Platform Lift in Wagamama Wigmore Street

Quadrant Design, an architectural practice based in Reading, were in charge of designing the layout of a new Wagamama restaurant on Wigmore Street in central London. Wagamama is a popular Japanese restaurant with over 130 locations in the UK and a total of over 190 worldwide. Wigmore Street runs parallel to Oxford Street with Regent's Park to the north and Hyde Park to the south-west. Its central location means there is a large collection of restaurants supplying both offices and tourists alike. Quadrant are specialists in restaurant design having created restaurants for the likes of Pizza Express, Tortilla and Coppa Club. Quadrant needed a way for wheelchair using customers to get from the entrance at street level down to the main restaurant area, 660mm lower. We met with the architect and site manager at Wagamama, Wigmore Street to discuss the aesthetic they were looking for and how this could be achieved.

The platform lift at Wagamama Wigmore Street would be replacing a pre-existing ramp. As we've found with several restaurants there is a conflict between whether to go for a lift or a ramp. Ramps are usually more affordable however they take up table space and so limit the amount of covers the restaurant can have at any one time. This then impacts the long term profitability of the restaurant. The architect decided that the lift would be the better option. The overall footprint of the lift is 1350mm x 1700mm, which equals 2.23m². On the other hand a DDA compliant ramp with a rise of 635mm would have a footprint of nearly 15.5m². Comparing the restaurant before and after refurbishment, the surplus space equates to at least 20 covers. This shows how a lift can maximise a restaurant's potential and boost its overall profits. The lift's platform measure 1100mm x 1400m with glass doors and panels on all 4 sides to match the modern aesthetic of the restaurant. The metalwork was finished in the same dark grey used in the rest of the restaurant. The lift was installed in time for Wagamama Wigmore Street's grand opening.

To see some of our projects that are similar to Wagamama Wigmore Street click on the following links:
Devonshire Club | Cheltenham Racecourse | Hotel du Vin Poole | Audi Northampton | Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Hotel du Vin Poole

Hotel du Vin is a boutique hotel chain with 19 locations covering England and Scotland. As the title suggests the chain was founded with wine at the heart of its business. Hotel du Vin Poole is situated in Poole Old Town tucked away from the quay opposite St James' Church. The original building dates back to 1776 as the Mansion House, Hotel du Vin have then refurbished the site retaining many of the original features. The front entrance of the property is raised from street level and then once inside the property the property is split. The reception is on the upper ground level whilst the restaurant, bar and wine tasting area is on the lower ground floor. Both of these levels are separated via stone staircases therefore having a complete access route at the front of the building would prove difficult and costly. In addition any modifications to the front of the building would also have to meet the requirements of Historic England as the building is Grade II* listed.

The solution to creating the best possible access route into the building for disabled guests was to use the street level to the side of the building. This then leads into the side of restaurant. From the restaurant, disabled guests can access both the bar and outdoor seating area. The platform of the lift measures 1100mm x 1400mm with a rated load of 300kg. This means that it can take even the heaviest of electric buggies. The lift in the restaurant allows guests to access all of what Hotel du Vin Poole has to offer. In addition the hotel has accessible rooms behind the restaurant at street level.

Hidden Lifts at the Devonshire Club

An exclusive members' club in Devonshire Square in the City of London asked us to come up with plans to fit both an outside step lift and a platform lift within the lobby. The Devonshire Club needed products that would fit in with the club's appearance with a blend of traditional and modern decor. The Devonshire Club features 3 large bars, 2 lounges and plenty of outdoor space in particular a large stone laid terrace and garden. The club also features restaurants and 68 rooms available to both members and non-members with the usual functions rooms and event spaces available for conferences and meetings.

SUSD, the firm behind the project, were looking for an indoor platform lift to be installed between the reception and main bar so that disabled guests could make use of the club's facilities. The difference in floor level was 1000mm and the client did not want a cumbersome platform lift so instead chose one of our products. The lift was installed in a mirrored glass shaft to match the building's existing wall. In addition, the lift's platform was finished with the original stone flooring so that the platform disappears into the floor on the ground floor. The door into the bar area was made out of hard wood to match the bar's decor for a stunning finish.

In addition to the lift connecting the reception and bar, the client needed an outdoor step lift so that guests could enjoy the winter gardens that are situated outside of the club. As the travel for the lift was only small, we installed another platform lift which matched the stone laid terrace. This lift is extremely versatile as well as being rugged and the original flooring or tiles can be used so the lift can become hidden in plain sight. The lift was finished with a glass door to match the glass balustrade of the rest of the terrace. The client was extremely pleased with the finished of both lifts and how seamlessly they blended into the building's aesthetics.

Retail Lift at Local Opticians

Optique 2000 is an opticians in Wimborne, offering high quality glasses for customers all over Dorset. Due to increased demand for their glasses Optique needed to look to expand their business, they had 2 options, they either had to move to larger premises or look to expand the current site to maximise the retail space. They had a stock room upstairs but access was difficult so they couldn't turn it into a sales floor without making it easier for customers and staff alike to get up there. A simple shop lift was the best option to increase their sales floor.

They chose to install a Vector system, a lift that comes in its own aluminium shaft, it also only needs a 50mm pit below the floor level. This means that there is little builder's work with minimal cost. The lift fitted had dimensions of 1400mm x 1100mm with automatic doors on both floors. The shop lift was finished in gloss white with glazed glass doors to give the lift a spacious and airy feel in what was a small space. The lift was fitted in 2 days and has led to Optique doubling their retail space without having to move from their current in location in the heart of Wimborne.

Platform Lift at Audi Northampton

The General Manager of Audi Northampton came to us to ask if we could design a solution so that wheelchair users could get from one side of the showroom to the other side with a floor level difference of over a metre. He really didn’t want a ramp as it wouldn’t match the showroom’s aesthetics and would take up much needed retail space. Ramps can take up to 40m² and so really aren’t the option for busy shop floors and retail spaces! Therefore a disabled platform lift was the only solution.

We designed and then installed a LP8 platform lift from Guldmann with dimensions of 900mm x 1530mm with a 1200mm travel. The lift was finished in grey with glass doors and sides to match Audi’s colour scheme and the client’s requirements.

The platform lift was fitted and installed in just 1 day! The lift now allows both staff and clients alike to use both levels of the showroom and provides vital access for wheelchair users.

Hotels, Restaurants & Retail

Platform Lift in Wagamama Wigmore Street

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Hotel du Vin Poole

For more information about lifts like the ones featured above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Hidden Lifts at the Devonshire Club

For more information about lifts like the ones featured above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Retail Lift at Local Opticians

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Platform Lift at Audi Northampton

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us