Nouvelle Garde has opened its first brasserie outside of Paris, in the heart of Lille close to La Vieille Bourse, seemingly a smaller location as the main restaurant is set behind a covered courtyard. This latest opening is a bold step for the fast-growing group; with a small, paired back entrance, the design team at B3 Designers had to restore and renew this listed three-building restaurant very carefully. Inspiration was drawn from Lille’s unique ‘estaminet’ concept; which means a relaxed cosy cafe with wine, while injecting Nouvelle Garde’s special twists.
This delightful spot is deeply historic and therefore part of a conservation area; so B3 and the architectural team has to ensure a seamless guest experience transitioning through a front bar and restaurant area, a covered courtyard through to a back dining area too. One of Nouvelle Garde’s modern brasserie features is an open kitchen and bar seating for guests to be able to view the action easily. Another is to give their customers a variety of seating options so each area (or floor in some locations) will have a different palette of finishes.
Guests enter the space looking onto a horseshoe shaped bar; it’s rich with different types of marble, large globe pendants, custom orange velvet tasselled pedestal seating and dark timber finishes. In the dining area there are large green banquettes, white marble table tops and a pendant light per table which creates intimacy and warmth. The back bar and wine cabinet are beautifully detailed custom joinery; softly illuminated dark oak with inset mirrors. The partition wall with panelled glass has gold drapes and ties; so guests can see through to the courtyard and kitchen. The look and feel here is different; a checkerboard tiled floor, yellow Moroccan tile table tops; it’s lavish with greenery. The green skylight ceiling boasts large brass chandeliers with globe lights, and arched mirrors creating fun and vibrancy with the backdrop of a bustling kitchen. There are two sets of double doors that lead onto the furthest dining area; hues of red and striped jalousie end-to-end feel artistic and theatrical. The large banquette wraps two sides, it is wave-shaped and paired with green marble, a full display of styled props and a beautiful gallery wall; a dining space that encapsulates its audience, its dramatic and bold.
Like all Nouvelle Garde’s modern brasseries; they appeal to a youthful diner. Always warm and welcoming to a neighbourhood and classically timeless. The menu at this location features delights from the region, local delicacies such as Terrine de campagne, Carbonnade (flemish stew) and Saucisson truffé de la maison Millas- the menu has NG’s flair while maintaining their authenticity with modernity throughout.
Laura Caner, Associate for B3 Designers said: “We’re delighted with how Nouvelle Garde received our ideas for this concept as yet again, we’re pushing the classic French brasserie concept further. We had some challenges at the start between listed building and conservation restrictions but knew we could create a beautiful layered experience. It has to be perfect for the City and unique to the group. We think customers will enjoy dining here very much”.
Charles Perez, Co-Founder of Nouvelle Garde said: “B3 Designers helped us turn Brasserie Campion into a restaurant at the crossroads of estaminet — typical restaurants in Lille and the Nord region — and traditional brasserie styles. They succeeded in retaining the markers of the Nouvelle Garde style, which they integrated and blended brilliantly with the architectural codes of Northern France ; such as the open kitchen, which opens directly onto a large industrial-style glass roof, or the storefront, which features a plethora of beautiful antiques to give it an old-fashioned haberdashery feel.”
