Elegant Clutter and Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal Animals is the latest project from interior design and branding specialists Faber, who worked with BCFA member Elegant Clutter. Described as a ‘provocative combination of neon-infused 80s-inspired glamour’ the venue is gaining a following for it’s tongue-in-cheek branding with a delicious but accessible fine dining menu conceived by acclaimed chef Alex Claridge (of The Wilderness fame).

“Claridge wanted his latest venture to ‘challenge fine dining’ and not take anything, other than the food, too seriously. It aims to make fine dining accessible and fun.” – Creative Director at Faber Tony Matters.

Led by Creative Director Tony Matters, the design concept for ‪Nocturnal Animals took its direction from the food. Conceiving the menu whilst listening to the ‘All Out 80s’ Spotify playlist, Claridge instructed the team at Faber to do the same while formulating ideas for the interior. The result is a riot of slick monochrome, vividly colourful graphic prints, postmodernist furniture silhouettes and kitsch neon signage.

“It’s great to work with a creative partner that thinks in the same way as we do – we don’t do run of the mill, and we know we will end up with something standout when we work with Elegant Clutter.” – Creative Director at Faber Tony Matters.

The main bar area as you enter the venue is suitably dramatic, accentuating the double-height space with a monumental, fully illuminated cocktail bar that towers over the ground floor level – and a gantry which provides access to a ‘top-shelf’ collection of exclusive spirits.

Faber enlisted the design talent of Midlands based art consultancy Elegant Clutter to design a series of voile hangings inspired by ‘glitchy’ white-noise type imagery; a further nod to the pop culture, 80s music-video vibe present throughout.

“This space is designed to be intimate and deliberately separated from the rest of the bar, which we achieved through the slightly raised platform and cocoon-like semicircular booth seating. Every element of the space is designed to evoke a feeling of 80’s-inspired glamour – it’s a ‘David Lynch meets Wes Anderson’ cocktail of surrealism-inspired cinematic style.” – Lead Designer on the project, Aisling Ryan.

The cocktail menu is as crucial to the Nocturnal Animals experience as the food, hence the appointment of esteemed mixologist and two-time World Class Bartender of the Year finalist, James Bowker. He has created a selection of distinctive cocktails based on an almost fluorescent colour palette and six fruits, but driven mostly by flavour and fun.

[Photo Credit: Tom Bird]

The bartender’s table, a twist on the concept of the chef’s table – and believed to be a world’s first – gives guests an opportunity to watch ‪Nocturnal Animals’ talented mixology team do their thing close up.

BCFA Member Elegant Clutter fuses craft, design and technology to offer one of the broadest and most integrated artwork service in hospitality. Have you seen their Metal Leaf Mixed Media Art on Design Insider?

View Elegant Clutter through the Product Finder