The brief to refurbish the existing Backstage Bar, adjacent to the hotel’s main foyer and infamous Atrium Bar, was to create a new lounge bar suitable for all day use by the hotel and with its own entrance available for private functions.
The existing façade of the hotel, to both the front courtyard and the terrace, had to be retained. A new feature canopy and internal glazed lobby, with automatic sliding doors, gave the Veranda Bar its own entrance, whilst internally an existing corridor was knocked through linking the Veranda Bar with the main hotel foyer. This new entrance off the hotel can be closed off by a full height, 2.7m walnut louvered sliding screen. Once the screen is opened, the whole ground floor has a new vitality and reveals the extent of the Veranda Lounge.
The honed finish Crema Marfil stone floor was selected to compliment the existing limestone floor in the hotel foyer. A narrow band of polished Eemperor’dor Marble, which matches the bar counter and large central drinks table, creates a break between the old and new floor finishes. Bespoke carpets are inset finishing level with the stone.
The ideal location for the required new cloakroom and prep kitchen was backing onto an existing service lift to cold rooms below. Bar counter was also located in this area allowing easier access to existing beer pythons. Facing the bar counter, a feature fireplace is centered on the back wall with bronze tinted, mirror panels each side.
The interior has 2no. modern LED crystal chandeliers that are dimmable and colour changing to suit the mood and hour. Crystal theme is continued into the bar, with its glass pendants and a counter front made of strips of blown glass, arranged in a linear design and, sandwiched between mirror and a glass front for protection.
The feature fireplace, high-drinks counter and arrangement of loose lounge and dining-height furniture creates a sophisticated lounge while offering hotel guests the opportunity to dine, drink or relax in stylish comfort. Arrangement of furniture offers event flexibility within the space varying from coffee at 11 o’clock through to cocktails at night, or cleared allowing milling space for larger functions and parties.
The use of walnut, large scale art, inset carpet in funky and modern colours, and inspired use of glass, together with a creative mix of compatible upholstery fabrics in soft velour, leather and pony-skin creates a new and exciting space to Galway’s Radisson SAS Hotel.
