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Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich has completed a major transformation of its food and beverage spaces as part of a wider investment programme.
The independent waterfront venue, owned by Gough Hotels, collaborated with hospitality design studio Faber to convert its former lobby into a 30-cover destination bar. The project also involved relocating an existing central island bar, which has expanded the main restaurant capacity by 20 covers.
The refurbishment forms part of a broader commercial repositioning strategy for the hotel, which will also introduce a new spa and a complete brand refresh. The new design aims to capitalise on underutilised public areas to increase revenue from local customers and residents.
Industry analysts noted the project reflects a growing trend among independent hotels to maximise the commercial potential of their public communal spaces.
Creative director at Faber Tony Matters said: “The original lobby was a beautiful space, but it wasn’t working particularly hard for the business. By reducing the reception footprint and transforming the lobby into a destination bar, we were able to create an entirely new commercial opportunity while simultaneously improving the layout and flexibility of the restaurant.”
Owner of Gough Hotels, Robert Gough, added: “The redesign has really anticipated what our customers want and taken it to a level we never thought possible. We’re delighted with the result, but more importantly the response from our customers has been incredible.
“The new bar, created within what was previously our lobby, has been the biggest transformation. As the first space guests encounter when they enter the hotel, it has generated a huge amount of positive feedback. And the restaurant itself has become such a distinctive space.”
