Studio Sam Buckley gives a Victorian butcher’s shop a Postmodern makeover

We’ve featured lots of remarkable conversions over the years, but this Kington Upon Hull restaurant by Studio Sam Buckley proves that less is more, if you really want to go all out…

The Bing Ting Cafe takes over a 19th-century butcher’s shop, complete with original, ornate wall and floor tiles – all of which are historically listed and can’t be altered. Buckley leans into this pre-existing fabric to shape his innovations, pulling colours from the Victorian tiling and stained glass windows for diamond-shaped tables and jewel-toned chairs.

Ultramarine accents – a snaking lighting rail, door frames and translucent curtain separating the kitchen from the dining room – pop against the yellow ceiling, while the existing floor has been covered in a milky rubber skin by Forbo, preserving the tiles beneath from foot traffic.

Diagonal stripes and neon lights deviate further from the prosaic Victorian murals and the scene for the restaurant’s culinary offerings – Jian Bing pancakes, bubble teas and modern Chinese street food. It’s a very modern design fusion.

63 Princes Ave, Hull HU5 3QX, United Kingdom.