hello!

I'm Nigel Witham and I designed my first restaurant in Richmond, UK in 1990. It is still thriving now. In fact, I went there just the other week.

Today, my team and I love to provide bar, coffee shop and restaurant interior design, branding, financial modelling and strategic insights with acumen. We realise we're not a perfect fit for everyone but nonetheless we get hired by all sizes of business, from tiny start-ups to multinational corporations.

I'd love you to hire us too, although I know that you may just want some initial friendly advice. So, I have written a series of in-depth help sheets and I write about the strategic use of design in international catering magazines.

There are links to these free resources below. You are welcome to download and share them without telling us and without restriction.

Although I work mainly in the UK, I have production offices in India and New Zealand and representation in New York. Recently, I've worked in London, Devon, The North West and The Midlands, Casablanca, Dusseldorf and Abu Dhabi. I have a second home in Australia and will consider work anywhere. I am happy to work locally but like to travel.

I am here to help and always happy to talk and I'd love to hear from you.

gallery

some examples of completed restaurant and cafe design projects from the last 20 years or so.

help sheets

these free helpsheets will help you understand how to design a restaurant (I'm here when you're ready for expert help).

avoid pitfalls

these helpsheets will help prevent mistakes when you're building your restaurant or working with any restaurant designer

my team

My team and I work separately but together using the internet for meetings and filing. In this way we can find the right people for the work and not the other way around.

If you are an experienced, professional designer or catering business consultant and you think you'd like to join us please send us an email to tell us why.

Nigel Witham
Vicky Funnell
Sanjay Mistry
Judi Watkinson
Crispin Williams
Chris Titcombe

Mark Horner
Kirk Voltz

writing

Here are my articles about all aspects of restaurant, cafe and bar design with some true stories from more than 20 years.

I have recently been a regular columnist in Pub and Bar magazine in the UK and a columnist and awards judge on Caterer Middle East magazine, based in Dubai, UAE.

My articles cover subjects such as costs of design and fitting out, effective branding and space planning, restaurant interior design tips and how to manage and brief designers. I aim to be controversial and thought provoking. If you have a high quality, established magazine, I may be available to write for you.

Please download as many articles as you want - I'd welcome your feedback and any ideas for more.

new year, new look
JANUARY 2012 ISSUE

Overhauling your venue's image can give profits a boost, and it doesn't have to break the bank.

how to use colour
JULY 2010 ISSUE

When plannng F&B outlets, there is more than one kind of palette to please.

it's all about seduction
OCTOBER 2011 ISSUE

Nigel gives his tips for seducing customers and building lasting loyalty.

see more articles >

my services

My team and I offer a unique blend of services so you can benefit from a complete, consistently-designed brand. This approach gives new start ups instant big chain credibility.

Concept origination and development
Restaurant, bar, cafe and boutique hotel interior design
Architectural design
Brand design, naming and standards specifications
Planning and local government applications
Project coordination and management
Outlet strategy
On line marketing and reservations systems
Financial modeling and business plan development

let's get started!

If you have an interesting question for me you can post it on my facebook page. I check this every day and always respond quickly. I blog there and there's more information and photos.

If you're interested in hiring me and my team for an interesting project, no matter what size, and no matter where in the world, then I'd love to hear from you. Please tell me as much about your restaurant, bar or cafe project as possible and send me any photos or plans if you can. I promise I'll reply warmly and positively within 24 hours - probably much sooner, and I'll keep everything confidential.

hello@nigelw.com

(If you're enquiry is urgent then please let me have your phone number or Skype name and I'll call you as soon as I'm available.)

Polite Notes About Project Costs

Many novice restaurant, cafe and bar owners aren't ready for the true costs they will incur constructing appealing and competitively-designed outlets.

I'm often given a tight budget to work with, this isn't a problem but it's not wise, for you or for me, to proceed with an impossible budget.

So, if you're not sure what your project is going to cost to build and if your funds are limited, I can conduct a professional feasibility study. This includes an outline design and independant quantity survey and is the only way to obtain accurate costs. The main reason for cost overun is rarely an unforeseable problem but failing to investigate properly and face facts at the start. I find it best to give every project individual care and diligence so you won't end up trapped without enough money to finish your project, after all, there is probably only one chance for you to get it right.

Free Pitches

So that I am able to give you helpful and impartial advice I charge for all designs and feasibility studies and I am not able to provide free pitches. This helps me to keep costs low so that my charges, which I'll agree in advance, are affordable for everyone.