Revolution vodka bar turns to HPW

North of England vodka bar Revolution is opening its first London outlet on 8 October in Soho, designed by HPW.

The consultancy is one of five interiors specialists that works with Revolution owner Inventive Leisure ‘to keep ideas fresh’, according to Inventive Leisure brand development manager Martin Connolly. The remaining four consultancies are Masonwood, Surface Design, Judge Gill and Tugman Partnership.

HPW was selected for this particular project after its work on the Revolution bar in Newcastle in April, says Connolly. ‘[HPW] created a contemporary bar from a listed building [in Newcastle] and we chose it to inject similar life into the London site,’ he adds.

The interiors of the chain, which includes ‘approximately 25 bars’ are all different, adds Connolly. However, the look and feel has become ‘sharper and more risqué’ since the first Revolution bar opened in Manchester five years ago, he says.

‘Independent bars often have to work harder to compete for custom and are usually a bit less afraid of being bolder with interior design work,’ adds Connolly.

HPW associate director Julian Taylor describes the interiors of the Soho bar as ‘contemporary with an Eastern European twist’. It will feature a gold leaf back wall, slate blocks and gloss timber panelling. The brand identity will remain unchanged.

Revolution opened its first vodka bar in Manchester five years ago. It plans to open further central London sites and has found a site at an undisclosed location, says Connolly.

HPW is creating interiors for a Northampton bar, which is scheduled to open later this year.

Caulder Moore created the interiors for Revolution’s Leicester outlet last year (DW 28 January 2000).

Taylor left Caulder Moore, where he was a director, to join HPW in September 2000.