An introduction to the interior design of restaurants

Abstract

'Sharp knives of course are the secret of a successful restaurant' or so said George Orwell in his book Down and Out in London and Paris. But from my own experience both working and dining in many of Wellington's restaurants it occurred to me this philosophy was just a little too satirical. However the question still remained in my mind and thus this research report attempts to discover just exactly what does contribute to success in a restaurant. In particular, I am concerned with the ambience and atmosphere which the owners, staff and diners all help to create. My study therefore covers such areas as music, colour, lighting, thermal comfort, decor and theme. Its purpose is to provide existing restaurateurs with some feedback and potential restaurateurs with some guidelines. My conclusions are derived from interviews, observations, readings, and from three case studies. Insight into which factors are the overriding keys to success in terms of owner staff and diner satisfaction is the result.