Midlands & East Anglia Premier Hospitality

Aluna Bar & Restaurant

Aluna Bar, Birmingham
Written by Roma Publications

Aluna Bar, Birmingham

Aluna Leisure has recently opened their latest venture in The Mailbox, Birmingham offering diners and drinkers the ideal venue to enjoy the best cocktails in the city.

Formerly The Oriental the venue sits at canal level, boasting stunning views of the water, Gas Street Basin and beyond to  Brindley Place.

Construction works began on the project in spring this year after extensive concept development and design research. Premier Hospitality caught up with Patrick Casey, Creative Director of Avalon Design, who acted as lead designer of the scheme. Aluna Bar & Restaurant is the first of the Aluna brand and the owners operate over 14 restaurants across the UK.

Patrick commented:
“Aluna has been created in response to the abundance of new venues labelled ‘industrial rustic or the stripped back worn in New York loft look’. Aluna’s design intention is to escape the mainstream and deliver a unique space of eclectic and eccentric charm, called ‘vintage glamour.

Aluna Bar, Birmingham

The core value of the design brief included the creation of a female friendly environment that was easy to operate for the management and staff and had the ability to transform itself seamlessly from day to night, consequently a new layout plan was conceived to provide different customer experiences.

The services of O Creatives were called upon to provide the ‘vintage glamour’ and to source and supply a unique selection of antiques and artefacts. These include leather chandeliers and gold eglomise panels from O’Hare & D’Jafer, crystal decanters, mirrors and jewellery case displays sourced from antique fairs and local suppliers.”

The venue has been sumptuously designed with plush velvets, burnished leathers, warm woods, glowing copper surfaces and splashes of gold. Aluna creates a genuine sense of comfort and coziness, located lower canal side at the Mailbox Birmingham.

Aluna Bar, Birmingham

Works began on site in the spring of 2015 with 360 Commercial Interiors acting as the main contractors reaching completion in June 2015. The friendly and efficient team undertook a complete strip out of the interior back to the structures bare bones before installing an 8metre long bar, reconfiguring the seating area by adding cosy booths and open spaces for dining, a vertical drinking area, as well as adding new M&E and back of house services.

Patrick added:

“The Mailbox is a landmark building in Birmingham, my home town. The retail element is currently undergoing re-branding and refurbishment and will soon provide an environment for premium brand retailers. Being a newcomer to the burgeoning Birmingham bar scene it is important for Aluna to establish itself as a high value offer.   In order to create what we have now, we worked with numerous focus groups to gain insight and opinion as to what is female friendly to a multi-cultural consumer.”

Aluna Bar, Birmingham

Avalon Design has over twenty five years industry experience in hospitality design, exporting creative knowledge skills around the world.

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Roma Publications