ABOUT

As part of their commitment to regenerating Salford, the University of Salford identified the opportunity to convert the famous but disused Fire Station building on the Crescent into a vibrant destination bar and cafe for locals, University staff and students.

The Old Salford Fire Station branding project aimed to transform an historic fire station on The University of Salford’s campus into a modern café, bar and bakery while preserving its historical charm. Once renovated, it will house a microbrewery and artisanal bakery. In collaboration with the University of Salford, The Old Fire station will host events, projects and programmes that inspire and excite those who visit. The challenge was to create a cohesive brand and develop a website that conveyed the unique essence of the establishment, blending the rich heritage of the building, traditional baking and brewing as well as becoming a hub for cultural, artistic and educational activities. It will aim to be proud of its Salford location, bringing fresh, great quality food and drink to the Crescent.

The primary objective was to develop a brand that captured both the heritage of The Old Fire Station, being a part of the Salford community and the innovative idea of a combined bakery and brewery vibrant community space. The brewery also required a sub-brand named after Lark Hill, the 18th century mansion house built by James Ackers, now a part of the University of Salford. This would position it as a commercial venture that could sell to wider bars and restaurants.

Before executing the design we investigated how to position The Old Fire Station. This was achieved through a workshop exploring the market, audience and partnerships to what we could legitimately say about The Old Fire Station.

The approach:
Why are we doing this?- Serving great quality food and drink. Creating opportunities & better wellbeing. Providing industry learning.

How are we doing this?- Creating partnerships between the bakery, brewery, university and local organisations. Working with local or ethical suppliers. Providing a great experience.

What are we doing?- Creating a food and drink (r)evolution in Salford. Providing something more than a space. Creating a cultural centre point to the crescent.