Castree Design & Relocation will undertake the interior design of the Beacon Arts Village which will see the multi-million pound transformation of a Victorian Wirral town hall. Tony McDonough reports
Design business Castree Design & Relocation has secured the contract to transform the interior Hoylake’s Victorian town hall in a multi-million pound regeneration project.
The Beacon Arts Village development started on site in October 2019 fall following a grant of £3.64m from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund. It will comprise a two-screen cinema, a restaurant and a bar and 18 creative studio and retail spaces for artists and makers. It is scheduled to open towards the end of 2020.
Castree, based in nearby West Kirby, has been appointed to undertake the design of the interior. The firm was founded by design director Sue Evans 20 years ago. It is known for its “sumptuous” interior designs for a range of clients across the UK from stately homes to wedding venues, from restaurants and hotels to offices and shops.
Ms Evans forged her reputation at North West Design Associates in Cheshire where, she was chief designer and as part of a team designed and furnished the Laura Ashley national chain of boutiques, as well as more than 100 historic Peter Walker & Co public houses; and the shops of luxury fashion retailer, Aquascutum.
Castree has been responsible for a number of high profile commissions, including the redesign of Kinloch Lodge hotel and restaurant in the Isle of Skye for world renowned cook and food writer, Claire McDonald.
Closer to home, the firm has worked on the Grade II-listed Trident House in Liverpool, the former Liberal Party Reform Club; the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake’s Open Championship venue; and West Kirby Sailing Club on the banks of the River Dee.
“I have always loved this particular building and it’s wonderful that it is being turned into something that will be open to everyone and can be appreciated on many different levels,” said Ms Evans.
“I think it will be a stimulating environment and very different from what already exists in this area and a place where people will want to visit and return to time and again. We have a passion for beautiful design and when we saw the beautiful concept vision and ambition for the Beacon, we were very excited.”
Dave Burke of Hylgar Properties, the site’s owner and developer, added: “Castree Design was a very easy choice to make. Not only are they highly experienced with a wealth of contacts, they are also well known for their attention to detail and the lengths they go to, to bring a brief to life.
“For us it’s also extremely important that they are local and have a passion for the area and a vested interest in delivering the best quality to a place which they too will enjoy in the years to come.”Since 2012, the Coastal Communities Fund has invested £228 million into 395 projects UK-wide.