To ask my brother to change his restaurant design 3 weeks from opening

[msmacd]

Hi there, require the input of the mumsnet jury on this one. My brother is opening a cafe/restaurant/bar. It has cost a huge amount to construct and fit-out. My mother's money (she is 70) is also riding on it's success as she is the primary investor, and has mortgaged her home. I took a sabbatical to come back to my country of origin for 4 months to help him in the critical weeks. I have also invested in it.

My brother says his intention is to target the 30-50yrs demographic in particular. He now has 700 Facebook 'likes' for his restaurant Facebook page, and tellingly the majority are woman. There is a fairly trendy man tavern/sports bar close by, so he (claims) he is trying to appeal to the women (who would then bring their partners/ families). As it is in a suburban area, he also envisages getting business from the mothers after school drop off etc, as he will be open from 7:30 and acting as a cafe with cake, coffee, breakfast etc in the mornings.

The architects created it with a bit of an industrial chic vibe, with concrete floors (which i appreciate are on trend at the moment). However, there will be some banquets and some soft/more casual seating in the cafe area at the front, as well as a more formal dining area towards the back. It also has a small garden. A large bar is in the centre of the venue, as the central/focal point.

Yesterday i saw the bar go up. I have attached a photo. That is the finished product/look. The panels are fibreglass made to look like concrete. I took the photo just after they had installed part of the front, but it spans the entire bar and curves around into the cafe area (not in photo).

I'm not a fan (to put it lightly). However, it will cause a massive uproar if I ask him to make changes. His restaurant manager (who he has been working closely with to set it up) already thinks i'm an interfering cow (ha!). It is 3 weeks from opening to the public.

Given my brother is trying to appeal primarily to women (allegedly) and attract families. i must ask... what do you think? Am i being unreasonable?

I love those pics too. You wouldn't have to get rid of the white metro tiles, you could paint other walls in those sorts of colours just so the whole thing wasn't a stark white box. Nothing wrong with that if you like it, of course.

Stuff on walls (shelves/clock etc) would look nice against a lovely colour with a lot of depth. Keeps the industrial non-twee theme but brings warmth.

Who or what are Fluffies?

The bar specifically isn't to my taste, but I imagine it will look better when everything's in and sorted. It's hard to judge at the moment! But if the menu was nice, it certainly wouldn't put me off - there is a Thai restaurant near us that is tiny (formerly a newsagents) which has tiled walls and really doesn't look like much aesthetically, but the food is amazing and the service is good, so they are always busy.

If you want to attract mums, make sure that prams and buggies can get through the door. Crayons in a pot and drawing paper is about as much as I'd want from a cafe tbh as I'm going there for cake and coffee for me; if I wanted somewhere for my child to play I'd go to a soft play or park.

I'm much more likely to go back in the evening if it's a place that doesn'thhave kids play stuff during the day - kids welcome is fine but if it's got toys and play area I'd mentally prepare for kids to be there in the evening too.

Do good coffee and cake and have a baby change area you can get into with the pushchair and I'm happy. Make it a relaxing atmosphere and welcoming staff I'm even happier.

Yes yes yes, if you do decide to have kids area, hide it! That lovely cafe near me has its little nook down the back and it works really well, the place doesn't look like a toddler cafe and parents don't worry about kids legging it out of the door.

Bitoutofpractice he's got Facebook, twitter and instagram accounts set up, but in reality is using Facebook primarily at the moment. I'm currently designing his website, and the idea is the associated blog will publish out directly to all three.

Wanttobsupermum is a genius and her ideas would fix the bar.

Right now the exposed wood looks unfinished and splintery.

The faux concrete panels are just like something we have at work so they are on trend (our building is new) but vile and will ladder your tights if you brush up against them.

I don't mind the faux concrete bar, but I'd have preferred a concrete block with a thick wood top, rather than that framing design. Not convinced the colours of the 'concrete', floor tiles and wall tiles work together, but again, once there is stuff in it the place will look very different.

If when the place is furnished and complete you hate the bar you could always panel it with with oak floorboards. I'm not buying in to the red pleather idea.

There's a restaurant near us that has oak boards on its walls and it's lovely, perhaps that might work for one of your white expanses?

I'd don't like the concrete bar, but as you say it's large and a focal point, are there going to be any bar stools around any part of it? If there is, you could find some really lovely colourful ones that will break up the grey.

I like the idea of using the bar panels as a kind of canvas for some really good art work. And I agree to not making it too kiddy. Ensuring the bar staff are welcoming and helpful to children is enough to attract parents.

The bar is fine,I don't love it but it's ok.

However, having an a kid friendly vibe with a kiddie play area would put me off.

I like a pp's idea above about huge vases of striking flowers to soften the look. I always think that adds a little extra.

Individual baskets/boxes of toys taken to the table - perhaps sorted into age appropriateness, sounds good. Easily hidden/not bought out when necessary.

Is the wood surround finished or unfinished, ie smooth?

I think the colour of the wood and concrete jar against the tiles.

Hopefully there will be enough people standing at the bar that you don't see it!!

EdithWeston and missmartha you speak wise words. Yes i know i must calm the internal temper tantrum. You're right, we should focus on getting it open, and things can be changed in an evolutionary manner going forward if need be.
Buglife the reason it was supposed to appeal to woman i think was 2fold. The fact there is a local competing establishment which is more of a (fancy) mancave. i.e. to differentiate. And the observation that most of the early 400 Facebook likes (my brother did some Facebook advertising, and had been posting updates with photos during the construction etc) were from women. So it appeared women were showing more interest than the men.

Weebirdie the 30-50 i think came from the ages of the people (primarily women) 'liking' the page on Facebook, when the advertising was done. And my brother carried out alot of research re the demographics of the area - the area is primarily comprised of the 30-50yr group. So that is just the core target, but obviously doesn't exclude anyone else!

nilbyname the architects (and sound bod) did think about the acoustics in the design. Loads of acoustic panelling, sound bafflers etc. But there is a bit of an issue in two sections still (has been noticed). Which apparently is where the idea for rugs (in those areas) initially came from. But i agree rugs sound like a trip hazard, and not great from a hygiene perspective either. So i think we'll have to get everything in there, put on some music, make some noise and see how it all sounds (fingers crossed).
blu I don't believe all women like cosy twee vintage. I certainly don't. What i like more resembles the photos that Skodalabia posted. Just something a bit warmer. Not laura ashly.

Actually, would he consider used timber instead of the faux-concrete? that seems to be pretty "on-trend" at the moment as well, certainly here! The house reno shows are always going to reclaimed timber places and panelling walls and making bedheads and all sorts out of it! might be more of the modern rustic than industrial chic though.

Apricota thanks for the advice. Yes, keen to hear your other thoughts too.

Hi thumbs thanks for all your input. To answer your question, it's not the ONLY demographic he wants. But he doesn't want to alienate mothers, as after a potentially early breakfast rush the mornings will be quiet. So looking for that mother and small kiddies trade as well. I think as one poster said earlier, it is probably trying to be too much to all people.

Would very flat, heavy rubber mats absorb sound? They would be easily cleaned.

Sorry if this is blunt but I think the bar area looks like a urinal. I think it is the white tiles.

ThumbWhitches i think used/ reclaimed timber would look ace, and still fit the remit of hipster/industrial chic against the concrete floor. I will also suggest it to him tomorrow. Like one of the earlier posters said, i would also have less of an issue if it was a slab of concrete with a nice thick wooden top. It's the odd sort of framing with the concrete panels that just looks weird/unfinished to me. I think the issue at this stage is time. But some of these ideas could be instituted in the future....

And if you went for a wooden front on the bar you could attach handbag hooks. A small thing but handy.

Im female with a baby and it looks lovely to me

i am lauging at the oddness of loads of English women telling a bar in New Zealand if they would go to it

I'm not keen on the wood framing or the tiles. Seems an odd look for a designer to put together.

But we can just see a pic of the bar, seeing the whole space when you walk in might be better.

Frankie, lots of people here got to NZ and when I go next year I'll visit the bar if its in the Auckland area. I'd love to see it properly.