When Manchester Airport first approached San Carlo about creating an immersive and highly decorative, yet still functional and practical restaurant within the infrastructure of its newly refurbished Terminal 2 building, our minds immediately stretched to how we could encompass the multitude of potential airport destinations within a single dining space.
With Terminal 2 the portal to a range of countries and holiday destinations for thousands of travellers every day, this project gave us a chance to stretch the wings of our restaurant interior design capabilities and consider new and exciting ways of injecting different cultures into one space – fusing the Italian menu with décor and design flair from other locations.
One of the biggest challenges we faced in this project was exuding charm within an otherwise very open plan and exposed site as well as producing a design which adhered to the many and very strict airport regulations – finding innovative ways of creating lines and features where previously there were none. Combining the vast expanse of natural light from the floor to ceiling windows, with the high ceilings and large open areas, we decided to integrate hanging lights, flowers, and trees in order to create a cosy and more welcoming environment, while making best use of the space.
The resulting restaurant is one which supports the busy and constantly changing customer base, while giving each and every customer the excellence of a classy and timeless dining experience. Taking influence from the Italian menu, the interior uses plenty of light colours and neutral tones – with the blue backlighting behind the bar and complimenting blue design around the exterior of the bar and bench seating creating a calming atmosphere.
Whether customers are passing by for a quick drink on the way to their boarding gate or looking to pass some time in a high quality restaurant, Cicchetti by San Carlo gives them a chance to step away from the hustle, bustle, and stress of airport life and lose themselves in that all-important first drink of the holiday in peace.
