A Birmingham-based design consultancy – specialists in the leisure and hospitality sector – has scooped the ‘Best Bar and Restaurant Design’ award. They helped transform a Birmingham gastro pub into a booming success, during a period of tough trading.

The Plough, Harborne

Spencer Swinden Design was awarded the accolade at the ‘Northern Design Awards’ for its transformation and creativity of The Plough pub in Harborne, which has seen turnover triple since 2008.

Representatives from Spencer Swinden Design attended a ceremony held at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester on November 24, to celebrate the best in Northern architecture, interior design and craftsmanship.

The host for the evening’s proceedings was George Clark, one of the UK’s most successful TV property presenters, who’s known for the current series of ‘The Great British Property Scandal’ and channel 4’s ‘Restoration Man.’

More than 150 businesses took part in the awards ceremony and the judges included Sir Terence Conran, Wayne Hemingway, Diarmuid Gavin and Suzanne Imre of Livingetc.

From left to right:George Clarke - Architects + TV Presenter, Nicky Belgrove - Designer Spencer Swinden, Marta Dulinska - Designer Spencer Swinden, Melony Spencer - Creative Director, Martin Swinden - Managing Director, Jan Constantine - Textile Designer

Adam Johnson, the tenant at The Plough, believes that the Spencer Swinden team offer a truly dynamic service. “I have continued working with them on The Plough for nearly four years and their creative approach and ideas have been a major contributing factor to the success of our venue. Not only do they design sympathetically for the building and demographic, they have an acute understanding of what is required of the interior, which creates a complete customer experience,” added Adam.

Spencer Swinden has been involved with The Plough, in everything from PR and marketing, to the menu design and branding of the venue.

Melony Spencer, of Spencer Swinden Design, added: “We are very proud to have won the award of Best Bar and Restaurant Design for The Enterprise Inns pub, The Plough. It is an honour to be recognised by such a distinguished judging panel and we thank them for this fantastic commendation.

“We believe firmly in our design ethos and understand that the evolution of a scheme is essential to the success of a venue,” added Melony.