London & South East

Libertine: A destination nightclub

The Libertine- Winsley Street, LondonFor more than a decade, Hootan Ahmadi has worked at some of London’s most glamorous nightclubs.

His most recent project is Libertine, a destination nightclub on Winsley Street, London, which sees Hootan collaborate with Chinawhite director James Spallone.

Libertine officially opened its doors in March 2013 and serves up a modern twist on the traditional West End nightclub. Libertine – which has a capacity for 575 guests – boasts three separate but interlinked spaces, including a speakeasy style den called Reason & Mankind.

Libertine takes the traditional nightclub formula, yet updates it for a new clientele. Explaining the idea behind the new club, Libertine Director, Hootan Ahmadi, said:

“Chinawhite has been one of the capital’s most iconic nightspots for many years. Good times and glamour are a vital part of its DNA and we want to hold onto that. Nightclubs tap into that frisson of excitement that comes with meeting new people but I also want Libertine to feel like a house party full of interesting people from all walks of life.”

The Libertine- Winsley Street, London

The concept behind Libertine combines cutting edge design, sensuality and opulence and boasts a truly exceptional sound and lighting system that can project images and colours to suit any occasion. Libertine was designed to create a feeling of warmth and inclusivity and features tiers of seating and tables at ascending levels.

The design of Reason & Mankind includes a few nods to the past as well as embossed wallpaper and luxurious velvet banquette seating. Solid oak tables were custom-made and finished with dripped gold, whilst additional features include rose-gold geometric mirrored hexagons, an inviting dance floor and a 50-foot projection screen.

The Libertine- Winsley Street, London

Lambart & Browne provided the interior design work on Libertine. Formed in 2010, Lambart & Browne provides a professional approach to all its projects, from exclusive private residences, property developments and commercial projects.

Tom Browning, Director at Lambert & Browne, said:

“The design process began in August 2012. Work on site began immediately in the New Year and we completed on the 10th February 2013. Working within the tight timeframe was the major challenge, however we successfully completed the strip out and rebuild within five weeks off the back of Christmas, which included a new bar, new platforms, and the installation of bespoke lighting and furnishings.

The Libertine- Winsley Street, London

“The lighting has been a major success from our point of view, enabling the club to transform in look, feel and tempo as required or as the night develops. The tiered staging and seating arrangement also creates a kind of amphitheatre focussing on the DJ, which is what every club wants.”

Tom added:

“Our previous nightclub projects have included Loulou’s in Mayfair and Raffles in Chelsea, each have a different clientele and therefore different design requirements. Libertine is different again and required a different approach which was a valuable experience for us.”

A stand out feature of Libertine is Reason & Mankind, Libertine’s cocktail lounge which opens from 5pm until 11:30pm. Taking its name from one of Britain’s most famous libertines, Lord Rochester, who wrote ‘A Satyr Against Reason and Mankind’, Reason & Mankind serves up a varied selection of cutting-edge drinks for a discerning crowd.

The Libertine- Winsley Street, London

Those seeking a place to unwind and truly relax will find much to enjoy at Reason & Mankind, including a drinks menu co-created by Jess Cheeseman, who mastered his mixology skills at Gaucho and Purl. Tea-themed signature drinks include the Top Hat & Tails, a wonderful concoction that is served up, not surprisingly, underneath a bowler hat.

Additional cocktails on the menu include Nelson’s Blood, Coachman’s Gift, Red Neck Winter and Satan’s Whiskers. For guests who fancy something a little more traditional there are beers, wines and champagne on offer too.

As an intimate and opulent speakeasy, Reason & Mankind is ideal for glamorous get-togethers and pre-party occasions. Working in harmony with Libertine, the bar area slots in perfectly with Hootan’s way of thinking about creating a destination nightclub.

The Libertine- Winsley Street, London

Hootan, said:

“I love working in nightclubs because it’s all about meeting people and you never know where it could lead. You meet all sorts of wonderful and interesting people and you never know where it will take you.”

As well as its regular weekly programme, Libertine will also showcase a number of special one-off nights that combine live performances and theatre. For more information about Libertine, please visit: www.libertineclublondon.com.

ENARCH 

For more than 16 years, ENARCH has provided architectural, design and project management services to the industry, taking projects from inception through to delivery. Within this time ENARCH has worked on many high profile projects, including the Maddox Club and Morton’s Club in Mayfair, Mamounia Lounge in Knightsbridge and currently working on Rififi Club in Mayfair.

The Libertine- Winsley Street, London

Working on The Libertine, ENARCH project managed the scheme, co-ordinated the various trades and provided some advice on the design of the club.

ENARCH Managing Director, David Draier, said:

“A lot of the work that we are involved with is trend orientated, so we always strive to make each club stand out from the next. Projects can be very challenging, but I enjoy working on each and every one of our schemes and that is why I continue to do my job.”

David added:

“We bring a high level of quality to the industry and as a result most of our projects are sourced through recommendations. We work with good contractors who ensure that we can maintain this level of quality.”

The Libertine- Winsley Street, London

BrickGreen Ltd

BrickGreen is a design and fit-out specialist for nightclubs and restaurants who require a bespoke service. The company has been in operation since 2007 and within this time has worked on many prestigious projects, both in the commercial and high-end residential sectors.

Past projects have included Public, China White and The Maddox Club in Mayfair, whilst most recently BrickGreen Ltd has worked on Libertine.

Working on Libertine, BrickGreen Ltd were involved with the refurbishment of the site, which included the construction of the Reason and Mankind Room, along with one-off joinery items, electrics, upholstery, decoration and the lighting design.

The Libertine- Winsley Street, London

Commenting on Libertine, BrickGreen Ltd Company Director, Bay Knowles, said:

“Projects like Libertine are important to BrickGreen Ltd as they help us to raise our profile. We are pleased to be associated with such a fresh and exciting company and hope to work with them again on future projects.”

Bay added:

“At BrickGreen, we work very closely with our clients, listening to their requirements and meeting their expectations.  We create unique environments using the highest quality materials built to a standard that is second to none.”

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