Havelock One has been creating impressive ambiances in the leisure and entertainment scene in Saudi Arabia, including at key venues for Majid Al Futtaim and food and beverage outlets for leading international brands.

01 July 2021

Leading interior solutions provider Havelock One has been maintaining a foothold on the entertainment and food and beverage (F&B) fit-out market within Saudi Arabia with a string of striking projects. These include restaurants, cinemas and even bowling and entertainment centres.

Among its successfully completed projects is the latest venue of Yalla! Bowling for Majid Al Futtaim, the region’s leading developer of shopping malls, retail, and leisure facilities.

In line with Saudi Arabia’s recent focus on expanding its entertainment offerings, Majid Al Futtaim has added yet another vibrant destination in Riyadh with the completion of Yalla! Bowling.

This most recent Yalla! Bowling branch is located in the northeast of Riyadh at Atyaf Mall and is the third such facility of the bowling brand in the capital, with the other two destinations having been set up at Al Qasr Mall and Riyadh Park Mall.

Situated opposite the recently-opened VOX Cinemas, this Yalla! Bowling branch is a standalone leisure facility and diner, combining eight lanes of bowling alongside pool tables, foosball and air hockey, with a mix of lane-side booth seating and high tables.

UK-based Unick Consulting was appointed by Majid Al Futtaim to develop the Yalla! Bowling brand, which is already well established in multiple locations across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. The multi-disciplinary consultant was tasked to enhance and create a vibrant entertainment environment, combined with a variety of gaming and dining experiences, either as an integral element or standalone location.

UAE-headquartered Havelock One, which has worked on numerous VOX Cinemas and Magic Planet developments for Majid Al Futtaim, was nominated the turnkey fit-out contractor on the job. The company’s manufacturing hub is based in Bahrain.

“Having delivered our fourth VOX Cinemas project in Saudi Arabia, Yalla! Bowling at Atyaf Mall is further testimony of Havelock One’s expertise in the indoor entertainment space. This sector clearly has a lot of growth potential in Saudi Arabia, and we are excited to be part of the country’s journey,” Stephen Biagioni, Division Director – Fit-out (Group Projects), tells Gulf Construction.

“Despite the challenges of Covid-19 restrictions during the height of the pandemic, Havelock One’s Saudi-based fit-out team managed to implement the project within a tight timeline of five months,” he adds.

To address the logistical challenges faced with products and materials specified and sourced internationally, Havelock One sought temporary solutions from local providers. Its factory in Askar, Bahrain manufactured all joinery, seating, tables and feature ceiling items as well as the food and beverage (F&B) counter and bulkhead made of laminated patterned glass – which are among the design highlights.

The 10,500-sq-ft Yalla! Bowling venue enjoys high visibility from the mall side through the shopfront glazing. Materials were chosen to be robust and neutral, acting as a backdrop to the main attractions within; and the combination of digital screens and themed artwork creates an environment suited to all age groups.

Among other projects completed by Havelock One in Riyadh are two F&B outlets for L’ETO Caffe and its sister brand Secret Garden from London – at Riyadh Park and at Al Nakheel Mall.

The outlets for L’ETO Caffe and Secret Garden, designed by Adam Gaon of Cipriani Gaon Associates, offer two distinct yet complementary concepts. The combined brand experience offers two detailed entrance shopfronts, door to door, as well as two large dining and seating areas, says Biagioni.

L’ETO’s design concept was to create a comfortable, sophisticated space, dominated by natural materials and shades of white and earthy tones, incorporating a “no-nonsense all awesome” approach. Colourful accents are interspersed within the premises to inspire the eye; however, the main visual highlight is and remains the food.

“L’ETO Caffe oozes a rather refined atmosphere, an elevated tea house experience, inspired by an eternal summer, while Secret Garden is a dreamy flower-themed escape from the busy mall environment, right into lush surroundings packed with flowers and colours representing a blossoming oasis in the city,” he explains.

The turnkey projects were handled by Havelock One’s fit-out teams in Riyadh, which were also responsible for the fit-out and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) work for the brand’s centralised kitchen at Sahara Mall.

Secret Garden is all about “enticing your senses”; and hence its interiors stand out with floral decoration across walls and the dominant centrepiece, a big umbrella, equally covered by flowers.

“These allusions of untamed nature, conceived by the interior designers of Cipriani Gaon Associates, are implemented in harmony with other materials and decorative features,” Biagioni explains.

Havelock One’s high-end finishing works covered marble, gypsum, mirrors, glass, flooring, as well as decorative painting and artworks. Furthermore, it manufactured loose furniture like sofas, banquettes, chairs, tables and countertops.

Since its inception in 1998, Havelock One Interiors has established itself as a leading turnkey fit-out service provider in the Middle East, specialising in interior contracting and the manufacturing of bespoke joinery, metal works and elaborate shopfittings for hospitality, retail and more.

The fit-out specialist has delivered high-end services and products for hospitality, F&B, retail, commercial, government, entertainment and residential projects. 

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