Castalia Designs Ltd were appointed Principal Contractors to refurbish the hotel's main restaurant.

Completed in two phases to minimise disruption to the hotel residents, the project involved the stripping out of ceilings, flooring, balustrading, bar and food carvery. In order to satisfy the Public Entertainments Licensing and Fire Authorities, the existing electrical installation had to be completely upgraded throughout the restaurant.

Structural walls were removed, floor levels were raised and a new central staircase was installed. The addition of a central thoroughfare in natural light wood adds to the newly created impression of spaciousness and light.

Feature lighting over the food carvery, reception counter and walls, together with decorative lighting to the alcoves, completes the lighting scheme. The natural colour scheme was chosen to brighten the whole area - from the original blacks, greys, and dark greens - to creams, blues, lilacs and jade green.

The fairly simple lighting design allows for low voltage downlighters to be dimmed area by area, thus creating a different ambience for different occasions.

The original black stained furniture was replaced by natural ash veneers on the bar, reception desk, carvery unit, dumb waiters and balustrades complimented by Décor Metal stripes to add contrast and protection against inevitable "scuffing". The curved lines of the staircases, carvery unit, dumb waiters and circular table tops were designed to soften the overall effect.