One of the most striking and traditional buildings on St Mary’s Road is about to get the glow-up of a lifetime. Thanks to the inspirational ideas of its new owner, Pradip Karanjit, and the team at Lloyd Harden Design, what was once the old NatWest building is soon to be transformed into Harborough’s newest destination dining experience.
Pradip Karanjit opened the Everest Lounge in June, 2020. Despite launching his Asian fusion restaurant at a tumultuous time in the hospitality industry, Pradip and his team have seen the business go from strength to strength. ‘Our aim was to blend culinary traditions from different countries, regions, and cultures to offer a unique fine dining experience,’ explains Pradip. ‘We chose Market Harborough as the destination for our restaurant because of its vibrant and diverse nature. The town offers a lively market environment with a strong sense of community, making it an ideal place to test and refine our concept. Additionally, Market Harborough holds a special place in our hearts as we consider it our home.’ Pradip soon saw the need for a new and larger space to expand the business, so, when the NatWest building became available, it was an opportunity too good to pass up. ‘The building’s prime location was a significant draw, as it would increase our visibility and accessibility,’ says Pradip. ‘The architectural appeal of the building, with its impressive exterior and beautiful interior, matched our brand’s aesthetic and professional standards.’ So, with a vision in mind and a striking venue lined up, Pradip needed the help of some equally visionary designers to help transform his ideas into reality. Enter Lloyd Harden Design. ‘Everest Lounge was brought to our attention when the business first moved to Lubenham – and we were so glad to have found it!’ says Laura Harden, Interiors and Operations Director. ‘We love the fusion of cuisine they offer. We met Pradip through a local business networking group, and we were so honoured to be chosen to work on this project. Our talented team worked so hard on the planning drawings and on getting the internal design just right.’ ‘I had a clear vision of how to convert such a beautiful building into an attractive restaurant and cocktail bar,’ adds Pradip. ‘The goal was to create an atmosphere that connects to tradition and tells the story of where the food comes from and how it is prepared as part of the culinary journey. The team at Lloyd Harden have an exceptional reputation for creating innovative and aesthetically pleasing spaces. They have a keen eye for detail and a talent for blending contemporary design with traditional elements. Their approach to design emphasises storytelling through space, which was crucial for our restaurant. We wanted a designer who could not only enhance the building’s natural beauty but also create an atmosphere that reflects the culinary journey we offer. Their ability to incorporate cultural narratives into the design resonated with our goal of connecting the decor to the origins and preparation of our food.’ The designs for the new Everest Lounge are certainly stunning. They aim to incorporate much of the building’s history, as well as securing its future as a destination venue. Plans to keep the original ceiling design, windows, lights, bars and safe ensure that visitors will have no doubt the role the building played in Harborough’s past. ‘After spending a bit of time in the space, it became quite clear what we hoped to achieve for this beautiful building,’ says Laura. ‘It was important to us to maintain and preserve as many of the original features as possible. We have made prominent features of the original ceilings, chandeliers, and stone columns. We love the mix of the old and the new and we think they come together seamlessly. The design for the main restaurant is a favourite, however we particularly love the old bank vault, which we have turned into a private group banquet dining experience. I also love the toilets! We’ve created a really interesting, gender-neutral space. I always think an interesting toilet facility makes a great talking point!’ The upstairs of the building has not been forgotten. What was once a small office space will be converted into an intimate cocktail bar, where customers can enjoy a drink before or after their meal, or as part of a night out. Pradip has high hopes for the new venue. ‘We aim to establish Everest Lounge as a premier destination for fine dining and unique cocktails, blending diverse culinary traditions into an exceptional fusion experience,’ he explains. ‘We envision becoming a cornerstone in the local community, where people can come together to enjoy not just great food and drinks, but also a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Ultimately, our goal is to create memorable experiences for our customers.’ With opening planned for September, what do the team think Harborough (and beyond) are going to make of the town’s latest addition? ‘We really do believe that Market Harborough will love the new restaurant and cocktail bar,’ says Laura. ‘Market Harborough is a thriving town with some fantastic dining options, but there’s always room for something truly unique. The new Everest Lounge at The Bank will provide visitors with a special dining experience; whether it’s for a romantic meal for two, a private group banquet experience in the old vault or a couple of drinks in the stylish cocktail bar upstairs.’ ‘We believe that Harborough will warmly welcome the new venue. Given the town’s vibrant nature and strong sense of community, we anticipate that residents will appreciate having a new and unique dining and cocktail experience available to them,’ says Pradip. ‘We are confident that the community’s curiosity and openness to new experiences will lead to a positive reception. We think Harborough will embrace the new venue as a valuable addition to the town’s dining scene, enhancing the local cultural landscape, and providing a place where people from all walks of life can come together to enjoy great food and drinks.’ Lloyd Harden When did the business begin? Laura: Lloyd Harden Design was launched in October 2020 by Lloyd. He has almost two decades’ experience in Architectural Design and he ran the business on his own, specifying in the leisure sector and focusing on hotels, lodges, holiday and residential park design and CGIs. When I met Lloyd in 2021, I joined the business and took over the administration and marketing responsibilities. Soon after, we relocated the business from Wellingborough to Lubenham, where our head office is still located. Since then, we have grown to a team of nine and we now have three premises and much more to offer our clients. What services do you offer? Lloyd: We offer a full range of leisure, residential and commercial architectural services, including new builds, extensions, reconfigurations, lodge and site design, CGIs, and interior design. We also now have two interior design and homewares boutiques. We are so proud to offer the complete experience to our clients. We have a fantastic team who can support them through the process of initial designs all the way through to designing and furnishing the interior. You currently have a shop in Kibworth and are opening soon on Church Street. Can you tell us more? Laura: We have been blown away by the support of the Kibworth and Market Harborough communities, and the success of our Interior Design Studio and homewares/gift boutique in Kibworth Beauchamp. The new boutique has a beautiful Balearic vibe and will offer a full range of homewares and gifts; from candles to cushions, throws to furniture and everything in between! We also stock lighting, artwork, gift cards and anything you could possibly need to beautifully style your home. We’re lucky enough to be able to showcase the artwork, furniture and lampshades of some very talented local artists too. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Market Harborough high street. We are so lucky to have such a thriving high street, with a wonderful mix of well-known brands and independent businesses. We’re opening on Saturday 6th of July, and we can’t wait for our grand opening. We’ll have 10% off across the store and we’ll be enjoying complimentary prosecco and cake with all visitors! To discuss your upcoming architectural or interior design project, visit lloydharden.co.uk, call 0116 482 9284 or email: [email protected].
Interiors by Lloyd Harden Design can be found at 3 Station Road, Kibworth and is open Monday-Friday: 9am to 5pm and Saturday: 9am to 3pm |