Royal Court Theatre
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Royal Court Theatre - view of dining area beneath the iconic 'Royal Court' sign
Allan Crow (website) Download Original
Refurbishment of undercroft bar and kitchen to provide improved circulation and layout, new bar, intimate dining areas and flexible informal seating/performance area
The Grade II-listed Royal Court Theatre is an oasis of radicalism in Kensington.
The project involved refurbishment of the much loved atmospheric undercroft bar designed by Haworth Tompkins in 2000.
During the evening it felt over congested, whilst daytime use dwindled. The space has been re-planned to address these issues, relocating the bar to the centre of the room, creating subtle spatial subdivisions.
Nooks and booths add a diversity of spaces suitable for day and evening use, whilst the warmly lit 'ladies room' draws the audience through to an intimate library at the rear.
By re-purposing a familiar palette of materials, the Royal Court’s distinctive personality is retained: re-used slate from the original bar forms benches; filigree screens reference existing metalwork whilst mirrors capture fragments of the Royal Court sign on descending the stairs.
Timing was critical, with works coinciding with the theatre’s summer closure.
Data
- Begun: Aug 2014
- Completed: Sep 2014
- Floor area: 285m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £235,000
- Funding: Arts Council
- Tender date: Jun 2014
- Procurement: JCT traditional
- Address: Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Lyndon Goode Architects with Citizens Design Bureau
- Client: The English Stage Company
- Project manager: H4 Group
- Building services engineer: Doug King Consulting
- Catering : Ackery Consulting
- Lighting Consultant : PJC Light Studio
- Structural engineer: Price and Myers
- Quantity surveyor: Fidgens
- Branding consultant: YCN Studio
- CDM Co-ordinator: Act Surveyors
- Main contractor: Bryen Langley
- Services contractor: Elmec (Southern)
- Furniture Contractor: Benchmark joinery
Suppliers
- Bespoke spun pendants: A.J Wells & Sons Ltd
- Lighting: Urban Cottage Industries
- Lighting bars: Push The Button
- Chairs and stools: Zilio A&C
- Filigree screens: Metalex
