Food & Beverage - John Lewis Place to Eat Solihull
Food & Beverage - John Lewis Place to Eat Solihull from Rob Atkinson
Food & Beverage - John Lewis Place to Eat Solihull

The brief for this project was to produce a modern interior for the operation of a 280-seat restaurant on the first floor of a department store within a new shopping complex in the West Midlands outside Birmingham in England.
The 650 square meter site was the at the
junction of two internal mall walkways which opened out around the restaurant
restaurant to a large central colonnaded atrium. Through this positioning, customers of the restaurant were able to enjoy a
uninterrupted view either side of the mall, a view further enhanced by a split-level floor across the dining area.
The project was tendered and procured through the Developers Bovis in 2000
and opened successfully in September 2001.
I was responsible for all stages of the development from initial concept to detail
development, tender submissions, co-ordinating sub-contractors and on-site supervision.

For further Project information please downloaded this PDF
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Central atrium at the junction of two arcades, with downstairs cafe facilities and upstairs restaurant with corresponding views
Servery counters which were specifically designed for interchangeable equipment transfers. This allowed the operator to adjust their menu offer during the course of a day as well as make seasonal amendments to their food offer
A variety of seating offers were made available to maximise the time spent within the department store
Central Patisserie counter at entrance with purpose-designed display equipment, lighting and storage facilities.
Split level seating arrangement created spectacular views across the atrium for the entire restaurant audience. No easy feat for a maximum of 260 diners
The restaurant design needed to blend seamlessly with the atrium perimeter, which required much coordination with the landlord-architects and sub-contractors
Purpose-designed banquette seating to the upper-level central seating area
High quality materials and subtle detailing were designed to communicate a restrained modern elegance
Light wells to the ceilings maximised natural light into the restaurant
The split level flooring had a practical purpose of concealing the heating and ventilation equipment necessary for an enclosed facility that was open to the internal atrium
Materials, food presentation, furniture and lighting merge together in seamlessly elegant surroundings
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Food & Beverage - John Lewis Place to Eat Solihull

The brief for this project was to produce a modern interior for the operation of a 280-seat restaurant on the first floor of a department store within a new shopping complex in the West Midlands outside Birmingham in England.
The 650 square meter site was the at the
junction of two internal mall walkways which opened out around the restaurant
restaurant to a large central colonnaded atrium. Through this positioning, customers of the restaurant were able to enjoy a
uninterrupted view either side of the mall, a view further enhanced by a split-level floor across the dining area.
The project was tendered and procured through the Developers Bovis in 2000
and opened successfully in September 2001.
I was responsible for all stages of the development from initial concept to detail
development, tender submissions, co-ordinating sub-contractors and on-site supervision.

Rob Atkinson
Design Director at Imagination London, United Kingdom