Bar Refurbishment & Fit-Out Management: Overcoming Outdated Specifications for Successful Project Delivery

Contract Description

We recently project managed the refurbishment of Anise Bar which is located within the Cinnamon Kitchen, in London’s Devonshire Square.

The Cinnamon Kitchen and Club chain is part of the hospitality portfolio owned by Boparan, who also operate the Giraffe chain of restaurants.

The refurbishment, designed by Alesso Interiors, focused on updating the lighting, furniture, decoration, curtains and flooring to give the existing space a cosmetic upgrade without altering the core layout or functionality.

Alesso had completed the design two years before contractors were instructed and this, in part, shaped the journey of this refurbishment project.

Our Project Management Activities

Our role was to take the designer’s detailed specification and bring the refurbishment project to life. For our project management team, that meant:

• Reviewing the existing design and specification

• Coordinating with the designer and contractors on all product choices

• Managing contractors, suppliers and procurement

• Keeping clear and transparent communication between all parties

• Maintaining programme momentum

The Challenges

The biggest challenge came from the two-year gap between design of the bar and delivery of the refurbishment project.

A significant number of the designer’s selected items were no longer available, therefore it required a heightened level of communication to resolve this without significantly delaying the completion date, or impacting Anise Bar’s official opening.

On identifying this issue, our response was:

• Identifying all unavailable products

• Open communications with Alesso Interiors on items that couldn’t be sourced

• Working directly with suppliers and contractors to source replacement items

• Re-sequencing some activities to avoid unnecessary downtime

Despite the quantity of updates, the project only incurred a two-week delay. An outcome made possible through clear, consistent communication, strong supplier and contractor relationships and quick decision-making.

In Summary: Successful Project Management

This refurbishment project shows how effective project management protects both the design intent and the client’s timeline, even when expectations change in the early stages.

By working closely with Alesso Interiors, contractors, suppliers and the team at Boparan, we delivered a refreshed, integrated bar space with minimal impact on the overall programme.

A two-year-old specification, multiple unavailable items and several design-level updates could easily have derailed progress. Instead, the team delivered a smooth, well-managed project, demonstrating the value of open communication and strong industry relationships.

If this project interested you, why not check out some of our other work, such as the fit-outs we did for Poke House.

Author

Darren Hewitt

Darren has over 25 years experience in the construction industry. Within this time he has led and delivered construction projects for major blue chip clients.

Darren has held senior roles in both client and consultant organisations. This gives him a full understanding of the construction process and level of stakeholder engagement required to ensure successful project/programme outcomes. He enjoys both day to day project management duties as well as strategic projects.