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F E AT U R E<br />
Expect the unexpected<br />
THE MAN BEHIND TWO OF BIRMINGHAM’S MOST FORWARD-THINKING COCKTAIL EXPERIENCES,<br />
ROBERT WOOD, OPENS HIS NEW VENTURE ATELIER, A CREATIVE DRINKS STUDIO AND COCKTAIL<br />
BAR, IN THE CITY’S JEWELLERY QUARTER THIS MONTH. AMY NORBURY GOT THE LOWDOWN<br />
FROM THE AWARD-WINNING DRINKS CREATOR AHEAD OF THE LAUNCH<br />
Housed in a restored factory in Newhall Square,<br />
Atelier is a bar as singular as its guardian. Like a<br />
true atelier, the space will be a workshop that offers<br />
complete creative freedom, allowing Robert to<br />
express his ever-changing interests and ideas through<br />
drinks. Open for just a few nights a week for a<br />
handful of guests each evening, and with each menu<br />
available for a limited time only, guests can expect a<br />
constantly evolving experience.<br />
Where have you drawn inspiration for the<br />
bar and experience from?<br />
My almost 20 years in the cocktail world have<br />
brought me to this point. Both Smultronstalle and<br />
18/81 (my previous bars) are direct inspiration points<br />
- our former fans will find much that is familiar - but<br />
Atelier will take things a step further.<br />
Each menu is available for just a short time (around<br />
eight to 12 weeks) and will be a laser-focused<br />
ROBERT HONED HIS<br />
OFFERINGS AT PREVIOUS<br />
BAR 18 81<br />
ATELIER IS ROBERT WOOD’S NEW<br />
JEWELLERY QUARTER VENTURE<br />
expression of my current creative interests. The first,<br />
‘Terroir’, is a celebration of the native pantry of<br />
the British Isles. It will be available from September<br />
22 to November 12, after which I will completely<br />
reinvent the menu, starting afresh with the freedom<br />
to create entirely new drinks around whatever<br />
inspiration next strikes me.<br />
My direct influences in the food and drink world are<br />
Gen Yamamoto, Luke Whearty, Doug McMaster<br />
and Ryan Chetiyawardana.<br />
How important is the Jewellery Quarter<br />
location, and the building itself, to the<br />
overall concept?<br />
The JQ is super important to our plans. Our building<br />
has tons of history - it dates back to 1838 and is the<br />
former home of one of the city’s most important<br />
manufactories, Elkington Mason & Co. We have<br />
allowed the natural charisma of the building to be<br />
part of the process and it’s played a part in directing<br />
the design. The concept has definitely been shaped<br />
by the building and the Jewellery Quarter itself,<br />
the historic home of many of Birmingham’s finest<br />
designers, makers, workshops and studios.<br />
30 www.jaimemagazine.com
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