Ape & Bird

Location: WC2H 8HJ

Client:

Project Year: 2013

Cost: N/A

The latest venture from renowned restaurateurs Russell Norman and Richard Beatty (Polpo, Mishkins, Spuntino), sought to redevelop a prominent building in the heart of London’s theatreland into a modern British pub.

Serving food throughout, the venue features four distinct areas over three floors: the ground floor comprises a handsome 70-seater restaurant juxtaposed alongside a traditional “spit and sawdust” style pub. The first floor sees a continuation of the restaurant (complete with mural by artist Neal Fox) within a more intimate setting, whilst the basement houses the back of house areas and a clandestine, late-night, dive bar.

SODA. worked alongside Russell Norman to develop and deliver the spatial arrangements of the four separate spaces and internal layouts of the buildings as a whole. A number of bespoke fittings were also commissioned – most notably the feature bar at ground floor, the sweeping “tram-style” benches and the leather-clad seating booths throughout. These items sit alongside the now synonymous Polpo hallmarks such as the pressed tin ceilings and distressed plaster wall finishes.