London & South East Premier Hospitality

Launching M

M Restaurant
Written by Roma Publications

M Restaurant

The highly anticipated M, a multi-faceted venue created by Martin Williams, opened its doors on the 12th November last year.

The impressive three storey venue comprises two restaurants; GRILL and RAW, a destination cocktail bar, a wine tasting room, a secret den and four private dining and events spaces.

We caught up with Martin Williams, the Founder and CEO of M Restaurants, to find out more about the company’s debut venture. Martin commented:

“I wanted to create a venue that was multi- faceted so I went site hunting earlier this year and managed to find a site in June 2014. Works began in August on the building which used to be a brasserie and we completely stripped it out to a concrete shell, to create a home from home.

“Previously the owners were only using two floors so we have had to renovate the basement level from scratch. With M, it is the first time I have ever ventured out on my own, so I have used my 20 years experience, which has been exciting.”

Working alongside main contractors Hannah Contracts and designers Rene Dekker Design, Martin has created his debut venue. The venue has been designed in an accessible, yet distressed luxurious style.

M Restaurant

Upon entering the venue, guests walk into a four metre wide lobby area fitted with a polished concrete tile and containing a grand staircase, which leads to M’s classic cocktail bar, wine tasting bar and Den. The impressive mezzanine level overlooks the double height spaces, as well as GRILL and RAW.

The Grill restaurant is very sumptuous, both in its design and food and drink on offer. Faux eel skin can be found on the venue’s walls and the chairs have been upholstered with chic, luxurious fabrics. Plush inset rugs have been scattered throughout the space.

Grill’s menu is internationally themed, offering award winning steaks, wines and desserts from Japan, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, America and France. Cuts include Wagyu from Australia and Kobe from Japan and range from £18 to £150. M employs an onsite butcher, who is on hand in the ageing rooms during every service, to offer beef master classes to diners, allowing them the opportunity to have steaks cut to their size and preference.

M Restaurant

RAW, M’s second restaurant, provides a much more accessible environment with shared tables, communal dining, and a funky, Japanese inspired décor. The menu is also more accessible than Grill with a plethora of affordable, yet tasty, dishes available to choose from. The design was inspired by CEO Martin’s recent trip to Tokyo.

M’s bar is evocative of Miami in terms of its design, offering an edgy, casual space to unwind in. The venue, which has been decorated with a range of quirky artwork and photographic works, was unveiled by Tinie Tempah himself, who performed to the excited crowds on launch night.

The bar overlooks RAW restaurant and houses a staged area where live music and DJ’s feature throughout the week.

The Den has a cigar and whiskey feel and offers a decadent, luxurious space for guests to enjoy. The venue boasts comfortable armchairs, a football table and bottle lockers along one wall.

The newly renovated basement acts as a continuation of the Grill and comprises dark walls and wood panelling, unique art pieces, sculptures and original photographic prints. Flexible spaces can accommodate intimate private dining or varying events, for small or large groups.

M Restaurant

Martin added:

“I am very pleased with M as it feels just like a private members club, which is exactly what I wanted.”

We also caught up with Emlyn Conlon, Senior Designer from project designers Rene Dekker Design, to find out a bit more about their involvement. Emlyn commented:

“We got involved in late May this year and developed the scheme over several weeks with Martin. We then worked very closely with the contractors and engaged with all the specialist suppliers, in order to get things going on site quickly.

“We don’t normally work on commercial venues, as we tend to work predominantly on high end residential schemes. So this was a real learning curve for us. Martin was glad to work with us as he wanted to find a designer who would implement his ideas, rather than one who had preconceptions of what a restaurant should be. We wanted to create a space that would reflect what he expected as an experience; we needed to merge all of the different spaces, while giving each a distinct identity.”

M Restaurant

Emlyn added that it was very important to be involved with M:

“This was a step into the unknown for us and to be involved with Martin, who has a great reputation and experience, is very exciting. It raises our profile and engages us in a market we weren’t involved with before. This scheme also shows our capabilities and skills, showing we can switch from residential to commercial projects, working within tight time constraints and still achieving a high quality finish.

“It is an amazing venue and we are very proud of our involvement.”

M Restaurant

Miles and Lincoln

Miles and Lincoln are specialist designers and producers of laser cut screens for interiors and exteriors.

The company’s background is pattern design; formerly designers and manufacturers of Nottingham Lace textiles and fashion fabrics. Miles and Lincoln understand the visual importance of design, seamless pattern repeat and balance.

Miles and Lincoln have moved industries and applied many years of knowledge and expertise to the production of decorative and functional laser cut screens. The company owns an extensive archive of hundreds of designs; contemporary and classical, geometric, botanical and world – all of which can be translated to the production of laser cut screens in a wide range of materials to suit all budgets.

Miles and Lincoln’s exclusive designs feature in commercial environments – retail, hotels, bars, restaurants, leisure, offices, financial institutions as well as luxury residences and apartments.

M Restaurant

Decorative dividing partitions; suspended ceilings; balustrade and stairway infill; functional, attractive security screens, doors and corporate branding make for innovative interior and exterior design schemes.

The company’s reputation is enviable, they laser cut materials as diverse as stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper, wood, Corten steel and acrylic. Miles and Lincoln supply polished and brushed finishes, innovative powder coated and painted surfaces and provide an “end to end” service from design through to the manufacture of finished screens.

Miles and Lincoln work hand in hand with architects and interior designers to create and deliver a unique, visually stimulating tactile addition to any design project. Much of the company’s work is bespoke which reflects individual client needs.

Miles and Lincoln are privileged to be working with René Dekker Design and

M Restaurants and wish them every success for the future.

For more information please contact: www.milesandlincoln.com.

M Restaurant

Style Matters

Style Matters design and manufacture furniture; placing both their customers and their expert craftsmanship at the very heart of what they do. For two decades the company’s experience in the high quality hospitality marketplace has seen the company deliver the very best in English furniture making, which is derived from collaboration between skilled craftsmen and furniture designers.

Over the years, Style Matters has worked with some of the top interior designers such as Alexander Waterworth, Russell Sage Studio and Candy & Candy as well as leading names from the hospitality industry, including Simon Rogan, Des McDonald, Charlie Mclean, and of course Martin Williams and Rene Dekker Design on M Restaurants.

Recent projects range from Quaglino’s and Q Grill at Camden to The South Kensington Club. On the M Restaurant project, Style Matters worked very closely with Rene Dekker Design to ensure that Martin William’s exacting vision for M Restaurants was fully realised.

M Restaurant

Style Matters Director, Claire Fox, said:

“Martin has assembled a dream team of some of the most highly regarded professionals in the business. Coupled with the appointment of Rene Dekker as the designers for his project, it’s a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase our abilities in such a high profile atmosphere.”

Claire added:

“At Style Matters we are most proud of our principles; style and service. Over the years we have grown this business by staying pure to these values. Craftsmanship that’s built to last and furniture that’s stunning and designed to fit a client’s passion and vision.”

 

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