Tro — Pey — Ah. A small and very beautiful town on the Calabrian coast of Italy. A place that’s special to us and the inspiration for Tropea, Harborne.
Behind Tropea are Ben and Kasia supported by a dedicated and passionate team. They were very fortunate that the 2020 lockdown gave them the space to think, and the time to realise a collective dream – to open a restaurant of their own – Tropea.
The Brief
We had already created Tropea and through being so successful to the point of customers submitting waiting lists for a table, they wanted to elevate the experience and expand into the neighbouring building.
The team wanted to have a bar area that customers can use whilst waiting and for afterwards, that looked great but was also highly functional for the number of high-end drinks that they offer. They wanted to increase the look and feel of the main restaurant and relocate the toilets and make them significantly more premium. The kitchen was also relocated.
The first design helped it enter the Michelin Guide and since the revamp they have been awarded a Bib Gourmand award by Michelin.
The Challenge
The challenge was mainly to do the fit out with only a 2 week closure to the main restaurant. To create a space that elevated the experience yet still maintained the ‘neighbourly’ restaurant feel.
Our Solution
Pre-design and planning before starting on site was key. In addition we worked to ensure we could do as much in the neighbouring building as possible without affecting the main restaurant.
We worked on creating a stand out beautiful bar area with gorgeous joinery that is highly functional. Moved the entrance so you entered at that point. A space that encouraged customers to increase dwell time and spend per head.
We reconfigured the fixed seating in the main area and created zoning to allow for a more intimate feel.
The Results
With a 5.0 Tripadvisor rating across 190+ reviews, Tropea was already a well-established dining destination. Following the 2024 refurbishment, guest feedback indicates a measurable shift in how the space is experienced, with atmosphere and overall experience now consistently referenced alongside the food. Reviews point to longer dwell times, more relaxed dining occasions and increased ordering behaviour, all of which are strong indicators of higher spend per head.
Customer reviews:
- “From stepping into the restaurant the service was faultless… the food was incredible.”
- “They are very good at up-selling… I’ve ordered a plate or two too many.”
- “Very nice atmosphere, good choice of music.”
- “Superb food and fantastic service.”
- “Buzzing atmosphere and friendly service.”
- “Turned into a full-blown, three-hour lunch.”
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