If your space needs to perform commercially, drawing people in, encouraging them to stay, and standing up to daily operational use, then yes, the right design input pays for itself. A good interior designer does not just make a space look good; they consider flow, capacity, dwell time, brand consistency, and buildability. This is true whether you are opening a bar, launching a fitness concept, fitting out a clinic, or developing an aparthotel. Early involvement can prevent costly layout reversals and protect your programme. The earlier you bring a designer in, the better the outcome tends to be.

A few things. We provide director-level involvement throughout all stages of a project, so your work will not be handed to a junior once it is underway. Our background spans both client-side and design agency experience, which means we have a dual perspective: creativity mixed with commercial savviness. We understand how operators, developers, and contractors think. We also take on a limited number of projects each year, so your project gets the focused attention it deserves. And a practical approach to delivery: clear, buildable design information, realistic programmes, and straightforward communication across a project team. The result is fewer surprises on site and a finished space that performs as well as it looks..

Studio Hayes works across hospitality, leisure, and lifestyle sectors, including bars, restaurants, cafes, hotels, and aparthotels. Beyond hospitality, we work on health and fitness facilities, retail environments, office spaces, and clinics. What connects these projects is a shared focus on how people experience a space: commercially, operationally, and emotionally. We work on single-site projects and multi-site rollouts, across the UK, Ireland, and internationally.

Support is structured around the project lifecycle and can cover all stages or individual phases depending on your needs. This includes feasibility and test fits (layout options, capacity, back-of-house planning, and key constraints), concept design (look and feel, materials direction, spatial experience), technical design (coordinated drawings and specifications for pricing and build), and delivery support (site queries, reviews, and coordination through to completion). Procurement and FF&E specification can also be included where required.

A feasibility or test fit is an early-stage layout exercise that checks what is realistically achievable in each space. It typically covers capacity, circulation, bar placement, kitchen and back-of-house needs, servicing constraints, and any landlord or building restrictions. It is one of the most valuable investments at the outset of a project. Decisions made with clarity at this stage prevent expensive reversals later.

The earlier the better, ideally before a lease is signed or as soon as you have heads of terms. Early design input can prevent costly layout changes, protect operational performance, and give you a clearer path through approvals, pricing, and programme. Bringing a designer in late often means working around decisions that could have been made differently.

Fees vary depending on scope, scale, and the complexity of the project, whether that is a single restaurant fit out, a multi-site rollout, or a mixed-use development. Both fixed fees and day rates are available. Fixed fees suit clearly defined deliverables such as a feasibility pack or concept package, while day rates can suit advisory input or delivery-stage support where the workstream evolves week to week. A staged fee structure is also possible, allowing you to control spend and commit in phases. To provide a clear proposal, it helps to know the site size, project type, target programme, and scope of services required.

To scope a project accurately, it is helpful to have the site address and floor area (or agent plans), current status including lease stage and any landlord constraints, your target opening date and programme, a brief on the venue type and operational requirements, the scope needed (concept only, or full technical and delivery support), and details of any existing team members such as an architect, M&E consultant, or project manager.

Yes, and it is a relationship Studio Hayes actively values. Most projects work best with a coordinated team, and we are experienced in integrating with architects, main contractors, M&E consultants, kitchen designers, acousticians, lighting designers, and cost consultants. We understand how design fits within a construction programme and how to communicate clearly across disciplines from feasibility through to handover.

Yes. Technical design packages can include coordinated floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, elevations, key construction details, finishes schedules, sanitaryware specifications, and FF&E information, all produced to a standard suitable for pricing, tendering, and construction.

It depends on the size and condition of the space, the approvals required, and the procurement route, but as a rough guide a feasibility or test fit typically takes one to three weeks, concept design three to six weeks, and technical design around six to ten weeks. Time on site varies, but depending on scope, refurbishments or new fit outs often run from around six weeks to six months, with landlord approvals and long lead items often influencing the overall programme. If you have a target opening date, we can work backwards from that and map a realistic programme from the outset.

Studio Hayes is based in north London and works across the UK and Ireland, with experience delivering projects across Europe, the US, and Australia.

Send over what you have: plans, a brief, your target date, and a note on budget range if available. We will suggest the most sensible first step, which is usually a short call followed by a staged proposal. Get in touch at hello@studiohayes.design.