Nick Hancock and Neil Southard led the Blue Arc design studio before Nick later established Nick Hancock Design Studio. One of their significant projects was creating Jamie Oliver’s flagship restaurant, Fifteen, housed in a former gallery space on Old Street. The project featured a restaurant and a delicatessen, a bar, a chef school, and offices above.
Due to a compressed timeline, limited budget, and complex planning negotiations, the project was demanding. The challenge lay in converting the gallery into a fine dining establishment, which included gaining approval for a change of use from gallery to restaurant and bar. Moreover, integrating a full restaurant in a basement came with technical challenges, particularly in ensuring the safety and comfort of the residential units above. Fire protection systems, kitchen flue integration, and carbon filtration systems had to be thoughtfully designed to minimise disruptions while maintaining functionality.
The basement level housed the restaurant and kitchen and essential facilities like staff amenities and toilets, further adding to the project’s logistical complexity. The ground floor featured the delicatessen and bar, while Fifteen’s offices, accommodating around 20 people, were positioned on the upper storey.
This high-profile project, filmed for Channel 4’s Jamie’s Kitchen, placed intense scrutiny on the design process. However, Fifteen became a well-regarded success, helping to cement Nick’s ability to deliver complex, high-stakes projects. This experience laid the groundwork for Nick’s next venture, founding Nick Hancock Design Studio.
