I’ve had the pleasure of working with Gordon and Nicola from Play Design for more than 20 years across multiple brands and projects. They are inspirational designers who bring creativity, intelligence, and a genuine understanding of how spaces work and feel.

I first met them in the early 2000s when they began the design work for Walkabout. They completely transformed the concept from a male-oriented sports bar into a more welcoming, female-friendly Australian bar that still celebrated sport. That project was a turning point; they took us on a journey to truly understand the role of lighting and how it can shape the atmosphere and flow of a hospitality venue.

From there, Play Design became integral to many key developments, including the creation of Felson’s Pool Hall in Bournemouth, where their design work helped define the brand’s tone and identity. Over the years, they went on to redesign every Walkabout site with consistency and flair before I moved on to new challenges. When I joined a new company and took on the Belushi’s sports bars, they were my first call. Several refurbishments later, Play Design had once again shown how seamlessly they can slot into multimillion pound developments, working closely with wider teams, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver spaces that not only look exceptional but perform efficiently.

Their work goes beyond aesthetics. They think deeply about how people use and move through a space, with an emphasis on ergonomics, flow, and operational efficiency. They’ve developed detailed brand design manuals that ensure consistency across sites while allowing each venue to have its own personality. Whether it’s a busy bar, a social space for Naval personnel, or even the unexpected redesign of a fire station, their adaptability and attention to detail always shine through.

More recently, I introduced them to St Christopher’s Inns, where their insights into space utilisation and hostel concept design helped push the brand forward. Throughout every project, Gordon and Nicola have brought professionalism, imagination, and an ability to balance commercial objectives with guest experience.

After two decades of collaboration, what stands out most is not just the quality of their design work, but the kind of people they are: genuine, thoughtful, and a pleasure to work with.