As part of the New Street Station Gateway Plus redevelopment, the site underwent a major overhaul including a complete redesign of the mall featuring a glass atrium roof as its centrepiece.
Grand Central is now home to over 60 stores across 500,000 sq ft, with many of its shops, restaurants and cafés being new to the city, including Spanish restaurant Tapas Revolution.
Founder Omar Allibhoy explained why he chose Grand Central as the next Tapas Revolution location,
“Birmingham has a great food scene and is increasingly becoming a destination city – for tourists and for businesses – and it’s gaining a really positive reputation. I wanted to get involved in the buzz happening here and bring a real taste of Spain to the city centre.
“Grand Central is a perfect location – right in the bustle of Birmingham where commuters and shoppers can drop into our tapas bar for a drink and some good food with friends, and then move on with whatever they’re doing.”
With an exciting new location confirmed for the restaurant group, Design LSM were instructed to create a restaurant design which would represent the brand and bring a Spanish feel to Birmingham’s newest shopping and eating destination.
The design team created a space that matched the restaurant’s Spanish infused relaxed culinary style. The setting embraces the top floor balcony views over the shopping centre, whilst housing a central bar which creates an ambient heart to the casual dining space.
Design LSM selected V4 Woodflooring’s Eiger Phoenix Oak Rustic Distressed smoked and oiled wood floors for the restaurant.
The wood has a warm dark tone, similar to what you would find in so many traditional tapas bars across Spain, and the team loved the fact it has an aged appearance, delivering character and authenticity.
The timber for this oak plank is picked for its extreme rustic characteristics that include storm cracks, splits and live knot holes. These are then distressed to create a truly aged appearance. The top layer is then aged in a smoking chamber, which darkens the oak. The result is a warm and relaxed wood floor that oozes character.
Four coats of air cured Danish natural oil are applied to finish the boards, providing stability and durability to withstand the high footfall of the restaurant without compromising on its rustic style and good looks.
The finished restaurant is a little bit of Spanish heaven, contrasting with the contemporary white walls and glass of the shopping centre. The dark tones of the wood floor help give the space a unique and cosy feel, perfect to serve up an array of tapas as a respite from a busy days shopping.
