The Thin White Duke,
London Soho

Brooke Harmony Design
Commercial Project

The Brief

One our all time favourite projects, a beautiful space built on good music, good food, and good company! This two floored former radio station dripping in musical history is now completely unrecognisable. We stripped the building back and reworked it from the ground up. An eclectic mix of bare facing concrete, exquisite brass finishes, beautiful stain glass windows and colourful bespoke murals, this building now houses a members only studio space in the basement and the ground floor which is now a restaurant & live music venue. As well a bold design, we paid meticulous attention to the commercial aspects, such as adding additional storage to bespoke brass gantry above the bar and a cicchetti display to showcase some of the mouth-watering food (which is visible to passers by outside). A perfect blend of form and function.

Interior of a cozy bar with wooden counter, teal bar stools, exposed brick walls, and soft lighting.

Interior of a cozy bar with dark wooden furniture, green velvet barstools, exposed brick walls, and warm lighting.

The exterior of a restaurant named 'The Thin White Duke' with large glass windows revealing warm interior lighting and hanging light fixtures inside.

Interior of a cozy bar with wooden bar counter, teal bar stools with gold frames, exposed brick wall, ornate metal ceiling, and warm lighting.

A man wearing headphones working on music production at a desk with a large screen, in a room with dark wallpaper, lit by candles and a tall light, behind a stained glass window depicting a religious scene.

A cozy bar with a dark wood counter, green bar stools, a brick wall in the background, hanging glassware, and a chandelier, with a neon 'On Air' sign and an 'ON AIR' sign.

Close-up of a stained glass window featuring a woman with a contemplative expression, blonde hair, and a halo-like yellow background.

Indoor music studio with two guitars, a speaker, a drum pad, and artwork on the walls.

An altar with religious statues, a framed painting, a photo, and several lit white candles in a dimly lit room.

Close-up of a vintage teal espresso machine with a round pressure gauge, a toggle switch, and a few utensils on top.

A wall with a white illuminated sign reading "ON AIR" next to a large black speaker and a ceiling light fixture with warm soft light.

Decorative display with a small duckling stuffed animal inside a glass dome, two tall white candles lit, and a colorful stained glass background.

A man wearing headphones working on a music mixing console in front of a stained glass window depicting religious figures, with lit candles on a table beside him.

Close-up of a bathroom sink with a gold faucet, teal towels on a marble countertop, and a vibrant, colorful mural wallpaper with various mythical and fantastical creatures and scenes.

A woman bartending at a dimly lit bar with various glassware and cocktails on the counter, preparing a drink.

Interior of a cozy bar with a wooden counter, bar stools, illuminated wall lamps, a coffee machine, glasses hanging above the bar, and brick walls.

Interior of a cozy bar with dark wood furniture, green velvet bar stools, a brick wall, warm lighting, and a coffee machine on the bar counter.

Interior of a cozy bar with dark wood bar counter, green upholstered bar stools, exposed brick wall, decorative ceiling tiles, and warm lighting.

A person working on music production with headphones and a mixing console in front of a stained glass window depicting a biblical scene, candles, and speakers.

A bar with dark wood counters, green bar stools, a brick wall, hanging glasses, and warm lighting, including a chandelier and a neon 'On Air' sign.

A stained glass window depicting a woman with closed eyes and a calm expression, surrounded by a yellow halo with light bulbs.

Musical setup with two guitars, a speaker, and a music production device inside a room with colorful Asian-style wall art.

An altar with religious statues and candles, with a painting of the Pieta in the background and ornate wallpaper.

Close-up of a vintage blue espresso machine with a pressure gauge, on a countertop with coffee accessories on top.

A lit sign reading 'ON AIR' on a wall in a dimly lit room, with a hanging lamp and a speaker above it.

Decorative scene with lit candles and a preserved chick in a glass dome on a wooden surface, with a stained glass window background.

A person working on a music production console with a stained glass window depicting a religious scene and three lit candles in the background.

A bathroom with colorful wall mural featuring fantasy and jungle scenes, a white sink with gold faucet, a marble countertop, and a mirror reflecting part of the mural.

A woman with blonde hair in a black, sheer-sleeved top is preparing a cocktail behind a bar with various bar tools and glasses, and some food plates in front.

Interior of a cozy bar with wood and brick decor, bar counter with coffee machine and liquor bottles, green velvet bar stools, and warm lighting.

An ornate ceiling with intricate gold detailing and a large, glowing chandelier hanging from the center.

A person wearing headphones working on digital music production at a desk in front of a colorful stained glass window depicting a religious scene.

Religious altar with statues of Mary and Jesus, lit with candles, decorated with patterned wallpaper.

Assorted sandwiches, cheese, grapes, and meats displayed on plates inside a glass as covered food display.

Various glasses of colorful cocktails on a bar counter with a blurred background.

Three people sitting at a bar counter in a cozy, dimly lit bar with a rough, textured wall. One woman with blonde hair is talking, others are listening; two glasses of pink cocktails are on the counter.

A person walking down a staircase in front of a large mural of a roaring tiger with yellow eyes, black stripes, and open mouth showings teeth and tongue, with floral decorations around.

A wine glass rack with upside-down wine glasses hanging underneath on a gold metal shelf in a warmly lit room.

A person playing a red electronic keyboard with a glass of whiskey on top, in front of a colorful, patterned wall.

Close-up of hands using a vintage synthesizer with gold knobs and drum pads, on a dark wooden table, with a glass of amber liquid nearby.

A man singing into a recording microphone with a stained glass religious scene in the background.

The exterior of a restaurant named 'The Thin White Duke' with large front windows revealing a warmly lit interior with hanging lights, curtains, and plants.

Line drawing of a three-story building with large windows and decorative elements on the facade, including plants on the balcony and intricate door details.

Design Challenges & Solutions

With a compact footprint, the project called for creative thinking to achieve the founders’ vision, a space that could serve dim sum, cocktails, and transform into an event venue for hosting musicians and events throughout the building.

This flexibility was central to our design approach. During the process, we uncovered a blocked-up secondary doorway and repurposed it as an entry point, freeing up the original door location to become a larger window with additional seating.

We also reconfigured the bar location to create a clear sightline through the property, enhancing flow and functionality. To maximise adaptability, we designed bespoke Murphy-style tables that fold neatly away, opening up the floor for performances and events.

Hiring Brooke was the best decision we made when starting up. She was instrumental in every step of the planning and construction process from beginning to end.

Giovanni, The Thin White Duke Bar & Recording Studio
Soho, London
When we could not attend our weekly site meetings, she attended in our place and we had no doubt that whatever decisions she made were the right ones. I could not recommend her enough.

Giovanni, The Thin White Duke Bar & Recording Studio
Soho, London
Three years on, we still rely on her for drawings and advice on anything to do with build outs and interiors and can't imagine using anyone else in the future.

Giovanni, The Thin White Duke Bar & Recording Studio
Soho, London