bronze fascia. The venue itself with its remarkable double sided balconies, one completely covered by a high glass roof, is unique and jaw-dropping, the reindeer skin throws and electric heaters on the outside terrace give it a year round appeal.

Q. Stage by stage how did you approach this project? 

We bought the venue in December, briefed the designers in January, wrote the brand document in February and then re-briefed the designers late February! I have amazingly patient designers who worked well with me on what was a very quick and tight deadline. I knew I wanted this venue to feel very non Corney & Barrow but I didn't quite know what that meant and looked like until half way through the project. Once I had firmed this up in my head the designers got a much clearer re-brief.

Q. Where did you get your inspiration from? 

A hotel in the New Forest called Lime Wood. It is incredible. It offers a truly five star experience in terms of service and product but it does it in a very informal manner with lots of personal touches. I believe that most people these days are prepared to pay for the best but that doesn't necessarily mean being stuffy, formal and old fashioned. People expect incredible service along with high quality food and drink (with authentic stories relating to provenance) in this day and age but they want it packaged and delivered in a relaxed and informal manner.

Q. What is the size of the venue? 

Devonshire Terrace has a standing capacity of 450 and 270 covers. Four private rooms are available, with sliding doors and private balcony areas and a total capacity of 60 seated or 150 standing. The venue's huge 1,973 sq. ft. glass covered terrace is available all year round. 

Private dining areas:
 Private room 1 - 150 sq. ft.
 Private Rooms 2, 3 and 4 - 200 sq. ft. each
 Private rooms can accommodate a total of 60 seated or 150 standing
 Each private room has its own private balcony area complete with its own heater.

Square footage of the terrace area:
 Front terrace (under the glass roof) – 1,973 sq. ft.
 Rear terrace – 1,151 sq. ft.

Q. Timetable, how long did it take from start to finish? 

Four months from buying the venue (3rd January) to re-opening (9th May)

Q. What do you like most about the design of the venue? 

My favourite design pieces are the belle époque style dresser by the door and the antique mirrors. The thing I like most about the design of the venue is that it is so versatile. It is a stylish restaurant, a sexy and sassy bar and an amazing events venue.

Q. Fit out cost?
£400,000 inside with a further £80,000 being spent on the outside furniture.

Q. If you were to change anything about the design, what would it be?
I would have done the outside furniture at the same time. Instead we delayed it and the outside is not quite complete yet.

Q. Do you think you used the space to the best of its ability?
The Devonshire Terrace was designed to be extremely versatile; offering a flexible approach to dining with four private rooms, complete with sliding doors and access to a private balcony area. Private rooms can be reserved individually, as well as together, and are available to be booked for dinners and lunches from four people upwards.

Q. What are your plans for the future?
If Devonshire Terrace is a success we will take the concept and roll it out across some new sites and some existing C&B sites. We are undecided as to what we will call it though!

Q. How important is feedback from your customers?
Extremely important. We run customer feedback groups regularly and we actively encourage them to feedback to us. There is a letter from me at the start of our drinks list and it has my personal email address at the bottom with an invitation to send me any feedback they may have – good or bad!

Q. Any other projects in the pipeline?
Yes!! We are actively looking to expand both in the city and beyond. There are a couple of projects bubbling along but nothing we can announce yet.