Elle’s is the latest venture from the Dhillon’s Brewery group, a network of bars and venues throughout Coventry that places the visitor experience at the heart of everything. The concept for the space was to elevate the typical food hall experience, and strip away the cold, loud and industrial vibes that encourage high turnover.
The space needed to be versatile and flexible, allowing for events and entertainment. The boutique bar and kitchen spaces need to flow logically, allowing visitors to curate their own experience on arrival. The space exists as a community meeting place and a true social dining experience, where the focus is on pulling up a chair, getting comfortable, and staying a while.
Elle’s is intended to be a multi-use space that evolves throughout the day. The multi-floor venue offers pockets and zones, with spaces for large groups to spread out, while also offering spaces for smaller groups, solo diners and workers escaping the WFH grind. Different kinds of seating areas allow visitors to create their own experience, and allows the experience to change with every visit.
Food halls are growing in popularity throughout the UK, but the templated approach leaves many devoid of personality. Customers often only feel welcome for as long as their meal lasts, and then they feel the pressure of the churn. With Elle’s, we wanted to create a space that felt like an extension of home.
Black Ivy Design has a strong relationship with the Dhillon’s Brewery group, so were the natural choice for this new venture. Elle’s marks a departure from the existing offering and provides something new and exciting for the people of Coventry. The goal was to set a new standard for social dining and the food hall experience, showing that it could be a cosy and community-minded affair.
Dhillon’s Brewery shares our commitment to creating new hospitality experiences with a distinct vision. With Elle’s, we have hopefully set a new standard that will pave the way for future developments and set the tone of what the city needs.
Bathed in shades of light green and with accents of soft peach, Elle’s brings a warm minimalist vibe that subverts the expectations of the British food hall. We chose simple opal globe wall lights and over sized pendants, which emphasised the minimalist look and paired this with modern oversized terrazzo tiles in size and print.
We also worked with local artists, including photographers, graphic designers and fine artists for the artwork, creating an eclectic mix and offering a platform for the artists to raise their profiles. This ensures the space remains firmly rooted in the community.
