Premier Retail

Grain Store Café

Grain Store Café
Written by Roma Publications

The Grain Store Café & Bar – Gatwick Airport

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The Grain Store is a pioneering and sustainable restaurant by renowned chef Bruno Loubet, drinks pioneer Tony Conigliaro and the Zetter Group. The restaurant has opened as part of Gatwick airport’s improvement works and brings a refreshing new vibe to its South Terminal with a healthy and responsibly sourced food offering.

The main contractor was The Alan Nuttall Partnership Ltd and the Interior Designer for the space was Russell Sage Studio. Russell Sage Studio also designed the Kings Cross restaurant; the team worked closely with the Zetter team and Bruno himself to create a eatery that mirrors all of their characters in an innovative way, which re-imagined new and vintage furniture into a modern space.

Work began in August 2015 and the site opened to the public in January 2016. The Alan Nuttall Partnership Ltd oversaw the planning, consultancy, build and installation to convert a basic shell unit into a full service restaurant. The project required a turnkey solution for the full fit-out of the award-winning Grain Store Café and Bar. Features of the restaurant comprised a white tiled takeaway counter, feature bar and open kitchen. A five metre lengthy glass wall which offers the diners a window into the kitchen was also fitted and is the first of its kind in any airport.

Challenges cropped up throughout the works, with the most difficult tasks being due to the fact that the site is airside – meaning tighter restrictions for the materials used, much more rigorous fire regulations and various other restrictions imposed by the landlord. In addition, the difficult shape of the site could of potentially meant customers would not be fully engaged with the space. Regardless of the issues, the team were happy to turn the challenges into opportunities and furthermore try to create a stimulating space that makes customers feel they are nowhere close to a busy airport environment.

Russell Sage Studio, told Premier Hospitality:

“We were very excited to be given the opportunity to work on ARE’s first site in the UK and to be able to implement the ‘Grain Store’ look and feel in an airport environment, as we also worked on the first Grain Store in Kings Cross. We were very pleased to have this project as our first airport project and to be able to expand our hospitality expertise.”

Russell Sage Studio added:

“The Grain Store Café & bar emerged as part of Gatwick’s improvement works. The restaurant was a much-needed addition to Gatwick’s food and drinks offering, as it brings a healthier and lighter food choice (they even grow their own herbs in store). The whole concept behind The Grain Store is that of an exploded kitchen, so wherever you are within the venue you feel part of the action. The customers are fully emerged in this new style of airport dining. We believe this project will attract similar venues that will enhance customers’ airport experience as a whole.”

The Grain Store has recently been shortlisted for Retail Week Interiors Awards.

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UHS

UHS voted ‘the best furniture supplier in the hospitality industry’. The company continually inspires, creates, and finds imaginative and beautiful furniture solutions for restaurants, bars, and hotels.

UHS is based in the UK and Europe, but has a global presence which has resulted in UHS creating the finest, specific craftsmanship and design of furniture for the hospitality sector. UHS worked closely with Russell Sage designers on the Grain Store project to supply them with a range of customised furniture to enhance the interiors.

Dan Gillmore, of UHS Group, said:

“Russell Sage are a great team to work with and know what they want. We enjoyed creating these products and the finished article looks great!”

About the author

Roma Publications