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A taste of Paris: Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte

For more than 50 years, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte has impressed diners with its uncomplicated approach to dining.

Le Relais de Venise

For more than 50 years, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte has impressed diners with its uncomplicated approach to dining. The prix fixe menu offers one simple dish – a green salad starter tossed with mustard vinaigrette and sprinkled with walnuts, followed by the restaurant’s signature steak-frites, and an accompanying secret sauce. This simple approach to cuisine has provided the brand with a winning formula that has taken it from Paris through to London and New York.

With each Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte restaurant proving to be a hit with customers, the formula has once again been replicated at two brand new brasseries.

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester opened in late April 2012 and was quickly followed in May by Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Canary Wharf. Each restaurant has been designed to mimic the features of the original Parisian eatery by offering an intimate dining experience that is quick, inexpensive and welcoming. Both sites include the brand’s signature dish, whilst to accompany the meal a collection of wines is also available along with a selection of cheeses and desserts.

Work began on Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester in April 2011. The two-storey restaurant is located within a Grade II Listed building on King Street and is spread over the ground and basement levels. The historic building was built in 1841 and prior to its transformation operated as a bank and retail outlet.

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester is a 138-cover restaurant that is conveniently situated in the heart of the city centre, close to a large number of retail outlets. Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester features panelled ceilings, an oak and bevelled glass entrance lobby and banquette seating.

Upon entry into the restaurant, diners are met with a large display cabinet that is loaded with desirable desserts. A red, white and blue colour scheme runs throughout the interior design of the restaurant and glass and timber shelves are filled to the brim with bottles of delicious house wine.

Seating is arranged in a tight formation to create a compact dining area, whilst antique mirrors and lighting help to create a warmth and depth to the interior.

Le Relais de Venise

Additional features of Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester include murals, LED lighting and a bar.

The existing timber floor of the building has been removed and replaced with red hexagonal ceramic floor tiles that run throughout the restaurant. Internal canvas awnings –featuring the name of the restaurant – have also been installed around the windows.

Due to the building’s Grade II Listed status a number of original features have been retained, whilst large oak framed windows have been reinstalled to recreate a feature that had sadly been missing from the site since its original construction.

Shortly after the Manchester site opened, it was followed by the completion of Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Canary Wharf. The 140-cover restaurant is housed within an office building just off Cabot Square in London’s famous Canary Wharf financial district. As each Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte is designed to mimic the thematic style of the brand, the restaurant boasts similar features to the Manchester site including similar fixtures and fittings.

Works began in January 2012 and were completed just ahead of the opening in May 2012. Features include down lighting, brass spindles, stained oak waiters’ stations and modesty curtains that provide an intimate dining space. A timber and bevelled glass screen has been installed in front of the kitchen in order to allow diners to see a glimpse of the internal work areas, whilst all of the extracting systems are located at low level.

Le Relais de Venise

External work on both restaurants was kept to a minimum. However, the entrance doors on the Canary Wharf site have been removed and replaced with new doors to provide a more appropriate entryway.

M C Shopfitters (North West) Ltd was the main contractor on the Le Relais de Venise Manchester L’Entrecôte project, whilst PBH Shopfitters Ltd was the main contractor on the Canary Wharf site. Stiff+Trevillion Architects were the interior design architects on both restaurants and to date have provided interior design work for all UK branches of Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte. Stiff+Trevillion Architects were also responsible for the interior design work on Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte New York.

Stiff+Trevillion Architects Company Director, Richard Blandy, said:

“Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte began as a single site in Paris that opened just after the conclusion of World War II. The restaurant offered a simple meal of steak and chips, however it became incredibly successful and the restaurant quickly took off.

“When the concept was transported to the UK the idea was to mimic this format down to every detail. Not only did the food remain the same but so did the interior design of each restaurant, right down to the fixtures and fittings. This means that each site has similar stencils, light fittings and colour schemes and we also try to keep as many of the features as close to the original as possible.

“In the event that we can’t implement certain aspects of the brand’s design, we introduce an alternative that still retains the same thematic style. We also take on board the existing architecture of the site so that we can enhance features to make the best use of the space available.

Le Relais de Venise

“Our brief is always to introduce a slice of Paris into each location and both the Manchester and Canary Warf sites reflect this perfectly.”

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte The City

Located off Old Broad Street within the heart of London’s financial district, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte The City opened to rave reviews in 2008.The 160-cover restaurant was the first Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte to open in the UK and benefits from a close proximity to tourist attractions such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Barbican.

In keeping with the unique dining practices of the brand, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte dispenses with the concept of a menu and instead encourages diners to simply state how they would like their steak prepared.

The restaurant features a corner entrance – similar to Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Paris – and large floor-to-ceiling windows. Further exciting features include mirrored walls, wooden tables and paintings that depict Venetian market scenes. In addition to the standard features of the brand, Stiff+Trevillion Architects also constructed a stained oak shop front to the entrance of the building.

Like all Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte’s, The City has a strict policy of no reservations, however this has not hindered the restaurant and it continues to remain a successful site for the brand.

Stiff+Trevillion Architects Company Director, Richard Blandy, said:

“Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte The City was a very important site for Stiff+Trevillion Architects as it provided us with our first opportunity to work with the brand.

“Before this restaurant opened the Paris site was the only Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte in existence, so we were delighted to be a part of its move to the UK. We are extremely proud with of our work and we must have done something right as this led to our involvement with the next three sites.”

Le Relais de Venise

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte New York

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte New York opened in 2009 as the first site in the USA. The restaurant is located at 590 Lexington Ave – on the corner of 52nd Street – and is housed within a large office building. Le Relais de Venise is situated close to a number of tourist spots, including Sachs Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Centre and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and retains the Parisian theme that has become synonymous with the brand.

The restaurant is spread across one floor and upon entry diners are immediately presented with a view of the bar and kitchen. Additional features include low lighting, colourful table cloths and oak panelled red banquette seating. To complete the Parisian style, front of house staff are dressed in traditional black & white uniforms and even the frites are cut to the same dimensions as they are in France.

Stiff+Trevillion Architects Company Director, Richard Blandy, said:

“Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte New York was another great site for us and a pleasure to be involved with. We value the work that we conduct for Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte.

“Each restaurant has its own challenges but we are pleased to be a part of the continued development of Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte restaurants and we look forward to continuing this working relationship with the brand.”

JRB Systems

For more than 30 years, JRB Systems has specialised in the design and installation of electrical systems for use in the retail and restaurant industry. The company’s work includes the installation of lighting circuits, power systems and fire alarms. Previous clients include ASDA, Comet, Brighthouse, Debenhams, Boots and Next.

For Le Relais de Venise Canary Wharf, JRB Systems were responsible for the entire electrical installation of the restaurant.

JRB Systems Contracts Manager, David Harvey, said:

“Working on Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Canary Wharf was very important for us, they are a great chain and this was an exciting project which we were pleased to be involved with.”

David Harvey added:

“JRB Systems provides clients with a single source solution for any project and our client liaison team is second to none.”

Catercraft Supplies Ltd

Based in Brighton, Catercraft Supplies Ltd specialise in the design and supply of catering and kitchen equipment for use in the construction industry. With over 25 years worth of experience Catercraft Supplies Ltd has designed and supplied equipment for use in numerous projects including restaurants, public houses, nursing homes and local Government schemes.

For Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte, Catercraft Supplies Ltd design, install and project manage the installation of all of the restaurant’s kitchen equipment.

Catercraft Supplies Ltd, Mike McKeown, said:

“At Catercraft Supplies Ltd, we have a large service and maintenance side to our business which makes up 50% of our turnover and this means that we can look after our customers from the initial concept right through to the after sales service and maintenance.

“We pride ourselves on our reliability to completing all of our work within a set timeframe and this has helped us to develop a continuing relationship with many of our existing clients.”

Radiant Blinds Ltd

Radiant Blinds Ltd manufacture blinds, external awnings, alfresco barriers and umbrellas for use in private and commercial properties – specifically the restaurant trade. Radiant Blinds Ltd is a family-run business with over 100 years experience in the trade. The company has previously provided internal and external products for restaurants such as Café Rouge, Bella Italia and Frankie & Benny’s and has worked on all of the UK based Le Relais de Venise restaurants.

Working on the Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Manchester, Radiant Blinds Ltd provided the site with internal display sheets with gold leaf lettering and edging. On Le Relais de Venise Canary Wharf the company provided the site with external barriers and triangular awnings.

Radiant Blinds Ltd Company Director, Ian Atkinson, said:

“We like working on Le Relais de Venise as they are interesting sites that allow us to create bespoke designs.

Ian Atkinson added:

“At Radiant Blinds Ltd we provide our customers with a service that is unmatched.”

PBH Shopfitters Ltd

Manchester-based contractors PBH Shopfitters Ltd specialise in internal fit-out and refurbishment works for the retail and leisure sectors working closely with project managers and architects to ensure designs are completed to the highest standard. The company has over 22 years experience in the industry.

PBH Shopfitters Ltd has previously completed work for many well-known high street retailers throughout the UK, together with a growing number of high profile restaurants in both Manchester & London.

PBH Shopfitters Ltd was the main contractor on Le Relais de Venise Canary Wharf where the company oversaw all aspects of the fit-out works as principal contractor supervising and liaising with all subcontractors. All bespoke joinery items were manufactured in house by PBH.

PBH Shopfitters Ltd Contracts Director, Steve Moss, said:

“Working with Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte was very important for us as the theme and style of the brand is very much in keeping with the work that we conduct.

“Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte Canary Wharf is the first site that we have been involved with for this particular client but we hope to work with the brand on future projects.”

Steve Moss added:

“At PBH Shopfitters Ltd we provide a high quality service that meets the clients’ expectations every time.”

For more information please visit www.pbhshopfitters.com

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