The Wolseley, London

Context

The Team

A Perfect Professional Audio Experience at The Wolseley City

The Wolseley City, a luxurious restaurant at the gateway to London’s financial district, offers a dining experience steeped in elegance. The venue, known for its grand, double-story pillars and exquisite Baroque design elements, opened on the 20th anniversary of its iconic sibling, The Wolseley Piccadilly. With its century-old architecture, two private dining rooms, and mezzanine seating, The Wolseley City needed a sound system that could maintain the ambiance while enhancing the evening atmosphere, particularly during live jazz performances.

The Challenge

The Wolseley City faced a multi-faceted challenge in its quest to provide a high-quality dining experience that would meet the expectations of its prestigious clientele. The restaurant’s interior is a complex combination of architectural elements, including vaulted ceilings, grand 10-meter-high pillars, Byzantine chandeliers, and intricate 1920s Egyptian Revival design touches. This rich and visually striking space created a significant acoustic challenge: how to deliver clear, balanced audio coverage without disrupting the aesthetic harmony.

Additionally, The Wolseley City is known for its dual-purpose atmosphere, catering to a bustling daytime crowd and transforming into a sophisticated, intimate venue during evening hours, often featuring live jazz performances. The sound system had to seamlessly transition from supporting casual conversations during daytime meals to providing immersive, rich audio for evening events without overpowering guests or compromising the ambiance.

Another key challenge was ensuring that the audio system could be both powerful and discreet. The speakers needed to blend with the venue’s elegant décor without standing out or becoming obtrusive. Given the high ceilings and vast, open layout of the space, achieving even sound distribution across all areas, from the dining room to the mezzanine and private dining rooms, was essential. Ensuring this level of performance required precise planning and cutting-edge technology to model the sound dynamics in advance. The system needed to handle the acoustics of a large, open space while remaining virtually invisible to the eye, a task that would require top-tier equipment and expertise.

The Solution

To meet this challenge, Knektd, the audio/visual integration company, turned to L-Acoustics’ professional sound system. The solution was designed to deliver seamless audio coverage while remaining discreetly integrated within the space. Using L-Acoustics Soundvision 3D modeling software, Knektd analyzed the acoustics to ensure consistent sound throughout the large dining area. The result was an installation of 24 L-Acoustics X4i speakers, placed high up on the massive marble pillars to preserve the visual flow of the space. Eight SB10i subwoofers were carefully hidden in walls and banquettes, maintaining both aesthetic integrity and acoustic performance. Additionally, eight more X4i speakers were placed on the mezzanine level and private rooms, with six SB6i subwoofers built into the walls for optimal bass response.

This system was powered by seven LA2Xi amplified controllers, compactly fitting into the restaurant’s AV control rack without taking up significant space.

The Result

The integration of the L-Acoustics professional sound system elevated the dining experience at The Wolseley City. The powerful yet unobtrusive audio enhances the ambiance, particularly during live performances, while seamlessly blending with the venue’s luxurious design. Guests enjoy immersive, crystal-clear sound that complements the refined dining atmosphere, contributing to the restaurant’s prestigious reputation.

Project photos