Project Team
Interior Design: Cato Design & Theming
Lighting: Lightech
The Richmond Hotel posed a challenging brief for Cato Design & Theming. For the owners John & Carol Quilkey, this was their first foray into Hotels after a very successful career owning and operating award winning restaurants. It was no surprise then that when they took on the Richmond, the first thing they did was open a restaurant in the front section of the hotel named Miss Lizzies. As with their previous restaurants, it was a hit and was warmly received by Lismore and surrounding district for its quality of product, both food and service, which until then was a rarity in the area.
Their attention now turned to the rest of the hotel, it was then that CDT was called in to design and construct an appropriate redevelopment that would compliment and not detract from Miss Lizzies.
The hotel like so many in main streets is land locked. At the rear of the hotel was a large underused internal area. The brief, provide a new restaurant, bar and outdoor area in accordance with the Smoke free Environment Act.
To achieve this CDT proposed an extensive overhaul of the existing infrastructure. The kitchen was redesigned to service both restaurants. Back of house had to run smoothly and efficiently. With this in mind and the limited space available, the kitchen was designed such that limited cross over would occur within it’s confines and wait staff were not required to enter the kitchen proper.
The existing flat roof was replaced with a very high pitched gable roof that was reflected in the new ceiling line, providing an airy outdoor feel of space. Bi-fold doors now run the length of the building and when closed offer an outdoor area undercover complying with the Smoke Free Environment Act.
The Bar, whilst small, offers apart from six beers on tap, full cocktail service. Finishes include a mixture of dry stacked stone and timber to bar face with solid new guinea rose wood bar top. The bar finishes are repeated on feature walls and columns throughout the venue, all complimented with various forms of led effect lighting. One of the main features is the fibre optic edge lit, multi layered sandblasted glass
The gaming lounge was at the same time undergoing a restructure of its own. An EGM layout was produced that complimented the location of all 15. Traffic flow through the room was redirected. Lighting levels were adjusted and enhanced by subtle led effect lighting, providing an environment conducive to both casual and serious punters alike.
With the success of the new kitchen, Terrace Bar and gaming lounge, there were no surprises when the brief was extended to include the only part of the hotel untouched by the CDT flair, the main bar!
After extensive planning and design, CDT were granted a temporary trading shutdown of the main bar for 4 weeks only. All works had to be completed to a satisfactory level that would allow the resumption of trading.
The main bar is at street level and Lismore is well known for its propensity to flooding. With this in mind the design had to include as best as possible a resilience to flood. With notice, equipment can be easily removed. The challenge however, was the main structure and finish to the bar itself. The sub-straight was constructed of masonry with the finish being individual blocks of completely two pack sealed new guinea rose wood. The blocks are mounted in a stacked effect not unlike the stone previously used in the Terrace Bar complete with a black granite bar top. The two areas compliment each other well.
The bar layout employed, successfully reduces staff levels. During times of high demand, which are quite often, the entire bar can operate on a level of efficiency rarely seen. The two beer dispensing areas are of a pass under style offering a selection of 10 beers each. This dispensing style sets up for the patron a natural line of demarcation for the service areas, without the need of railings etc. Even during periods of high demand service is stream lined.
Effect lighting is once again led. Ceiling coffers with lighting pelmets of colour change led provide an adequate level of purpose and effect lighting.