Grosvenor Cafe

Surface ID worked to a brief of bringing back heritage to the world renowned Ashton Lane in the City’s West End and brought a new concept to going out – the multifunctional, flexible venue has a relaxed atmosphere.

Originally part of a cinema with no natural daylight, the staid, underutilised and cavernous first floor bar space was intimidating and uninspiring, making it extremely challenging to create intimate spaces without losing the sense of scale and revealing original period features.

A clever use of mirrors brings light deep into the space and adds a touch of glamour by dusk. Further breaking down the space and overlooking the main bar, a second level dining area has been opened up to the main space adding another dimension.

Externally, faded warehouse style adverts entice people upstairs, reflecting the building’s historical purpose. Creative detailing makes the venue completely flexible, with hidden panels transforming into stages and moving boom lights which change the focus from day to night. In order not to lose the building’s historical purpose, the design team and client frequently referred to an ‘out with the new, in with the old’ theme.

G1 Group PLC

Claire Kinna, Iain McArthur, Aileen Brown

Main contractor: G1’s in-house construction team

Specialist joinery manufacture: Dimension Shopfitting of Bishopbriggs

Bespoke couches and chairs: Satellite Browns

Light fittings: Kelvin Lighting of Edinburgh with bespoke shades by R+S Robertson

Custom metalwork: RetroMetal and Gordon Metal Fabrication.