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soul & Updating your space can take many forms, from a lick of paint refresh to a total transformation
During the quiet months of the New Year, plan to refresh your space. By closing off specific areas and moving your trade into the space that is left you will create a cosier, busier environment which can be managed section by section without having to shut the entire venue. This will give you the opportunity to preserve income and maintain customer loyalty. Here’s how to make those changes, says Richard Eastwood of R2 Architecture, designer of premier restaurant chains such as Mowgli. www.r2architecture.com
Function before form • Who are your customers? Is there a type of customer you want to attract? • What do you do? Wine tasting? Parties? Romantic meals? Cater for large groups? Sports nights? All of these will dictate how your space should work.
Before you start • You’re so close to your business it’s hard to see the wood for the trees. Ask a friend or associate to critique your venue. • Change isn’t always the answer on its own. Think about your purpose: what is it you do, what is it you want to do better, what are the issues you want to solve?
• Redesign is about ‘tidying up’. Use clever tweaks to make your operation run more smoothly. Build in comfort and use drapes and soft furnishing to soften sounds.
Don’t follow trends • You can’t just take a design from Pinterest or TikTok. It’s YOUR business – it must reflect your personality. • So-called ‘Instagrammable’ places will come along. Not surprisingly, those places often close after six months.
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