Up North Architects crafts cocktail-inspired, candy coloured scheme for The Morris.

When it comes to bar interiors, it doesn’t come much more playful than the scheme created by Up North Architects for new venue The Morris in Manchester.

Fuelled by ‘Willy Wonka style’ carbonated and sub-zero cocktail configurations, Up North Architects’ founder Patrick Thomas and the team knew this particular design had to be equally spectacular and inventive.

A peruse of Material Source Studio led them to Crown Paints’ new Colour Insights collection for 2025 – in particular Quick Kiss – a striking coral shade. This was the catalyst for the entire scheme, Patrick says.

A multitude of other quirky details feature. Here, Patrick gives us an insight into the creative process, delivery, and feedback so far…

How did the project come about?

“We were invited by Dan Berger to design his new three floor venue at 57 Thomas Street (former Fierce Bar). We had worked with Dan designing Blinker Bar in Manchester. Blinker had, since opening, been voted 6th best cocktail bar in the UK after only two-years, so we were excited for the potential of a new venue.”

What was the design brief/concept?

“Dan came to us with an amazing new concept, and new brand. The cocktail offer was to include highly original and new types of cocktails. He gave me a sample of a force carbonated cocktail – omitting prosecco or sparkling water and utilising higher quality more controllable ‘still’ drinks, producing a better blend, which was then force carbonated by his own team.

“This range of drinks was introduced together with a‘sub-zero’ cocktail range, many served in glasses at -18 degrees. The range of flavours also seemed entirely new to us, and there were some playful elements like using nostalgic flavours (such as Drumstick lollies in one drink).

“We quickly realised he needed a new visual language to match the originality, vibrancy, and potential of this stunning new drinks menu.”

How did you go about sourcing your material selections?

“We started from scratch and contacted many suppliers, wondering how to make a point of difference and build a language for The Morris.

“We met at Material Source Studio and looked for a base colour to build the cocktail bar palette around. What jumped out immediately was a brand-new colour that Crown Paints has recently brought out ‘Quick Kiss’.

“We had looked for a coral colour to match some of the drinks that was not orange or too red and it was a perfect start. Around this, we built a ‘candy’ like palette, set against a few balancing warm grey and cold white tones.”

Which products/materials did you go for and why?

“The focal point within the design was to be the bar and back bar and we wanted to use a ceramic tile. After a struggle to get anything original, or anything that would match this new brand out of standard ranges, we remembered one of the ranges that Quintessenza (Ramona Macchi) and Tekla Evelina Severin had presented at an evening talk at Material Source Studio Manchester back in 2023 – specifically the Fargblock range.

“We checked if the range was current and noted that the circular module had been introduced which fitted the broad notion of carbonated bubbles in the design. Our team mapped out a design which went in a ‘pictorial’ direction, i.e. not a regular repeating pattern, which we really liked and so we specified Fargblock to provide this language of carbonated bubbles rising out of the bar.”

How did you collaborate with suppliers on this?

“We sourced the Quintessenza tiles via Waxman Ceramics, a partner at Material Source Studio, and after a few tweaks (including water jet cutting our own full circle tile to sit in the design – apologies all), we kept Quintessenza up-to-date with the project progress.

“We put the site team in touch with Crown Paints and eventually ‘Quick Kiss’ appeared as the finish in the cocktail bar, also making its way downstairs into the ‘semi-traditional’ pub at ground floor.

“Here, it announces a ‘coral coloured portal’ into a stair up to The Morris cocktail bar, sitting as the fourth wall in the pub like it has no right to be there.”

Did any unexpected challenges arise, and how did you overcome them?

“We have learnt to expect the unexpected in the type of fast track fit-out work we do. I think the most challenging thing at The Morris was the unusual nature of the design – blending traditional pub with a sparkling and confected cocktail bar.

“The challenge was balancing the ‘Willy Wonka machinery’ DNA of the cocktail bar with that of ‘1890s Golden Age’ of the pub downstairs. This type of design challenge you overcome by thinking a lot, trying lots of options and not being scared of new things.”

How did sustainability factor?

“We of course look at the credentials of individual products – a critical role for designers now. However, we were doing a full strip out and re-fit – in general terms, this could lead to waste. There is actually another bar on the second floor, yet to be opened, which will serve as a meeting space and general bar. So, this we fitted out with materials salvaged from the ground and first floor. These were sanded and re-purposed in a space where there was less requirement for new language. We try to minimise what we throw away and re-use anything we can, even back of house.”

What's the client/user feedback been?

“Client and customer feedback has been unbelievable. The venue also seems popular across age ranges, which we have found surprising. It’s very early days, but the interesting thing for us is that the feedback was immediately linking the design back to various decades.

“There’s been 70’s and 80’s 'retro’, but also 60s and 50s. We’re not sure what this means but the space resonates with different people in different ways. We don’t actually think it looks back at all, only forwards.”