THIN AND CRISPY SINCE 2012

When we first met the GB Team they were not their usual ebullient selves. The restaurant had been the victim of an arson attack, a mere matter of months after that had completed their latest refurb, heartbreaking.

GB Pizza had been trading in Margate since 2012 and had built up a loyal following and a strong identity. Using this as a starting point, we began to explore ways of developing the interior to reflect the strength of the brand and what a communal hub they had become.

Our collaborative approach with Lisa, Chan, Ellis and the team was a much needed counterpoint to dealing with insurance companies. We soon identified that we wanted to celebrate the unique, vibrant town of Margate (proud host of Dreamland and lively artistic and musical communities) whilst at the same time retaining the feel of GB Pizza.

GB had always been lovers of colour, so we drew inspiration from the slightly faded brights of the original Dreamland rides. These pops were grounded by an expansive blue/grey to mimic the stunning sea views and blue black facade and ceilings. Christian Tate designed the new brand identity which stands out against the facade and draws the eye from the opposite side of the bay.

Miraculously the original gold Pizza art in the windows survived the fire so Schissler & Kaufmann returned to add some more joyful text to the interior too.

Materials and details were purposefully simple and honest and we all spent a lot of time together developing the operational flow around the bar to vastly improve the service environment. This being advantageous to the operators and customers alike. We also improved the back bar design to increase product display which further drives sales. The new bar design also allowed us to squeeze in more covers with the perfect vantage point to enjoy the graffiti on our bar top made from reclaimed school desks.

Window seats are particularly coveted due to the beautiful sunsets - so we went a step further and added an upholstered banquette here too. ClueitWebb worked on all the upholstered seat pads and backs and were a pleasure to collaborate with. The bespoke wall lights from Spark and Bell adding some cosier, low level lighting to the dining room.

A robust, moveable Meet and Greet unit on heavy duty castors can be used inside or out depending on the season.

To reflect the British ingredients used for making their pizzas, GB already had their British Icons bespoke wallpaper in the WC’s. This was too cool not to replicate with us adding simple tiles for durability and using coloured grout for added fun. Quirky accessories and a statement ceiling light completed the look.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN LOUISE GEORGE