du Boulay Renovate Historic Guildhall in Cambridge

 

du Boulay Contracts have recently completed the fit-out of a new Jamie’s Italian restaurant in the heart of the historic city of Cambridge.

This is the eighth in the massively successful chain serving affordable quality Italian food established by Jamie Oliver and is located within the striking 19th Century Grade II listed Guildhall in the Peas Hill and Market Square district of Cambridge.

The project has provided Contracts Director Michael Reed and Designer Garrow Seal of Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the challenge of working in a historic and sensitive environment. The brief was to create and realise the very latest concepts in restaurant and bar design while maintaining and protecting the original features. The building had been largely remodelled by Charles Cowles-Voysey in the 1930’s, however the stunning 1884 Rotunda was retained and forms a prominent and unique design feature of the whole dining experience. One of the biggest challenges was restoring the intricate plasterwork inside the 19th C dome area and above the marble colonnades.

 

Garrow Seal, Designer with MBDS said “Working with du Boulay ensured that we have successfully achieved quality in design by preserving the original architectural features of the building and creating modern, practical solutions to meet the client’s brief.”

Contracts Director, Michael Reed said “Although the very nature of the listed status can present many inherent challenges, it is immensely satisfying to achieve the finished result.”

du Boulay Contracts have extensive previous experience of working in listed and historic buildings.