Award-winning creative agency Newenglish Design has completed a multi-million-pound redesign of the clubhouse at one of the UK’s most exclusive private golf clubs. The Newenglish team spent six months transforming the bar and restaurant of The Wisley, in Surrey.
Newenglish Design, who specialise in high-end, London quality design at affordable prices, won the work after a nationwide competitive pitch. The new clubhouse reopened for business in April with a fresh new look and immediately saw an increase in lunch and private event bookings.
Wendy Bebbington, Newenglish Design creative director, said: “Golfers now enjoy a clear and uninterrupted view of their 27 hole golf course from a clubhouse they can be proud of.
“We’re interested in how a space looks, feels and works. So we asked what were the problems and issues with the space and we then set about solving them using our creative flair and design expertise. The result is a clubhouse that has been opened up, flows better and looks great.”
The Newenglish Design team removed pillars and walls, introduced a new wine cellar and halved the length of the bar after consulting staff to find out what changes could be made to improve efficiency. A new glass balcony now showcases the upper level of the clubhouse.
Among the special clubhouse commissions were bespoke tables, cabinets and 4m-high large-scale drawings of British birds Barn Swallow and Great Tit.
The cabinets are dressed with handpicked and carefully curated curios – from drawers of butterflies from the British Museum and antique crockery to designer pieces from the likes of Tom Dixon, Alessi and Fornasetti.
The interior design team used renowned British craftspeople such as leatherworker Matthew Fothergill and bespoke lighting designers Curiousa and Curiousa as part of the redesign.
Newenglish also created a new Half Way Bar, and a light touch refurbishment of reception and Golfer’s Corridor completed the project.
John Glendinning, The Wisley chief executive, said: “The Wisley is genuinely unique and now our clubhouse is too. We’re very forward thinking in terms of the golf industry – we are interested in the next generation who want something more modern – our clubhouse is now part of that.
“Our members travel the world and visit the finest clubs, bars and restaurants and they want the same experience at their golf club. One of our biggest challenges with this was to meet the high expectations.
“It would have been very easy to do a traditional look but we liked Newenglish Design’s ideas because they came from a different angle. The clubhouse is a real social hub for family lunches, business meetings and private parties and the vast majority of members have been really positive about the redesign – they feel proud to bring in guests.
“It’s very different from what a normal golf clubhouse would be, where you would normally find a golf theme, lots of wood and traditional materials used in the décor. It doesn’t feel like you’re in a golf club; it’s more like a high-end restaurant. The ambience within the room is better, it’s very relaxed.”
The clubhouse is open 7am to 9pm seven days and week and serves up to 200 members and their guests a day.
John said: “Since the redesign we’ve already noticed more people coming in for lunches and our private party bookings for September were good. It will take another three to six months to see the full impact but we can already see the positive business impact the redesign has had.”
Newenglish Design https://www.newenglish.co.uk/
The Wisley http://www.thewisley.com/
Picture top: new interior at The Wisley