Local livestock heritage inspires design of new restaurant at Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross

150 150 Daniel Fountain
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Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross Hotel has announced its new bar and dining destination 1269 Restaurant & Bar, specialising in livestock, game, butcher-style preparation and whisky. It will be opening its doors to diners this Autumn.
Artist’s rendering of 1269 – the new dining destination at Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross

1269, the year the neighbouring town of Beaconsfield was first given a charter allowing an annual market for trading livestock, will also provide the name and inspiration for this new epicurean experience.

Designed by SuperFutures, the interior design agency behind Chotto Matte and Barrafina, the statement pieces of the restaurant and bar will be a transparent meat ageing room, a whisky vault and a bourbon focused drinks menu – stocking over 69 whiskys – set to rival any London bar.


Artist’s rendering of 1269 – the new dining destination at Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross

The local livestock heritage will be further evoked through the space’s unique design. Ben Webb, Director of Superfutures, said: “Our research revealed there were no meat specialists in the local area, despite the area’s rich livestock heritage, so we saw an opportunity to create a fun and fresh offering that would turn the restaurant into a destination and a place to be seen. Our brief was to create a space that would provide an open and relaxing atmosphere that would bring to life the dining experience.

“One of the design challenges we faced, was the long space within which to install the restaurant and bar areas.” Ben continued. “Thematically the perfect bed-fellow to the restaurant’s livestock theme had to be Bourbon, but the areas needed to blend, as well as retain their independent identity. Our solution is to add gradient lighting. Upon entry into either area the guest is greeted in bright light, which then gets darker as they move across the room and creates a buzzy atmosphere.”

In the bar area an onyx panel which glows orange will be installed and a glass whisky vault will adorn one of the walls so that guests who have purchased a special bottle of whisky can store it and drink it, as and when the moment presents itself.


Artist’s rendering of 1269 – the new dining destination at Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross

Daniel Fountain / 30.07.2015

Editor, Hotel Designs

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