DESIGN
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District
Wan Chai
Area
850 sq ft
Seats
42
Year
2025
Wan Chai Izakaya

A former retail unit with only two months rent-free. We assessed the shop before the lease was signed, then ran design, fit-out and licensing on a single timeline.

Scope

  • Site assessment
  • Design
  • Fit-out
  • Licensing
  • Fire safety
  • Furniture

The challenge

  • Previously retail — lease and deed of mutual covenant had to permit a restaurant
  • Exhaust duct had to run via the back lane to the roof, needing owners' corporation consent
  • Only two months rent-free — every day of delay was paid rent

What we did

  • Plans and DMC reviewed pre-lease; helped negotiate a longer rent-free period
  • Kitchen replanned around the exhaust route while meeting FEHD layout requirements
  • Licence application ran in parallel with works; inspections booked for handover day

Outcome

58
Days, handover to opening
6
Weeks to provisional licence
42
Seats
After
Before
BeforeAfter

Drag to compare: before / after

— Owner, izakaya

Next project

Central Bistro