{"id":466192,"date":"2026-02-13T11:57:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T11:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/466192\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T11:57:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T11:57:12","slug":"nicola-weetch-designs-record-bar-bambi-to-feel-lived-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/466192\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicola Weetch designs record bar Bambi “to feel lived-in”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hackney<\/a> restaurant and listening bar<\/a> Bambi has been doubled in size with a revamped interior and a custom-made stainless-steel<\/a>-and-wood wall cabinet for vinyl records.<\/p>\n

Designer Nicola Weetch led the interior design of the project, which came about after Bambi<\/a> expanded into an empty venue behind the back wall of its London Fields space.<\/p>\n

\"LondonStainless steel and wood were used throughout the interior<\/p>\n

“The design challenge was to make a space that not only worked for music, but also as a restaurant and bar,” Weetch told Dezeen.<\/p>\n

“The DJ booth in the middle of the room and record wall were essential for the music side of things, but we ensured that we had a large open kitchen and large bar as you walked into the space, so all three aspects were given equal importance in the space.”<\/p>\n

\"OverviewBambi has a new wood-panelled mezzanine space<\/p>\n

The now 180-square-metre venue is located in a warehouse space that had also been used as a nightclub.<\/p>\n

It was given a makeover with a simple material palette, while Weetch worked with a lot of existing finishes, so as not to discard materials that were still usable.<\/p>\n

“We kept the palette quite simple, not wanting the space to feel overworked, through a combination of stainless steel to give reflections in the space \u2013 especially in the evening with lower, warmer lighting \u2013 oiled oak, cork and felt-linen curtains which give a warmth and richness of colour,” Weetch said.<\/p>\n

\"Custom-madeA custom-made vinyl shelf was hand-built on site<\/p>\n

A custom-made DJ booth and record wall was hand-built on site for Bambi’s resident DJs, who play exclusively vinyl.<\/p>\n

A large, eye-catching record-storage unit, made from wood and stainless steel, stand behind the booth.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Bar<\/p>\n

Lesbian bar La Camionera “reinterprets the traditional Mediterranean bar”\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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“We brought stainless steel into the space because we loved the juxtaposition with the wood finishes and how stainless steel reflects light within the space,” Weetch explained.<\/p>\n

“It also tied together the food, drink and music, as elsewhere we have a stainless-steel ageing cabinet, stainless steel wine fridges and of course, the disco ball!”<\/p>\n

\"Bird'sThe existing industrial floor was left in in its original state<\/p>\n

The surfaces in Bambi mostly have a warm, polished feel, which Weetch contrasted by leaving the existing scruffy, industrial floor intact.<\/p>\n

“We wanted Bambi to feel lived in, almost like you had stumbled across an amazing hidden gem that had been in this warehouse building for years,” she explained.<\/p>\n

“We felt leaving the floor, with its years of use as a nightclub back in the day, achieved this feeling of being weathered and ‘found’ and avoided it feeling like a shiny new place dropped in.”<\/p>\n

\"BambiArtworks by Alec Doherty decorate the walls<\/p>\n

Bambi’s walls were decorated with playful artworks by illustrator Alec Doherty<\/a>, who also created the bar’s wine glasses, which feature two characters that kiss when the glasses are clinked.<\/p>\n

“We have collaborated with Alec on all the artwork in the space as we love how his work focuses around human interactions, combining strong primary colours and playful themes,” Weetch said.<\/p>\n

\"RecordsDJs at Bambi only play vinyl records<\/p>\n

As part of the expansion, Bambi now also features a wood-panelled mezzanine area that overlooks the main space, as well as a larger outdoor area.<\/p>\n

The revamped Bambi is the latest bar to open in Hackney, with other recent additions to the east London nightlife including lesbian bar La Camionera<\/a> and De Beauvoir listening bar Goodbye Horses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The photography is by Beca Jones<\/a>.<\/p>\n