Counter 71

Design & build

Services:

Interior design

What does intimacy look like in a restaurant built around performance?

Located within the former Duke of Wellington pub on Nile Street, Counter 71 is a 16-seat chef’s table restaurant centred around a seasonal tasting menu using ingredients sourced from across the British Isles. Working within the compact footprint of the existing pub - and building a full commercial kitchen and extraction system from scratch - our challenge was to create a space that felt warm, immersive and closely connected to the food itself.

The project was shaped by the theatrical rhythm of the dining experience: the sequencing of dishes, the concentration of the chefs, and the relationship between preparation and audience. The kitchen was designed as a darker backdrop, using flat, non-reflective finishes that absorb light and bring focus towards the preparation of the food. Across the counter, warm lighting, textured surfaces and deep green tones create a softer and more intimate atmosphere for diners.

Green marble, introduced early in conversations with the client, became the starting point for the wider material palette. Green tiles beneath the counter reference the retained stained-glass façade of the former pub, while layered textures echo the balance and complexity of the dishes themselves. Lighting was carefully calibrated around each seat to create moments of focus and connection around the meal.

The intervention was intentionally restrained, preserving the character of the existing exterior while allowing small material and lighting decisions to shape the experience of the space. The result is a restaurant that feels intimate and quietly performative, where diners become part of the rhythm of the kitchen itself.