> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://asterlane.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Best Interior Designers for Pubs, Bars and Restaurants in the UK - URL: https://asterlane.ghost.io/best-interior-designers-for-pubs-bars-and-restaurants-in-the-uk/ - Published: 2026-10-03T01:42:47.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-03T01:42:47.000Z - Author: Kris Flank Design can make or break a hospitality venue. A great pub interior can turn a quick drink into a three-hour stay. A restaurant can serve brilliant food, but if the lighting, layout and atmosphere feel wrong, customers may never come back. The same applies to bars, where the right interior can become part of the brand itself. The best hospitality designers understand that these spaces have to do more than look good. They need to work commercially, handle heavy footfall and create an atmosphere people actually want to spend time in. If you are planning a refurbishment or opening a new venue, these are some of the UK interior designers and studios worth knowing. ## 1\. Magda Callery, Style by Magda For independent pubs, bars and restaurants looking for a more personal design service, **Magda Callery of** [**Style by Magda**](https://www.stylebymagda.com/) is one of the most interesting options. Magda is a UK-based interior designer with more than 15 years of experience across hospitality and commercial interiors. Her work has included pubs, restaurants, hotels and other commercial spaces, alongside residential projects. What makes her particularly relevant for hospitality projects is the balance between aesthetics and practicality. Good **pub interior design ideas** are not simply about adding attractive furniture or choosing fashionable colours. A venue has to accommodate customers comfortably, provide sensible circulation for staff and still create an identity that feels distinctive. Magda's approach tends to combine those functional considerations with character, using furniture, finishes, artwork, lighting and styling to make spaces feel considered rather than generic. She has also worked with upcycled furniture in pub projects, including The Cross Keys in Newbury, showing how existing pieces can sometimes be incorporated rather than automatically replaced. This can make Style by Magda particularly appealing for independent operators who want a designer who can work closely with them rather than approaching every project with the same house style. **Best suited to:** Independent pubs, restaurants, bars, boutique hospitality venues and operators looking for a personalised service. **Website:** [Style by Magda](https://www.stylebymagda.com/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) ## 2\. B3 Designers London-based B3 Designers has built a strong reputation in hospitality interiors, with projects covering restaurants, hotels, bars and other food-and-beverage spaces. The studio has received extensive recognition for its work, including restaurant and hospitality design awards. B3 is particularly strong where the interior needs to become a major part of the restaurant's identity. That can include everything from the layout and furniture to materials, lighting and branding. For operators creating a premium restaurant or a venue where design is expected to be a major talking point, the studio is worth considering. **Best suited to:** Premium restaurants, ambitious hospitality concepts and design-led venues. ## 3\. Harrison Harrison is considerably larger than many independent interior design practices and operates across architecture, branding and interior design. The company's UK operation is based in Birmingham, while the wider business also works internationally. Harrison has specialised in hospitality for decades. Its portfolio includes pubs, restaurants and bars, meaning the team can work on much more than the visual side of a project. Services can include space planning, bespoke furniture, lighting, technical drawings, materials, customer journey planning and brand strategy. That breadth makes Harrison particularly relevant for larger operators developing multiple venues or a concept that may eventually need to be rolled out across several locations. **Best suited to:** Larger hospitality groups, restaurant chains, pub groups and brand-led concepts. ## 4\. Fettle Fettle is a hospitality-focused interior architecture and design studio with offices in London and Los Angeles. The company works with both independent operators and larger commercial brands, providing services ranging from feasibility and space planning through to bespoke furniture and lighting design. Its work tends to feel polished without becoming overly corporate, which makes it an interesting choice for restaurants and bars where atmosphere and personality are central to the brief. Fettle also places strong emphasis on the operational side of hospitality design, balancing the appearance of a space with its functional and commercial requirements. **Best suited to:** Restaurants, bars, boutique hospitality businesses and design-conscious operators. ## 5\. Concorde BGW For operators specifically researching **pub design** and **bar interiors**, Concorde BGW is particularly relevant. The company works across hospitality design, construction, branding and interiors, giving clients the option of using one business for a significant part of a refurbishment or new opening. Its portfolio includes work for pub and restaurant operators across the UK. One of the advantages of using a design-and-build company is that the concept, technical work and construction process can be handled within the same wider team. For operators looking at a substantial refurbishment rather than simply refreshing furniture and decoration, that can make the overall process easier to manage. **Best suited to:** Pub refurbishments, bars, larger hospitality renovations and design-and-build projects. ## 6\. Blacksheep Blacksheep is a design and strategy studio focused heavily on food, beverage and hospitality. Its portfolio includes restaurant and hospitality brands ranging from international operators to standalone concepts, and its services combine interior design with branding and strategic thinking. That makes Blacksheep particularly relevant when the challenge extends beyond the physical space. For example, a new restaurant may need an entire identity rather than simply a new interior. That can include thinking about who the customer is, what the experience should feel like and how that identity should translate into the space. **Best suited to:** Restaurant brands, larger hospitality concepts and businesses combining interior design with brand development. ## 7\. Muzo Muzo is a London-based studio specialising in hospitality and commercial interiors. Its work covers restaurants, cafés, bars and other leisure environments, and the studio offers interior design services from the early concept stage through to completion. Muzo's positioning is particularly relevant to operators who want something tailored rather than a standardised hospitality template. The team places emphasis on understanding how a venue will actually be used before developing the design around it, which is important in hospitality where layout can affect everything from table turnover to the way customers experience a room. **Best suited to:** Restaurants, cafés, bars and bespoke hospitality concepts. ## What makes a good pub or restaurant interior designer? The best hospitality interior designer is not necessarily the person whose portfolio looks the most dramatic. There are practical considerations that matter just as much. A successful **pub interior** needs to consider seating capacity, customer flow, the bar position, lighting, acoustics, durability and how the venue changes between quieter daytime periods and busy evenings. The same applies to restaurants. A beautiful dining room can quickly become frustrating if tables are positioned badly, service routes are awkward or the lighting makes the menu difficult to read. When comparing designers, it is worth asking about: - Previous hospitality projects - Experience designing pubs, bars or restaurants - Space planning - Lighting design - Furniture specification - Bespoke joinery - Budget management - Technical drawings - Contractor coordination - Whether the designer remains involved during installation The right designer should understand both the creative and commercial sides of the project. “The best hospitality interiors are the ones that feel effortless to the customer, but there’s usually a lot of thought behind them. You need to consider how people move through the space, where they naturally want to sit, how the lighting changes throughout the day and how the materials will actually cope with constant use. It’s about creating atmosphere without losing sight of how the venue needs to function commercially.” **Magda Callery, interior designer at Style by Magda** ## Pub interior design ideas that are working particularly well Pub interiors have become considerably more varied than the traditional carpet, timber bar and leather seating formula. Some of the strongest **pub interior design ideas** now combine several different environments within the same venue. You might have a relaxed drinking area close to the bar, more comfortable dining spaces further inside, intimate corners for smaller groups and an outdoor area that feels like an extension of the main interior rather than an afterthought. Natural materials are particularly effective in pubs because they tend to age well. Timber, stone, leather and textured fabrics can all develop character over time rather than looking tired after a few years. Lighting is equally important. Instead of relying on one bright overhead lighting scheme, combining pendants, wall lights, table lamps and concealed lighting can make a venue feel considerably warmer. Vintage pieces and upcycled furniture can also help prevent a pub from feeling as though the entire interior was purchased from the same catalogue. ## Why bar interiors need a slightly different approach Good **bar interiors** need to work particularly hard. Unlike many restaurants, customers are often moving around continuously. People arrive at the bar, return to tables, stand with friends and move between different areas throughout the evening. The bar itself therefore becomes both a practical workspace and a visual centrepiece. Materials need to withstand constant use, while lighting has to create atmosphere without making it difficult for staff to work. A successful bar designer will also think about the customer's view from different areas of the room. Bottle displays, lighting, mirrors, artwork and architectural details can all create visual interest and help a relatively small space feel more layered. ## Choosing the right designer for your venue There is no single interior designer who will suit every hospitality project. A large restaurant group opening multiple sites has very different requirements from someone refurbishing an independent country pub. For smaller and independent projects, working directly with an individual designer can provide considerably more flexibility and personal involvement. This is one reason [**Style by Magda**](https://www.stylebymagda.com/) stands out for operators who want a tailored approach. At the other end of the market, studios such as Harrison, B3 Designers and Blacksheep can offer larger multidisciplinary teams and experience with major hospitality brands. The important thing is to look beyond photographs. Ask how the designer approaches the operational side of hospitality, how they work with contractors and how they intend to make the venue feel distinctive without compromising its ability to function as a business. Because the best pub, bar and restaurant interiors do something deceptively simple. They make people want to stay.