Marco Pierre White opens in Belfast
Belfast’s prestigious new Marco Pierre White restaurant – the first in Northern Ireland and located at the Park Avenue Hotel – is already being highly commended by guests for its beautiful decor and exceptional ambience, as well as the high quality of its food and service.
The new steakhouse bar and grill was designed by Brenda Mulligan Interior Design; Main Contractors were DM Shopfitting, who were praised for their work on the scheme.
Brenda Mulligan of Brenda Mulligan Interior Design said: “Our design brief was that whilst we should embrace the mood and design ambience of Marco’s style, the restaurant should not be an exact replica of other his other venues. The design was geared to creating a serious emotional environment that reflects the ethos of the brand.”
The restaurant is entered by stepping down into a hexagonal reception area housing Marco Pierre White’s famous and distinctive chair, where some visitors like to have their photos taken. This space is also used to provide a comfortable coffee area later in the evening.
From this area, a further four stairs lead up to the main dining area, featuring mainly large circular hide booths, as well as an elevated front window platform accommodating 12-14 diners.
Lighting within this area has been designed to be very atmospheric and sultry, whilst also concentrating on the dining tables to highlight the food. The provision of large booths and flexible spaces within the dining area is geared to accommodating parties of all sizes. There is also a further accessible entrance leading from the dining floor into the main hotel lobby.
The colour palette throughout the venue is a combination of warm greys.
The works included the stripping out of all the original decor and lighting, followed by the installation of new seating, lighting, wall decoration, secondary lighting and a new ‘greeting’ desk. The kitchen faculties were upgraded, including the installation of new ovens and equipment, as well as the introduction of new crockery, cutlery and drinking glasses.
Brenda Mulligan said: “I was delighted that the Marco Pierre White team were keen to embrace our proposed new design and finishes, which made the Belfast Marco Pierre White restaurant unique within both the British and Irish market, whilst also being very sympathetic to the brand’s main design concept and ethos. I was also pleased that guests have already highly commended the decor and ambience of the restaurant, as well as the food and service.
“The works were accomplished in just three weeks, with the hotel trading throughout the project. The contractors did a very good job and worked well within the tight schedule. Hotel staff and contractors liaised daily to ensure that the project ran smoothly and that the clientele were not disturbed. This meant that contractors were also on site during the night and weekends to work with the hotel management.
“It was interesting to work with such a high profile client as the Park Avenue Hotel. I have a wonderful working relationship with Mrs Mandy Patrick the proprietor, who I have worked with for more than 10 years now on various projects at the hotel, including upgrading the bedrooms, foyers, function rooms and public bars.”
