We were instructed to execute the full design process in this historic building, right in the centre of Oxford. Our brief covered everything, from Listed Building Consent, to the interior design. The client wanted a design that referred back to the site’s original roots, but with a contemporary look and feel. It was important that we reflected the local aspects of the restaurant, designing spaces to complement Oxford-based suppliers and produce.
A listed building dating back to the 1600s, The Plough is situated on the most central shopping street in Oxford. The building was an old, run-down men’s clothes shop and needed a lot of renovation. Around the corner from many national food chains, the client was keen to give the restaurant a unique and local feel, with craft ale kegs supported from the ceiling and individual artwork and photographs.
We focused on giving the interior a modern Arts & Crafts twist, as most of the internal features dated back to this movement. The concept was to make the building bright and alluring, with strong colours and finishes. We obtained approval to replace all of the ground floor shop windows with openable doors, to soften the boundary during good weather and encourage passers-by to pop in.