The Filling Station by Carmody Groarke

Just a stones throw away from my flat, behind the monstrous development of King's Cross/ St Pancras Station is a pop-up restaurant and events space named 'The Filling Station'. Last night I had the pleasure of going along for drinks at this abandoned forecourt of an old petrol station beside the canal. It has been redeveloped by architects Carmody Groarke into a futuristic, transparent and curvaceous fibreglass enclosure, illuminated by retro green lettering announcing the presence of east-end hipsters migrating from Shoreditch to the 'The Filling Station'. Inside is Shrimpy's, a critically acclaimed diner serving up dishes styled as ‘Calexican’ (a mixture of Mexican and Californian- soft shell crab burgers, sweetcorn chowder and fried chicken), while outside there are freshly made stone-baked pizzas and Margarita slushies. The temporary structure will remain in place for approximately two years before the site is redeveloped to provide housing for the rapidly changing King's Cross. 

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La Petite Bretagne designed by Paul Crofts Studio

You could be forgiven for thinking that this petite cafe is in the midst of Brittany, with its gingham covered tabletops, Bonne Maman jam pots and chintzy details. But this super cute creperie is actually in the heart of Hammersmith. Imbued with the ambience of a traditional French bistro, London based Paul Crofts Studio have designed the interior, complete with an acid-etched concrete counter from which crêpes are made to order.

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Dining Room, Sketch by artist Martin Creed

I have been to the eclectic Sketch bar and restaurant on W1's Conduit Street several times before, and if I mention the Noe Duchaufour Laurance designed white capsule pods serving as toilets, you probably know where I am talking about. (you can also see a previous post here of the launch at Sketch of a capsule hat collection by Noisette's front-woman Shingai Shoniwa and milliner Katherine Elizabeth). 

Coinciding with Sketch's tenth anniversary, Turner Prize artist Martin Creed has transformed their Gallery restaurant in the first of a new long-term programme of artist-designed interiors, blurring the lines between exhibition work, artwork and restaurant space. The flooring takes the form of a new artwork, named 'Work No. 1347', and consists of 96 different coloured marble creating a zig-zag pattern, echoed in the red and yellow paintings on the walls. 'Work No. 1343' is also a new work, translating as different pieces of cutlery and furniture; where no two objects are the same. This creates a real cacophony of art, colour and design; old against new, plastic against wood, and handcrafted against mass produced. 

Images: Ed Reeve

Kin Restaurant, a collaboration between Office Sian and Kai Design

Office Sian Architecture & Design and Kian Design have collaborated for the first time on this Chinese restaurant in Clerkenwell. The project involved the sensitive remodelling, redesign and refurbishment of an existing restaurant. Whilst maintaining the character of the original building with exposed brick walls and vintage flooring, new additions include a concrete bar and serving area, as well as bespoke furniture. 

Images by James pfaff 

Frevd, Jericho, Oxford

Housed in a former Greek Revival Church built in the early nineteenth century, the FREVD cafe in Oxford is a beautifully eclectic stop-off point in the trendy area of Jericho. The stone portico between the weathered stone columns invites visitors to enjoy the sunshine (though perhaps in warmer temperatures), and inside, banners and papier-mache sculptures hang from the palatial proportioned ceiling. The long bronze bar provides cocktails, soft drinks, coffees and teas as well as homemade pizzas. 

Images: my own

Union Jacks by Blacksheep for Jamie Oliver

London-based design agency Blacksheep have recently completed this British-inspired pizza and flatbread restaurant for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. Located in the Lego building by Renzo Piano in Central St Giles, the restaurant has a nostalgic vintage feeling, almost like that of an old American diner. Visitors can watch the chefs at work on vintage television sets, whilst beralware-inspired plates have a cheeky message when turned over, stating "stop looking at my bottom". A large neon sign is balanced atop a cinema style menu board that reads the wood-fired pizzas and toppings, created both by Jamie Oliver and US 'pizza master' Chris Bianco. Thought has gone down to every last detail, including objects collected by Jamie on his travels and knitted 1970's style tea cosies on the cafe tables outside. 

Images: Dezeen