Set within the vaulted cellars beneath the Royal Albert Hall, the Artist’s Bar is a space shaped by history. Once home to the building’s original heating and plumbing infrastructure, it carries a distinctly industrial character – raw, functional, and full of atmosphere. This project presented an opportunity to create lighting that didn’t disguise that heritage, but instead leaned into it, translating utilitarian references into something warm, welcoming, and fit for a contemporary public setting.
This project was introduced to us by Tom Niven and Jovana Spence of BDP. Following initial conversations Director & Designer, Simon Wallis-Smith, met with the team at the Clerkenwell showroom to explore the brief in more detail and discuss how lighting could play a meaningful role within the space.
From the outset, the brief was rooted in collaboration – sharing ideas, references, and challenges early on to ensure the lighting felt integral to the architecture rather than applied as an afterthought.
While Simon led the design, the project was realised through close collaboration between our in-house design team, our very own workshop, and BDP’s lighting designers.
Working with the team at Fritz Fryer was a thoroughly enjoyable and collaborative experience. They have a deep understanding of manufacturing techniques, making it easy to develop bespoke solutions that met the brief and budget, whilst also creating beautiful products. Being UK based is a huge benefit, which allowed us to efficiently prototype and refine the design. They are great people to work with and the end product is of the highest standard. Simon’s eyewear game is also strong – I rate this.
– Tom Niven
The brief centred around a new bar located within the vaulted cellars of the Royal Albert Hall – a space that historically housed the building’s original heating and plumbing infrastructure. Tom and Jovana were keen to reference this functional, industrial heritage, drawing inspiration from pressure gauges, inspection vessels, and utilitarian engineering details.
Rather than recreating these references literally, the aim was to reinterpret them through light, finding a balance between industrial character and the warmth required for a hospitality environment.
Together, we identified that a bespoke interpretation of our Alton collection would be well suited to this context.
The Alton design needed to be significantly larger than our standard size and required fully bespoke wall fixings. As the luminaires were located in a public-access area, robustness, safety, and longevity were key considerations.
Electrical feeds also needed to be surface-mounted, and all components had to remain fully serviceable over time – a core principle of our approach to design and manufacture.
This meant every decision – from fixing methods to material choice, had to work just as hard behind the scenes as it did visually, ensuring the lights could withstand daily use while remaining easy to maintain for years to come.
Tom and Jovana selected a bespoke rubbed bronze finish and introduced the idea of protective bars to give each wall light a subtly ‘caged’ appearance. A natural parchment diffuser was chosen to soften the light, paired with a 2700K colour temperature to produce a warm, inviting glow within the vaulted space.
We incorporated BSP brass plumbing components to conduit the electrical feed, allowing us to develop industrial, plumbing-inspired wall fixings that felt entirely at home in the setting. The oversized Alton elements were CNC-machined from solid brass, and the glass tubes were wrapped in a translucent shatterproof film to enhance durability while maintaining visual softness.
Given the scale, location, and public nature of the installation, careful consideration was given not just to how the lights would look, but how they would be assembled, installed, and serviced long-term.
The final solution integrates seamlessly into the Artist’s Bar’s industrial aesthetic, while delivering a practical, robust, and fully maintainable lighting installation designed to perform reliably for many years to come.
This was not our first collaboration with the BDP team, and it’s always a pleasure to work alongside their creativity and design intelligence to bring ambitious ideas to life.
We’re delighted with the outcome of this prestigious project. These bespoke luminaires are a testament to the shared attention to detail between both teams and the exceptional craftsmanship of our workshop here at Fritz Fryer.
Because we design and make our lighting in-house, we’re able to adapt many of our standard pieces to suit specific projects. This usually starts with a conversation and some drawings, and often results in a tailored version of an existing design rather than something entirely new. In most cases, clients are drawn to the aesthetic of a piece and simply need it adjusted, whether that’s scale, fixing, finish, or light source – to work properly within their space.
Our designs are intentionally flexible, and many can be adjusted without difficulty. Occasionally, a variation may require new tooling or additional development work, in which case there would be associated costs. We’re always open about this from the outset and will talk it through so you can decide what feels appropriate for the project.
If the variation you’re looking for isn’t listed on our website, it’s likely to be considered bespoke. That said, many bespoke requests are quite straightforward. The easiest way to find out is simply to give one of the team a call and talk through what you’re hoping to achieve, we’ll quickly be able to advise on the best route.
If lighting forms part of your wider design intent and requires a bespoke approach, it’s helpful to involve us as early as possible. Bespoke pieces typically take between 8 and 12 weeks to develop and make, depending on complexity. Early conversations allow us to contribute meaningfully to the design process and ensure the lighting works seamlessly within the space.
Yes, very often. If you let us know what you’re looking to change or achieve, we can explain the available options, what’s involved, how long it’s likely to take, and any cost implications. From there, it becomes a collaborative process to arrive at the right solution for your space.
