16 the World Of Hospitality
Macaulay Sinclair
Macaulay Sinclair transforms former
Met Bar into Gridiron by Como
Restaurants
The interior architecture and design studio
behind the new Gridiron restaurant within
COMO Metropolitan London Hotel in Old
Park Lane, Mayfair has been revealed as
Nottingham-based Macaulay Sinclair.
The studio, which specialises in creating
exceptional spaces for the hospitality sector,
has transformed the former Met Bar into
the new 60-cover restaurant and bar, which
opened this autumn.
Headed up by co-directors John Macaulay
and Mike Sinclair, the studio has worked
with a number of well-known multi-site and
independent restaurant and bar operators
across London and beyond, including
Hawksmoor, Dishoom and Wright Brothers.
Mike Sinclair said: “The Met Bar was a go-to
London destination and the celebrity haunt of
the nineties and noughties era. We are proud
to have been part of the team to bring an
indulgent and intimate dining experience into
such a landmark location.”
The prestigious venue will be overseen by
renowned chef Richard H. Turner of Turner
and George, Blacklock, Hawksmoor and
Meatopia.
Mike continued: “In order to give the new
restaurant and bar its own identity while
remaining synonymous with the COMO
brand the interior design has been kept
simple and understated, providing a
subtle backdrop for Turner’s kitchen.”
Paying homage to the art of grilling over
an open fire, the new restaurant has
an open kitchen with modern live-fire
grillroom.
Website: www.macaulaysinclair.com
The interior is dominated by monochrome
palette throughout, with accents of red,
dark wood and marble. Wall finishings
remain simple and sleek, and the stripped
back furniture matches the ethos of the
food and service: comfort and style without
unnecessary formality.
The restaurant’s history, menu and ethos
are also communicated through a collection
of carefully curated drawings depicting
historic cooking implements and meat cuts,
communicating the origins of the live-fire
restaurant cooking and the provenance of the
produce.
“With every project that we work on we take
into consideration the heritage of the building
itself as well as the brand narrative,” added
Mike.
“Transforming such an iconic London location
was really exciting for us. It was also our first
time working with the COMO brand and we’re
thrilled with the result.”