Gundry & Ducker Reimagines Parisian Bistro Culture for London Restaurant Cassette
A Grade II-listed nineteenth-century workshop transforms into a theatre-inspired French dining space.
1Historic Workshop Transformation
Design studio Gundry & Ducker has completed the interior renovation of a Grade II-listed nineteenth-century gothic building in Covent Garden. The project delivers Cassette, a Parisian-inspired bistro that balances historic architectural preservation with an inviting, contemporary hospitality layout designed specifically for central London's diverse dining audience.
2Spatial Footprint and Capacity
The interior occupies 107 square metres spread across a ground-floor dining room and a functional basement. The venue accommodates 52 indoor covers, complemented by an outdoor terrace catering to 30 additional guests. Double-height ceilings and an expansive glass facade maximize natural light across the primary dining zones.
3Neighbourhood Bistro Concept
Studio co-founder Tyeth Gundry framed the core design brief around establishing a familiar, accessible neighbourhood dining destination in central London. The project prioritizes comfort and visual recognition for visitors commuting from different parts of the metropolis, steering away from overly formal hospitality tropes toward an unpretentious environment.
4Traditional Material Palette
The interior references classic French establishments through deep aubergine tones, dark banquette seating, and bentwood bistro chairs. Designers paired exposed brickwork with sapele wood, natural fabrics, and stainless steel accents. This layered composition establishes a restrained, deliberate visual language that avoids unnecessary ornamental clutter throughout the venue.
5Light Control and Tonal Balance
Colour selection drew inspiration from summer park landscapes, wine tones, and historic bistro atmospheres. The team prioritized surfaces that dim effectively during evening service, managing reflected ambient light across distinct finishes to maintain a warm, low-level illumination profile that supports intimate social dining after dusk.
6Theatrical Acoustic Curtains
Drawing contextual inspiration from London's West End theatre district, the studio installed an acoustic wrap-around curtain mounted on elevated gantry structures. This architectural intervention functions both as a dramatic visual nod to theatrical stagecraft and as an active buffer controlling reverberation and dampening ambient dining noise.
7Eclectic Curated Artworks
Restaurant owners Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell introduced customized personality into the minimalist interior by sourcing independent artworks directly from local markets and car boot sales. These eclectic pieces inject spontaneous colour accents, balancing the studio's disciplined architectural finishes with informal, authentic character throughout the dining rooms.
8Adaptive Heritage Design
Cassette demonstrates how modern commercial hospitality concepts can sensitively repurpose listed civic architecture without stripping historic structural identity. By integrating functional acoustic management, flexible seating densities, and durable materials, the design establishes an adaptable operational template for high-footfall central urban dining venues.