This fast-growing American burger brand is due to launch the first Five Guys site outside of the US and Canada, and Blacksheep have been chosen to design their London flagship restaurant. Located on Long Acre (a stone’s throw from Covent Garden) and appropriately due to open on the 4th of July 2013 - American Independence day. A fantastic opportunity to introduce the UK market to this iconic American brand, the interior design will showcase their fresh hand-formed burgers cooked to perfection on a grill with all the toppings you could stuff between fresh-baked buns.

Opening at the end of March, Blacksheep-designed Artigiano is the first in a new brand of finest coffee and artisan food cafés.

Located in Paternoster Square, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral. The café will be offering expertly selected and prepared coffee to accompany high quality artisan fare, all freshly prepared on site and using locally sourced ingredients.

Blacksheep have provided the complete design package from brand identity and packaging through to interior design, reflecting the brands dedication to a crafted experience served in a contemporary and considered environment.

We have had a great start to the year as Blacksheep-designed Puro Hotel celebrated a win in the ‘Hotel z Pomysłem 2012’ competition, it was described by the panel as an “Innovative hotel concept, modern design and advanced technological solutions on a scale yet unknown in the Polish market”. With over 90 hotels taking part in the contest, and 22 judges – Puro led the field as one of two winners. The competition is organized by HOTELARZ magazine, the most established publication for the Hotel sector in Poland since 1962. This was the 5th award Puro has won since opening in 2011.

We have also had two projects shortlisted for the International Hotel & property Awards 2013. Playground at Hilton Liverpool 1 in the Bar / Club / Lounge category and Gillray’s at Marriott County Hall for Restaurant within a Hotel category.

Despite widespread snow up and down the country there was an impressive turn out for The Hospitality Show, a biennial three-day event held at Birmingham’s NEC showcasing exhibitors, speakers, business mentors & hundreds of chef competitors.

Blacksheep CEO Tim Mutton kicked off the afternoon on the Design Inspiration Stage with a 'Delve into the minds of 3 of Britain's foremost designers & architects', a panel discussion alongside Tina Norden from Conran and Giles Robinson of Foster+Partners, hosted by Stirling Johnstone, Editor of GS Magazine. He then led the afternoon’s seminar programme with a talk on Designing Brands & Concepts, with his personal insight into the design process and how an ‘oops’ moment can lead to bigger and better design solutions.

It has been an eventful and exciting twelve months for Blacksheep. January saw us moving office and relocate to the new studio in Vine Hill, a fantastic way to begin the year that we celebrated our 10th anniversary. The Flock members have collectively travelled to over 20 countries across 4 continents in the pursuit of designing inspiring spaces for our global clients, and we have continued to grow in size to 30 strong. We have won 5 awards and had 8 projects feature in 7 books, along with over 120 individual press items in publications such as bob, FX, Objekt, Time-Out, Tatler Hong Kong, Deco Home, Interior and Bar Magazine.

2013 promises to be equally as exciting as we unveil 7 new F&B offers for a hotel in Dubai, a new brand of low cost hotel in London (for which designed the complete branding and interior package), and the first UK site for a leading American burger chain.

Jamie’s Italian Gatwick gave us reason to celebrate at this year’s Hero and Icon Awards for excellence in the UK eating and drinking-out market where it was awarded Best Transport Opening 2012. It comes at an exciting time, as Blacksheep continues in our successful relationship with Jamie’s Italian and 2013 will see the concept opening of our first international sites. We are currently on site with restaurants at the luxury 5 Star Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai and at VivoCity, Singapore's largest retail and lifestyle destination.

September was a landmark month for Blacksheep, as we celebrated our 10th Anniversary. To mark the occasion we threw a party at our office in Vine Hill, inviting our esteemed clients and suppliers.

We transformed our office into a series of different sets: the indulgence room was an opulent setting for dessert inspired by the Blacksheep creative process, the crystal room showcased Jo Sampson’s London Collection furniture for Waterford, and the main area was transformed into a bar area and dance floor which was softly lit by a feature installation in the entrance.

We also created our own garden area outside complete with bunting, deck chairs, grass and our very own food van.

Blacksheep’s Tim and Jo are proud to announce that they have been honoured with this year’s prestigious Wave of the Future award.  Tim had the pleasure of guest speaking at the HD Magazine’s Boutique event in Miami, where he accepted the award.

Blacksheep are currently working alongside luxury hotel group Fairmont to create six food and beverage offers for their new hotel due to open 2014 in Amman, Jordan. This is a great partnership for Blacksheep and extending our portfolio further into the Middle East.

Fairmont is a renowned hotel operator with hotels and resorts worldwide, their portfolio includes several iconic properties including The Plaza in New York and The Savoy in London. This will be their first hotel in Jordan.

Blacksheep has been appointed by Bafarat, a well established Saudi based coffee, herb and spice company, to create their new brand identity. This project extends from brand strategy, corporate identity and stationery right through to product packaging, collateral, website design, signage and various other applications. We will also be creating a flagship store and coffee shop in Jeddah.

Bafarat was established in 1952. The company began in Makkak Al-Mukarramah and has grown to 23 outlets through the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

We're very pleased to say that not one, but three of our projects have been featured in Night Fever 3 - Hospitality Design published by Frame. 

Night Fever 3 presents 129 interiors – restaurants, bars and clubs, and hotels – offering a detailed look at the cutting-edge approach of their creators. Presented over 600 pages are a variety of designs from subtle to stunning, monochromatic to vibrant and low-budget to exorbitant.

Featuring Kismet, Galoupet and PURO, the book is a visual feast of the best of hospitality design with a stunning layout of great photogrpahy. 

Check out the Frame website for some sample spreads. 

CEO of Blacksheep, Tim Mutton was invited to speak at the R200 restaurant conference this month at the Corinthia Hotel.

The Conference which is organised by the Restaurant magazine was open to the to the top 200 restaurant operators in the UK (by number of sites), and features presentations from key speakers within the hospitality business; Brandon Stephens and Rob Lucy of Tortilla, Alex Scrimgeour of Cote and Simon Boyle of The Beyond Food Foundation.

Tim’s presentation discussed the changing landscape of restaurant design and the democracy of space within hospitality environments.

Playground, Liverpool’s hottest new late night bar designed by Blacksheep and opened in December 2011, has been nominated for an award in this year’s Restaurant and Bar Design awards, an industry favourite. It has been shortlisted for the Bar or Restaurant in a hotel category, fingers crossed – we will find out the results on 6th September at the award ceremony held at RIBA London.

Blacksheep designed Union Jacks Restaurant at Central St Giles, the new flat bread concept from Jamie Oliver, was nominated for an Innovation and Design award at the Conde Nast Traveller Awards. It was shortlisted into the Gourmet Category and faced tough competition from likes of the Delaunay and Granger & Co.

Another project, Kismet Nightclub located in The Park Hotel in Hyderabad India, opened in May 2011, was also shortlisted for a Hospitality and Workplace award at this years Design Week Awards. Kismet has an interior layered with metallics, gem shades and iridescent materials and takes inspiration from the regional craft ethic of the region.

This was a great nomination for Blacksheep,  Tim Mutton, Blacksheep’s CEO said, “To have one of our international projects recognised by an English award ceremony, is a great compliment to us and our global clients.”

Blacksheep designed Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar which opened its doors to the public at the beginning of April.

Gillray’s offers Londoners and visitors a new luxurious environment to sip gin’s and devour delicious steaks whilst overlooking the iconic views of the Southbank at the 5* London Marriott Hotel County Hall.

The Gillray’s concept pays homage to the restaurant’s namesake, James Gillray, a famed caricaturist of the late 18th century, and its most English of locations overlooking Big Ben, the London Eye and Houses of Parliament.

The unique design has created a quintessential English drinking and dining experience by playing on the eccentric but charming details of classic British lighting and furniture pieces.

Examples of James Gillray’s political satire illustrations adorn the oak panel walls.

Blacksheep has been appointed to work with the premium Italian all day dining offer, Ca’puccino. Acting as design guardians for this global company which is looking to build upon the immense success that it has seen in Italy and key UK locations including Harrods, Kings Road and Westfield Shepherds Bush.

The mission of Ca’puccino is to give coffee lovers an authentic taste of Italy from the moment they step through its doors.

Ca’puccino has become a haven for discerning consumers who understand exceptional and traditionally made authentic Italian foods. The core values of ‘Tradition, Integrity, Obsession, and Desire’ sit strongly with Blacksheep’s own ideals, creating a strong platform for the exciting plans of expansion in the future, which includes new locations across UK and Italy.

The Blacksheep team designed the exhibition stand for Waterford, Wedgwood & Royal Doulton at this year’s ‘Ambiente’ trade show in Frankfurt.

The stand put a new focus on lifestyle driven product display with the new ‘Equestria’ range from Wedgwood; the new ‘Interiors’ range from Waterford Crystal and the rejuvenation of Royal Doulton. Stylus Trends described Royal Doulton as “the most notable launch in the Table Top category”.

Blacksheep worked tirelessly with WWRD to ensure that each brand was celebrating its own identity, being true its core values and messages that differentiate each world-class tabletop company, while still sitting cohesively together under the parent company’s umbrella.

Blacksheep’s own Executive Creative Director, Jo Sampson was among the standout successes of the show, with the launch of her first furniture range ‘The London Collection’ for Waterford Crystal. The London Collection includes a range of internally illuminated mirrors and tables as well as lighting from the eponymous, Jo Sampson Studio.

It is the beginning of an exciting new era for Blacksheep as we have moved into a bright and airy new design studio!

The ever-expanding flock is still based in the heart of creative Clerkenwell, round the corner from our old offices, but now located on Vine Hill.

A stone’s throw away from the centre of London, Clerkenwell has excellent transportation links into the newly refurbished Farringdon Tube/ Rail Station and its anticipated future link to Heathrow Airport connection in 2018, which will mean travelling to our global clients that much easier!

We look forward to welcoming visitors and introducing you to the abundance of great restaurants, bars and eateries on our doorstep.

The latest addition to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant portfolio is now open for business in Holborn and has already received rave reviews, including an impressive 4 star rating from Time Out.

Union Jacks takes you on a journey of discovery through Britain and reintroduces you to familiar flavours, cooked and presented the Union Jacks way. Incredible flatbreads and wood-fired cooking methods nod to traditions that are universally loved, and nearly all of the ingredients for the toppings are unabashedly local. It’s a union of ideas, traditions and of people.

A second branch in Chiswick is already in the pipeline.

“Union Jacks is a 'concept', and a very slick one. The detailing is impressive, from the cutesy stickers on the (brand new) school-type furniture to the ironic use of kitsch leatherette menu jackets. Oliver's team has created a really good pizzeria, as well as a guilty pleasure.”

★★★★ Time Out

The Blacksheep-designed PURO Hotel in Wroclaw, Poland has triumphed at the TopHotel Awards 2011, winning in two categories – Best Debut and Best Design.

PURO is the first in an innovative new chain of ‘budget-intelligent’ hotels aimed at streamlining the hotel experience without compromising on comfort and quality. Blacksheep’s brief was to create an urban oasis where technology enhances the hotel experience without dominating it.

PURO was also shortlisted and nominated in following categories:

Best Newbuild Hotel – European Hotel Design Awards

Best Hotel – FX International Interior Design Awards

In-Room Technology Innovation of The Year – European Hospitality Awards

The nominations have put PURO Hotel among established brands such as W London, Mint London and Sofitel Vienna.

Blacksheep-designed fine dining restaurant Galoupet has received media acclaim in Officiel Hommes magazine in a showcase of the best projects from the next generation of design talent in London.

Galoupet is an intimate restaurant and lounge, encompassing both public and private dining combined with a fine wine boutique. Blacksheep rose to the challenge to provide a seamless integration between the two potentially disparate elements of a high-end wine retail experience with dining. We are delighted to receive recognition as design leaders with this commission.

“London is living its most creative hour, commissioning its best projects to a new generation of talent. Opened in July, Galoupet is the newcomer on the London scene. Marble tables, bronze walls and Scandinavian chairs by Hans J Wegner, Galoupet combines fresh tastes, wine and seasonal produce with refined simplicity.”

Officiel Hommes

Planning has been granted and works commence on site for Blacksheep's late night entertainment venue in the heart of Liverpool. Playground, the glamorous members late night venue, will be located in the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool One – the city’s new-build mixed use development, located between the old city and the dock area.

With a target clientele of Liverpool's successful and fashion-conscious, the space is inspired by luxury fashion brands, and red carpet glitz and glamour. The design includes all branding, bespoke environmental graphic treatments, feature lighting and furniture by Blacksheep. Opening December 2011

Puro Hotel has been shortlisted for the New Build category in this year's European Hotel Design Awards, an international celebration of the passion and vision of those responsible for Europe’s most outstanding hotels. The awards, part of The Sleep Event Europe, will take place on the 22nd of November at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.

Galoupet, Blacksheep’s latest restaurant project, is now open for business. 

Blacksheep created the innovative London restaurant and fine wine store – located on Beauchamp Place in Knightsbridge - for the owners of the award-winning Provencale vineyard ‘Chateau du Galoupet’ as their first ever restaurant venture.

Galoupet houses both public and private dining areas, as well as a retail fine wine store, offering a range of wines from the owners’ vineyard along with other hand-picked bins.

The store also houses London’s first enomatic champagne machine, which dispenses four types of champagne by the glass at the perfect temperature.

The venue is informal, welcoming and accessible, with a clean, understated glamour, offering an all-day menu of healthy dishes, which draw on Mediterranean and Asian influences, created by head chef Chris Golding (formerly of Zuma and Nobu Berkeley Street).

As part of our ongoing work for the Great British heritage brand Wedgwood on a new global retail concept, this month saw the launch of the new concession concept, called ‘Wedgwood and Bentley,’ making its debut in London’s world-famous department store, Harrods, in Knightsbridge.

Named after the company’s founders Josiah Wedgwood and Thomas Bentley, the focus is on the brand’s highest-end and non-mass-produced products (with individual item values up to £30,000).  The design recreates a luxury domestic setting to display the products in their optimum environment, complete with fireplace, debossed leather and brass detailing.

Jo Sampson, Creative Director explains, 'We want to elevate the status of these products that aren't being mass produced to create a luxury aesthetic. Wedgwood was the first real luxury brand and we're trying to emulate that and engage the consumer in its story.'

Blacksheep have been appointed by WWRD to direct the creative vision of their brand on a variety of projects, working within the UK and internationally.

Blacksheep Creative Director Jo Sampson is working alongside the WWRD team as member of the brand board, looking to revitalise this heritage brand, and extending the scope of work into other brands under the WWRD umbrella.

Ongoing work with the Accor hotel group sees the recent completion of two new Novotel hotels in the great Northern cities of Manchester and Leeds.

The public areas of both these hotels have been completely transformed to dramatic effect, with schemes drawing on the heritage of the industrial past of their host city for their design inspiration.

In Leeds, feature art and mirror manifestations use design language that reflects the local printing industry, which dates back to the early 18th century. In Manchester, inspiration was taken from the city's cotton heritage (an industry which it dominated by the end of the 18th century) for the bar detailing and graphic wallpaper, whilst hexagon partitions divide the spaces, allowing clear vistas throughout.

Our scheme for Jamie Oliver's ‘Jamie's Italian' restaurants at Westfield shopping centre in London was named as 2011's Best Hospitality Environment at the Design Week Awards this month, winning out against some stiff competition.

This is Blacksheep's 14th award and our 11th in our specialist hospitality sector. The clutch of awards spans everything from creative awards (given by our peers) to industry awards to consumer awards - with interactive restaurant Inamo winning the readers' vote in the 2010 Time Out ‘Best of London' Awards as Best Restaurant. We are pleased to see our work succeeding operationally, aesthetically and also with those who pay the bill!

Blacksheep has designed the first ever restaurant for the owners of the award-winning Provencale vineyard ‘Chateau du Galoupet’ in Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge.

The innovative new London restaurant, entitled simply ‘Galoupet’, will open in late Spring 2011 and will house both public and private dining areas as well as a retail fine wine store, offering a range of wines from the owners’ vineyard, along with other hand-picked bins.

The feel of the venue will be informal, welcoming and accessible, with a clean, understated glamour.  It will offer an all-day menu of healthy dishes, which draw on Mediterranean and Asian influences, created by head chef Chris Golding (formerly of Zuma and Nobu Berkeley Street).

Company Co-founder and Managing Director Tim Mutton has been invited to be one of the keynote speakers at Birmingham’s ‘Interiors’ show this month, to be held at the NEC from January 23rd – 26th.

The show – the UK’s largest exhibition dedicated to the interiors sector – is featuring a major programme of seminars across the full four-day event, which will all be free of charge to those attending the show.

Tim’s speech will look at design trends in our specialist hospitality sector, referencing projects from the Blacksheep portfolio, but will also focus on some of the most interesting trends across the sector, both in the UK and internationally.

Fellow speakers include Vanessa Brady, President of the Society of British Interior Design; television design commentator Oliver Heath and Peter Cross from brand strategy agency Yellowdoor (run by retail guru Mary Portas, with whom Blacksheep recently collaborated on her ‘independent retailer’ TV series).

Full details of the seminar programme are available at www.interiorsbirmingham.com.