One of the most complex and rewarding projects I have worked on in my career is without doubt the transformation of the Palace hotel Manchester into The Principal Manchester. The building itself was bursting with character but had spent many unloved years, smothered in bad paint and carpet jobs. Bringing this grand dame back to life, is for me what design is all about, transformation of experience. One of the trickiest spaces was that of the Restaurant, Bar & Lobby.

As they say… it takes a village, and together with the architects 3D Reid, Interior Architects Michaelis Boyd & the wonderful Gorgeous Group the space came slowly together.The space as we had inherited it was hacked up into a serious of unattractive areas, by tearing down the walls and rediscovering what was underneath we brought the old tellers hall back to life in the form of The Refuge by Volta. A multifunctional space that works from morning to night. If you do get to Manchester and are looking for a unique place to work rest and play – this is for you!