Raising the bar

What is in the plates – and on the walls, and seats and buildings – of restaurants is just as interesting as what on the menu for Manchester architect Patrick Thomas

- Emma Mayoh

It’s not just the food that creates an impression at a restaurant. Everything from the welcome, to the wallpaper and even down to the slates or carpet on the floor, shapes an idea of the dining experience to come. As diners, we have become accustomed to expecting more than just a stellar plate of food placed in front of us. As much as the provenance of the ingredients has become a crucial part of eating out, the traceability of the furnishings and fittings have also become a part of the restaurant experience.

That’s where Patrick Thomas comes in. He founded Manchester’s Up North Architects with Darren Keung four years ago, and takes that attention to detail one step further. The 50-year-old, who until launching his own practice worked on some of Manchester’s largest city developments, spends much of his time creating striking, individual and creative interiors for restaurants, cafes, pubs and delis across the region and further afield. He has worked on projects in Knightsbridge, including the buzzy Brompton Food Market and traditional London pub, The Hour Glass, a gorgeous 1930s building that he transformed from a tired boozer into a thriving neighborhood pub.