Cover Ashley Sutton (Photo: courtesy of Michael Perini)
Ashley Sutton (Photo: courtesy of Michael Perini)
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After the successes of The Iron Fairies, The Mixing Room and Dragonfly, Australian-born miner-turned-designer Ashley Sutton has brought Maggie Choo’s, a cabaret-inspired bar, to Hong Kong
Billed as a cocktail bar and cabaret venue, the establishment is named after a fictional character, who had discovered a hidden, abandoned bank behind her war-torn family’s antique shop—which she then transformed into a secret watering hole. It features Australian-born designer Ashley Sutton’s signature whimsical style of interiors, complete with details like an antique-style bank vault door and iron spiral staircases.
Here, Sutton shares his design inspirations.
Read more: Why one mixologist chose to launch a modern Italian aperitif wine in Hong Kong
What inspired you to become a designer, and how did you become interested in conceptualising bars?
Since I was a kid, I’d always liked designing treehouses and cubbies [playhouses]. Bar design was not by choice; it started in Bangkok. I built a “fairy-making” factory [producing fairy figurines] after publishing my [first illustrated] children’s book, The Iron Fairies. People fell in love with the interior of the factory and asked if I served food and drinks there. That’s when I had to add a bar. Since then, I have received a lot of enquiries from other business owners and dining groups about designing their spaces.
What are the most important things to consider when it comes to bar design?
It’s all about the space and location. From there, it’s easy to conceptualise a concept and design. Every space has its own magic.
In what ways is Maggie Choo’s Hong Kong different to the one in Bangkok?
The Hong Kong venue is more refined as we had more time to build the venue, and a bigger budget to construct it. Every detail was tailor-made, and the furniture and lighting were imported from the UK. Maggie Choo’s Hong Kong is fronted by one of the many antique shops on Hollywood Road, which was also tailor-made for the location, to blend in well on the street.The inspiration for Maggie Choo’s was a cabaret concept. Both locations were inspired by the abandoned bank spaces left by the East India Company banks. [It’s designed to resemble] a 19th-century bank that’s been hidden in cobwebs for the last 200 years. Every bit of detail was made to represent and be reminiscent of those days, including the three-tonne bank vault door.
Above Ashley Sutton (Photo: courtesy of Michael Perini)
Ashley Sutton (Photo: courtesy of Michael Perini)
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What role do you think design plays in shaping the cultural identity of a city like Hong Kong?
I am really passionate about local history and I leave glimpses of Hong Kong’s past in my work. Hong Kong has a lot of history with the British, hence why Maggie Choo’s location and interior inspiration are based on [the idea of] an abandoned bank built by the East India Company in the mid-1800s in Hong Kong. The east-meets-west visual component is simply stunning.
How do you stay up-to-date on trends in bar and hospitality design?
I really despise smartphones, and I don’t own a computer. I like to be off the grid, so I can’t say I am staying up to date—I prefer to let my imagination and the space decide the design.
What role do you think design plays in creating a memorable and immersive bar experience?
Design is everything. It takes a mix of craft, storytelling and philosophy to create a “lost in time” experience for guests every time they walk through the door. [Design] is also [one of the reasons] why people choose to go to a specific bar.
What makes this bar an Ashley Sutton signature?
The attention to detail and authenticity.
What’s next for you?
I am working on a few more projects to be opened in Bali and Singapore, including The Iron Fairies in Seminyak, Bali, due to open in December. I’d love to have someone give me a hotel or a commercial building to design. I’d like to take on new challenges. My ideal project would be to design a destination boutique hotel in a rainforest or by the ocean, inspired by some part of history—and with only 25 to 50 rooms. I want to allow people who stay there to have a true sense of escapism.
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print. She also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts — curates star-studded events, and builds the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
