Case Study:
Dishoom Permit Room All-day bar-cafe
Permit Room Brighton – Photo by Taran Wilkhu
Outline
Dishoom’s first Permit Room All-day bar-cafe debuted in Brighton in 2023. Since then more have been opening their doors around the UK, welcoming guests from breakfast through to late into the evening. Now also in Oxford, Cambridge and most recently Portobello in London, each delivers a salute to the permit rooms of Bombay.
CGA Integration began working with Dishoom in 2015. All Dishoom restaurants now feature a CGA Integration designed and installed audio system and CGA has also designed and installed the sound systems for all the Permit Room All-day bar-cafes.
In addition to creating the dynamic audio ambience required for the Permit Rooms, CGA have installed equipment such as turntables and mixing desks so local DJs can spin favourite grooves from their favourite vinyls, taking cues from the jam sessions of Slip-Disc and Rang Bhavan in ‘70s Bombay.
Permit Room Brighton – Photo by Taran Wilkhu
Permit Room Oxford
Challenges
In Permit Room All-day bar-cafes audio needs will change throughout the day from breakfast to evening revelry, but the continuity of the Dishoom experience needs to remain throughout. As with Dishoom restaurants, each audio system needs to be easily operated by the staff and be mindful of any nearby residential areas, especially with late night DJ sessions.
Technical
The speakers are visible but have been delivered in a vintage style which complements rather than blends invisibly with the look of each venue.
There are various presets and volume levels throughout the day to reflect the mood which needs to be created at different times and any external speakers are on a different time clock to minimise the impact to residential neighbours.
Permit Room Portobello
Response
Lenny Dennis Project Manager Walla added “CGA was the right choice to deliver the sound in the Permit Room All-day bar-cafes. We have worked with CGA for over ten years now; they understand how to deliver the quality of the sound we need to help ensure our customers are immersed in the Dishoom experience.”
