Carbone London

Carbone London required a discreet, well-balanced audio system throughout the venue that would enhance the atmosphere without drawing attention to the technology behind it.

The brief included DJ connectivity allowing DJs to connect easily and route audio to selected zones without the need for additional analogue infrastructure. Zonal control was also required to allow different moods to be created across the restaurant, bar areas, restrooms and external spaces.

A key requirement was that the system remain visually unobtrusive within a design-led hospitality environment.

In the main dining area, the requirement for discreet speakers meant installing loudspeakers overhead behind a fabric ceiling. The ceiling finish utilised billiard cloth, which required acoustic testing by the manufacturer to confirm it would not significantly attenuate high frequencies from the loudspeakers positioned above it.

The ceiling void was also densely populated with building services, leaving limited space for speaker placement. The mounting requirements were dictated by the ceiling build-up, which ultimately required the design and manufacture of custom speaker brackets. These brackets allowed the L-Acoustics 5XT loudspeakers to sit neatly within the acoustic board behind the fabric finish, ensuring the system remained completely hidden while maintaining the correct positioning for optimal audio performance.

In the downstairs bar, L-Acoustics X6i loudspeakers were RAL matched to the bulkhead above the bar and installed within timber-framed cut-outs lined with acoustic foam to prevent vibration or rattling.

The bar and dining areas upstairs required loudspeakers with a smaller form factor due to space limitations, leading to the selection of L-Acoustics X4r speakers with grills RAL matched to the ceiling finish to preserve the visual integrity of the space.

Low-frequency reinforcement was delivered using L-Acoustics SB10i subwoofers discreetly integrated within banquet seating, introducing controlled low-end energy to the audio profile without visible hardware.

Externally and within the restrooms, a combination of Genelec PoE in-ceiling and wall-mounted loudspeakers was utilised. During the initial installation the external areas were future-proofed with Dante network infrastructure, allowing the system to be expanded once planning permissions were granted.

Following approval, discreet Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers were installed externally, integrating seamlessly with the existing network while maintaining the clean architectural aesthetic of the venue.

Careful coordination with architects, contractors and other trades was essential throughout the project. This included integrating discreet CCTV cameras within the fabric ceiling, ensuring they blended seamlessly into the environment without disrupting the design of the space.

Finally, detailed system calibration was critical to overcome the limitations imposed by speaker placement and the reflective finishes used throughout the venue. The goal was to minimise noticeable hot spots or dead zones from the overhead loudspeakers and low-level subwoofers, ensuring consistent coverage across all areas.

While the system operates at comfortable background levels during normal dining service, it has also been designed with sufficient headroom to support DJ performances and private events where higher output levels are required.

A custom Crestron control interface was developed to provide simple and intuitive zone and volume control for staff. From adjusting volume to selecting alternative audio sources, the system can be operated at the touch of a button, allowing staff to focus on delivering an exceptional guest experience.

As part of the project scope, the team also designed and installed the venue’s IT network infrastructure. This included deploying the network hardware and configuring dedicated VLANs to segregate Dante audio traffic, IP loudspeakers and control systems from the wider venue IT environment.

This approach ensured reliable audio performance while allowing secure integration with the venue’s operational network. The system architecture was fully documented and structured to allow a clean handover to the Major Food Group technical team upon completion.

This project demonstrates how technical excellence, architectural sensitivity and guest experience can be successfully unified within a highly constrained hospitality environment.

The brief required a high-performance audio system that would remain almost entirely invisible within a premium, design-led venue. Delivering exceptional sound quality while concealing loudspeakers within ceilings, bulkheads and furniture required a high level of engineering precision and creative problem solving.

Despite dense ceiling voids, structural limitations and competing building services, the system maintains consistent coverage and clarity across multiple distinct spaces within the venue. Bespoke mounting solutions, careful coordination with the wider construction team and detailed acoustic calibration ensured that the design ambitions of the venue were achieved without compromising audio performance.

The system makes sophisticated use of L-Acoustics loudspeakers, strategically deployed to maximise clarity, balance and impact despite non-ideal positioning. Through detailed tuning and distributed low-frequency reinforcement, the result is an immersive and evenly balanced listening environment that enhances the atmosphere while remaining visually unobtrusive.

As part of the globally recognised Major Food Group portfolio, the venue operates within a luxury hospitality context where guest experience and design consistency are paramount. The audio system plays a key role in shaping the ambience of the space, supporting everything from refined dining with curated background playlists to exclusive private events and brand activations.

The project sets a benchmark for how high-performance audio systems can be integrated into premium hospitality environments not as a visible feature, but as an essential part of the overall guest experience.