Casual Dining Interior Design Award 2014 Winners announced

Launched to recognise the ground breaking interior design work going on across the casual dining sector, the first ever Casual Dining Design Awards has named its winners for 2014.

Reflecting the importance of design in conveying brand identity, creating ambiance, and, ultimately attracting and retaining customers, the awards highlighted the abundance of creativity at work in today’s casual dining establishments. 

Selected interior design projects from 39 finalists competed for the top spot across three categories – Best Designed Independent Restaurant, Best Designed Multiple Restaurant, and Best Designed Casual Dining Pub.

Leading design commentator David Worthington, chairman of Designersblock and H&M Group, led the judging panel, which included Afroditi Krassa, founder of Afroditi Krassa Design, who was commissioned by Julian Metcalfe to design the Itsu brand; Theo Williams, creative director of Designed and Sourced, and former head of design at John Lewis Home; and Simon Kincaid, associate director of Conran and Partners.

Winner of Best Designed Independent Restaurant: 

Graze Bar, Brewery & Chophouse in Bath (operated by Bath Ales, designed by Simple Simon Designs) – “It looks great, stylish, welcoming,” said the judges. 

Highly commended for its “integrity and creativity”: Rosa’s Thai Café, London (operated by Rosa’s London Limited, designed by Gundry And Duckers/Buro Creative).

Winner of Best Designed Multiple Restaurant: 

Vapiano with sites in Austria and Germany (operated by Vapiano Franchising International GmbH, designed by Matthew Thun, Milan) – singled out by the judges as a brand that “works anywhere in the world”, they praised its “integrity of concept, and application to site”.

Highly commended for its “strength of brand”: Chilango, London (operated by Chilango, designed by I-AM Associates).

Winner of Best Designed Casual Dining Pub: 

No 11 Pimlico Road, London (operated by Darwin & Wallace, designed by Buro Creative/Fusion DNA) – “Classy, fresh and considered” said the judges, they also praised its “careful selection of simple but classic fittings”.

Highly commended for its “excellent architecture”: Hall & Woodhouse, Portishead, Somerset (operated by Hall & Woodhouse Ltd, designed by Mackenzie Wheeler). 

The full list of Casual Dining Design Award finalists is available at www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/casual-dining-interior-design-awards-finalists-announced.