Bow Bar London
Another Harrison project for Hilton, this one for the London Hilton Metropole on Edgware Road.
Hilton were completely renovating the hotel in a multi-million pound refurb. As part of that they'd already come up with the theme of naming all the hospitality and meeting areas as parts of London, from west to east. The main lobby bar was to be named Bow Bar, so a sophisticated east-end bar in west London, we saw that as our opportunity, strategically, to contrast the gritty east end, with the more refined and polished west end. The client wanted to be bold and break from the normal corporate look of other lobby bars in the group. A great brief to work on.
With our strategy set, I looked at the contrasts between the gritty east end and how it rubbed shoulders with the affluent city of London.
I thought we could reflect the sophistication by having Victorian style engraving illustrations but subvert them to show modern life in London's east end.
We commissioned the very talented Martin Hargreaves to bring our illustrations to life.
I combined the illustrations with victorian style ornaments for bespoke headers within the menus etc.
By bringing our subverted illustrations together with graffiti inspired by the gritty east end, we gave all the bar and restaurant assets a strong, bold and for this sector, a very different look that really worked and was loved by the client and guests at the hotel.
There were various versions of the menu.
One of the drinks menu spreads.
One of the drinks menu spreads.
Coasters.
Bottle labels.