Concorde BGW Group have been shortlisted for Bar/ Club/ Lounge – Europe Award in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2021. 

Name: Sophie Oldfield
Company: Concorde BGW Group
Position within company: Creative Development Director
Website: www.concordebgw.com

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
Since I was 8 I wanted to be an interior designer, It was around this time when programmes like Homefront and Changing Rooms had just arrived on TV in the UK. I used to run home from Brownies on a Thursday evening to watch them, they absolutely fascinated me! Looking back, I think it was the first-time interior design had been a big topic in the standard media and from that point forward I wanted to be an interior designer. Fast forward 10 years and I attended Bournemouth University to complete a degree in Interior Design, On my sandwich year I did a year in Industry at an Interior design practice in Sheffield who specialised in hospitality and upon graduating I returned to work for them, although at this point the credit crunch had hit. Luckily Concorde BGW were recruiting a junior designer and I’ve been here almost 11 years working on a massive range of hospitality and commercial projects, I became a senior designer 7 years ago and 2 years ago I joined the board of directors, Safe to say I still have a strong passion for interior design!

How would you describe your personal interior design style?
I think my style is playful, I love to take risks with colours and finishes too, if there is a safe option and a crazy option, I will always go for the one which pushes the boundaries, I encourage my clients to take risks too. It usually the risks that become the talking point for the people who enjoy the space.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
Where don’t I find inspiration would be a much easier question! It sounds a cliché, but inspiration is everywhere, my phone is full of sneaky snaps of random things I’ve seen, from stitching details I like, to historic doors I’ve wandered past, to a nicely bound menu I’ve ordered from. I enjoy looking back in history for classic inspiration too, recently I found an art deco poster with a crazy floor tile layout pattern shown, I recreated it on site, and it looked amazing. I also feel really inspired when I work with the other designers at Concorde, its great pushing the boundaries of design with a team – so much creativity in one company is a very special thing!

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
I think design is taking more and more inspiration from the past at the moment and I think it will continue in this direction for a few years yet. Even industrial and minimalist schemes have nods to the 20’s in some of the forms and shapes that are being used, as well as finishes like terrazzo being very popular. I think bold, large scale fabric patterns and prints will be coming back too. As well as the continuing focus on sustainability in materials and technology which I think will gradually become the new norm in the future.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond.
Flexibility – I think we have all had to learn to be a more flexible in design in 2020 following the pandemic with spaces needing to be easily adaptable for different group sizes, useage and health and safety purposes and I think this will continue for a while yet, I think there will also be long lasting changes to the hospitality industry which will develop from the initial temporary changes that have been introduced this year.

Nature – I think sustainability, provenance and looking after our planet will become more and more important within design through finishes, manufacturers, products and also technology. We are already seeing many of our clients being more aware and cautious of the environmental impact of their spaces from the initial brief.

Technology – Technology is changing so quickly now and so are people’s expectations, it’s only been in the past few years that USB sockets and contactless charging have become the standard and things are already moving forward – it important to make sure spaces are designed to be future proof.

Shape – I think we are moving on from the harsh lines and angles which have been prevalent in recent years and moving towards softer more curved forms.

Time – I think it is important that designs can stand the test of time – it can be so easy to get caught up in current trends without thinking about the longevity of the space.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?
Be brave, always. As the old Latin proverb says, “Fortune favours the brave”

How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
The awards recognise the outstanding talent in the industry and beautiful properties across the globe and is one of the most prestigious accolades, The Hotel & Property Awards adds legitimacy to the claims of grandeur and excellency of many talented people and beautiful properties. Winning an award enhances a reputation of a business. Although the value of these awards extends further than reputation, it boosts company moral knowing they have been internationally recognised for their hard work and increases the overall visibility of a property, project and company.

Allowing the awards to be segregated into budgets as well as categories allows for representation from up-and-coming designers within the hotel and property awards as well as creating an even playing field for smaller leisure and hospitality businesses who otherwise might not be able to compete fairly, especially if a project of less than 1 million is competing against one that is several million.

The standard of entries into the awards is second to none, because of this, being recognised by The International Hotel & property awards is truly a prestigious honour.

What projects are you currently working on?
Personally, I am currently working on a range of projects, from a new build pub which is just breaking ground in Wiltshire, converting a listed coach house into hotel rooms in North Yorkshire, to some bedroom refurbishments in the Yorkshire dales, as well as some exciting hotel rooms above a theatre in Cirencester. As a design team we have just handed over a new flagship site for Fullers in the form of The White Horse at Wembley, as well as currently being on site 8000 miles away in the Falklands working on the MoD base forming a bar, pub and breakout area for 1500 troops. On top of this the pandemic is keeping us busy with lots of clients requiring winter friendly outdoor solutions so we have been busy designing tipis, stretch tents and covered areas which give warmth and interest to otherwise cold garden spaces. In Horsham we are on site with our 3^rd Sit and Sip site, which brings craft beer and artisan spirits to the high street and we have just handed over Duality bar in Sheffield which is an experiential cocktail bar where you can be transported to anywhere in the world. Every day and every design at Concorde are different and that is one of the things I love about my job.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
The Twilight Lounge at Ragdale has been great fun to work on, the client were really behind my initial ideas and they just let me run with it which was very trusting of them as I know they were keen to keep to the sentiment of traditional Ragdale but gave me permission to push it forward in a glamorous contemporary way in readiness to welcome guests new and old.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
My most challenging project was a heavily listed townhall which we turned into a bar and restaurant spreading over three floors, with a secret bar hidden away too. There were a lot of constraints due to the listed nature of the building and the building control requirements, as well as the building being in a bad state of repair but we got their eventually and it went on to win a Bar & Restaurant award for Best Bar in a Heritage Building.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
I love fabrics, I adore layering up the details on upholstery, you can really transform a piece of furniture or a space just by adding a pop of colour through buttons and piping or change the feel completely with studding details and different fabric textures – the possibilities are endless and I love to challenge our upholstery team. That being said they probably don’t love me back.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
I am currently working on some exciting projects with some new clients so I’m looking forward to getting those onto site, I enjoy the comradery of being on site and working with our site teams. I’m also working on the culture development side of Concorde BGW as a business which is another passion of mine, I think it is really important how a company looks after their team and how the culture affects those who work for it and those who work with it.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:
Your most treasured possession? My rings, My engagement and wedding rings are very precious to me and as is a ring that was passed down from my grandma – I always find myself playing with them when I’m unsure about something.

Your favourite holiday destination? That’s a tough one, I love everything about Italy, the food, the architecture, the passion…. the wine but Cuba also stole my heart with its vivid colours, retro nostalgia and cheerful outgoing approach to life.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? Favourite hotel – The Hoxton – I love that it really gives me that home away from home feel whilst still being quite quirky and retro yet modern.

Favourite bar – Albert Schloss in Manchester, always reminds me of the joy of après ski from when I was younger! although I also love the local pub in our village. You can’t beat a few after works drinks with the locals.

Favourite restaurant –  My favourite place to eat at the moment is The Blind Bull in Little Hucklow, which is a tiny village in Derbyshire, the pub has only just reopened after being shut for about 20 years and is one of the oldest pubs in the UK, the transformation from its former self has been done really well, the décor is simple but cosy, and the menu changes on a daily basis dependent on what local produce is available. I also love the fact that the pub has reopened, so many public houses are shutting these days, so for one to reopen after such a long time is fantastic.

Your favourite book, film & song? Eat, Pray, Love – I recently re-read it while on the plane to Bali and I’d forgotten how good it was! Film – I love gangster films, Guy Ritchie films are my favourite but I also love old classics like Goodfellas. Song – Regulate by Nate dogg & Warren G, This was the last dance song at our wedding, It wasn’t really the right vibe for our first dance!

Your favourite food and drink? Beef Carpaccio with honey & walnuts washed down with a glass of prosecco, however on a hot day it has to be an ice-cold pint of dry cider, Stowford Press is my favourite.

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
A long walk in the countryside with my husband and our two cocker spaniels with lots of pub stops along the way. I’m a sucker for a traditional Derbyshire pub – the older the better.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
I have absolutely no idea… maybe an international sleuth?