Plane Food - Terminal 5
In collaboration with Burrell Architects
Gordon Ramsay and Harrods were identified by BAA as their two anchor tenants; Harrods for retail and Ramsay for dining. It was to be the first fine dining restaurant in an airport and this ambition brought many challenges.
We worked closely with BAA to set the design standard for this new concept, creating the branding for Ramsay and coordinating the interior design, the kitchen design, the extensive services requirements and the design and construction of a new suspended plant room above the main kitchen. The final restaurant, catering for 1300 covers daily was delivered on time and within budget with a full fine dining display kitchen, bespoke furniture and finishes throughout, a magnificent long bar and a 20m long fully illuminated “wing” over the main dining area.
In the background was the ever present problem of building a fine dining restaurant airside with all material deliveries processed by BAA off site and all labour, for even the smallest task, required to have a two day induction before being allowed on site. Coupled to a lengthy approval process with BAA, building control and stringent fire safety requirements and a tight programme which could not be exceeded, the project was enormously complicated but ultimately very satisfying to achieve the successful construction of the first fine dining restaurant in an airport.
This fine dining restaurant and bar at Terminal 5 sets a new standard for concept, quality and finish for airport interior design. Open 21 hours a day, 365 days a year, not only does the design raise the bar but the space is also highly durable. Diners are able to eat at the elegant bar, enjoying great views of the Plane Food open plan kitchen that turns 'Plane Food' into an experience. We delivered a highly refined bar and restaurant in the complex working environments of the live Terminal 5 site.
“ Restaurants in the Terminal look like airport lounges: Plane Food, by contrast, offers a long marble bar with a lovely twin-prop gold leaf motif above. Through the gigantic windows, one can admire planes landing, or pre-flight feed taking off from the kitchen”
Jasper Gerard, Telegraph.co.uk
