The Brunel Museum, located in Rotherhithe, celebrates both engineering and performance in its Grade II* listed Tunnel Shaft. After 150 years the chamber is open every day for heritage talks and lectures. In addition, it hosts evening concerts, opera and theatre.
The Grand Entrance Hall, where young Brunel nearly drowned, was the world’s first underground theatre. Under the National Heritage Landmarks Partnership Scheme the museum has fitted out a spectacular new gallery and underground theatre.
Surrounding the Tunnel Shaft is the Tunnel Shaft Garden, a potager garden with raised beds planted with herbs and fruits. On summer evenings this is the Midnight Apothecary, where the Cocktail Gardener serves exquisite drinks.
The capital project, including a new build annex, will create a new holistic visitor experience for the Brunel Museum, incorporating a defined single entrance and paypoint, a clear paywall barrier, a defined visitor journey, an interpretation and exhibition strategy, and a home for the Thames Tunnel drawings and watercolours.
In addition to being a popular visitor attraction, the Brunel Museum is an important community asset as well as a regular stopping-off spot for Thames walking tours.
Appointed at very short notice, our catering consultancy advice to the Museum has included reviewing the business case and wider proposals for the café, along with considering location options and available space in relation to potential demand, capital requirements and the broader proposals for the Museum.
If you’re looking for support to develop a new museum café or would like to discuss how we could support you to improve your existing visitor café sales, financial return and visitor experience, do get in touch.
Posted on January 11th, 2021