Prince and the Peacock opened in July, as the second phase of The Magistracy in Hong Kong, a historic judicial house which has been sensitively reimagined and restored by hospitality group Black Sheep. The latest iteration of the project, designed by Joyce Wang Studio, features a 60-seat main dining space, alongside two unique private dining rooms, and a sports lounge named Jack’s Racquet Room.
Joyce Wang commented: “This project has offered an incredible opportunity to expand our studio’s work with artisan makers in India and far beyond. We have taken the canvas of The Magistracy’s unique architecture, and crafted a series of finely wrought interior experiences designed to transport patrons with the magic of India’s ornate royal cultures, which for centuries so effortlessly combined the arts of hospitality and design.”
The Spirit of Old India
The spaces are inspired by the rich cultural impact and patronage of the Maharajas, Maharanis, Nawabs, Nizams and Emperors who ruled India’s diverse patchwork of territories before, during and after the colonial era. Just as the country’s aristocrats and monarchs developed intertwined food and artistic cultures, the design of Prince and the Peacock is designed to meld effortlessly with the aromas and flavours of the cuisine created by Chef Palash Mitra of New Punjab Club in Hong Kong, the world’s only Punjabi restaurant with a Michelin star.
An invocation of the opulence of historic royal palaces and courts, the peacock takes centre stage in a subtle
blend of motifs and vibrant colours inspired by the legendary bird, which still serves as India’s icon of royalty
and power. Adjacent to the balcony space hang traditional punkah fans, reminiscent of palatial interiors where the fanning of fresh air was a regal requirement.
Princely Private Spaces
The Magistracy has been expanded with two private dining room options on the second floor. The first, named the Ruby Room, is designed to host groups of up to 8 people, and has been artfully decorated in scarlet tones with a stunning tiled ceiling. The second space, The Kohinoor, was named after one of the world’s largest cut diamonds and holds up to 8 in a room resplendent with elegant pink ceiling drapery.
Jack’s Racquet Room
This lounge and bar space blends the classic elegance of South Asian sports clubs, with the comfort and
sophistication of everything you’d expect from a modern hospitality setting. The space features rich, dark
rosewood timber, recalling clubrooms of old, while the lounge area exudes plush comfort with mohair, velvets, and leather armchairs, creating an inviting and luxurious atmosphere. The colour palette is inspired by traditional sports, found in the deep red of cricket balls, warm mustard tones, fresh lime green, and the orange hues of red travertine, as well as striped fabrics drawing on classic club jersey styles.
Artisan Expertise
The studio has collaborated with a number of artisan makers from around the globe to bring the vision of
Prince and the Peacock to its stately fruition. The Raj Company in Mumbai crafted colonial and pre-colonial
Indian furniture for the space, including wooden carvings and faux bone inlay details on tables and case goods.
Hong Kong is represented by the verdant floral life chosen for the space by plant consultant Fleurs, while ART ROOF TOP Studio created the main corridor’s painted ceiling with floral motifs inspired by patterns found on Indian fashion fabrics, and a carved-wood moulding detail. Meanwhile, further afield in Asia, Ausara
Bangkok created the patinated fabric for the decorative screen inside Prince and the Peacock, with its peacock feather hues and patterns.
Watts of Westminster created the wallcovering panels in The Kohinoor and the upholstery fabrics used in seating for the main dining room, which were inspired by a suite of five verdure tapestries brought to Wolterton Hall by Horatio Walpole in the mid-18th century, and which feature an underlay with a backing of regency linen wallpaper in a rose hue. Playful striped fabrics by Marvic feature on the walls at The Kohinoor and on Jack’s Racquet Room’s armchairs. London’s Vaughan Lighting supplied the Glass Globe lanterns with handcrafted decorative details in brass that are found in the corridors and throughout the space.
