From humble beginnings, East Street Pub Company has evolved into a diverse group of pubs, bars and eateries – all with their own distinct personality. Their latest project, The Yacht, was also their most ambitious yet and involved the redevelopment of a 700m² Victorian building overlooking Torquay harbour.
The hospitality sector has experienced a seismic cultural shift over recent years that has altered customer lifestyles and consumer habits. As well as a surge towards e-commerce, attitudes towards alcohol consumption have changed, support for local commerce has grown and flexible working has led to new recreational habits. Plus faced with cost pressures, while prepared to spend, customers have started to place more emphasis on the quality of experience and have become more selective. To accommodate these needs and the cycle of day- and night-time socialising habits, East Street Pub Company needed a new format that incorporated several distinct yet complementary guest-experience zones.
Sector
Hospitality & Leisure
Type
Consultancy, Interior design, Guest experience design, Graphics & Signage
Location
Torquay, Devon
The interior design concept for the venue incorporated a new all-day format that brought together a range of social, dining, and drinking guest-experiences – all under one roof. Like a chameleon, the venue had to adapt to the needs of different groups. The brief was a modern interpretation of the public house, where serving alcohol was one of many reasons for visiting – alongside enjoying quality family time, casual socialising, group gatherings, intimate dining, and nights out. Each zone was designed with something quite different in mind, giving guests a broad range of options for different occasions. With an emphasis on quality hospitality, and great products – delivered within an exceptional setting.
“This project was ambitious – we aimed to create something unique in a busy hospitality area, starting with vague ideas, a historic building needing structural work, and requiring specialist, hybrid skills beyond an architect to develop new concepts and an interior excelling aesthetically and functionally.”
— founder of East Street Pub Company, Steve Narvidge.
East Street Pub Company determined that a combination of consulting and hospitality design, architectural and interior design, along with fit-out and construction project-management expertise, was required. To reduce management overheads and costs, the preference was to find all of these skills within a single team.
“We chose to work with Gutxi and were extremely pleased – they had all the needed skills in-house, with ideas, detail, and quality second to none. Such projects demand skill, discipline, and precision to achieve high quality within budget. Gutxi proved a crucial partner, bringing commercial, design, and technical expertise, working well with suppliers, and becoming a strategic partner”
East Street Pub Company’s new venue will offer a range of dining and drinking options, from low-key casual settings to premium and event-driven experiences. Spanning four sections across two floors, the venue will cater to various social occasions. Downstairs, a casual traditional pub and main hub will serve as the central gathering space, while a snug area at the back of the venue will provide an intimate setting for smaller group gatherings. The upper floor will focus on premium and family dining, featuring a sit-down food and drink service and a cocktail and champagne bar. The venue will also host a distillery, offering guests a variety of immersive, bookable experiences, including gin, rum, vodka, and liqueur tasting sessions. The entire venue will pay homage to the heritage of the building and the local area—a coastal town steeped in Victorian history.
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