13th October 2026 | IN HOSPITALITY DESIGN | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn Cambridge-based interior design studio Styled Home Design has completed the refurbishment of The Cricketers, a much-loved pub and Thai restaurant on Melbourne Place in central Cambridge. The project reimagines the venue as two complementary spaces, a traditional English pub at the front and an atmospheric, restaurant-led dining room at the rear, all delivered on a modest budget. Known locally for serving authentic Thai food within a traditional pub setting, The Cricketers recently changed ownership. The new team wanted to build on the venue’s strong reputation, but after more than a decade without significant investment, the interiors had become dated and disconnected. The owners needed a clearer identity and an environment that worked harder commercially. Styled Home Design The Brief: Two Spaces, One Identity The venue needed to operate as two distinct but connected areas. The challenge was to reestablish a clear purpose and atmosphere in each zone without the result feeling disjointed or themed, and to do so within a tightly controlled budget. Drawing on her background in hospitality, where she held senior roles including Head of Guest Experience, founder and principal designer Natasha King approached the pub and restaurant as complementary but strategically different environments. Each was shaped around how customers actually use the space and what encourages them to stay longer and spend more. “Hospitality design is as much about behaviour as it is about aesthetics,” says Natasha. “The front bar and the dining room serve different moments in a customer’s visit, so they needed their own personality. The skill was in making them feel like two chapters of the same story rather than two separate venues.” Styled Home Design Re-establishing the Pub Identity In the front bar, the aim was to restore the character of a traditional English pub while creating a richer, more inviting setting for drinks-led trade. A deep green palette anchors the room in heritage, while patterned wallpapers and tactile upholstery add warmth and visual depth. Leather seating and dark timber flooring bring durability and a sense of weight suited to a busy city-centre pub. The back bar was redesigned as the room’s focal point. Mirrored shelving reflects light and activity, a tiled frontage adds texture, and a more intentional display structure gives spirits and glassware real presence. Together, these elements create a layered, intimate and confidently traditional pub. Styled Home Design A More Atmospheric Dining Room In the rear restaurant, the design shifts to a softer tone that sits comfortably alongside the pub. Warm, muted colours ranging from mustard and dusky pink to soft red bring a gentle glow and support a slower dining pace. Timber textures, slatted detailing and bamboo-inspired tiles add tactility and offer a subtle nod to the Thai menu without tipping into themed décor. The restaurant service bar was also redesigned to feel calmer and more contemporary, supporting smoother service and giving the dining room its own identity without disconnecting it from the front of house. Styled Home Design Design-Only Support with Commercial Impact With budget control a priority, Styled Home Design delivered the project on a design-only basis. The studio provided a clear creative and commercial framework that allowed the owners to manage procurement and implementation with their own team. A structured design pack guided every decision, helping the owners prioritise spend where it mattered most, avoid unnecessary upgrades and keep momentum throughout the refurbishment. It is a model Natasha believes more independent operators could benefit from. “Not every hospitality business needs, or can justify, a full-service fit-out,” she explains. “What they do need is a clear direction. Giving an owner a considered design framework means every pound goes further, and the finished space still feels cohesive and intentional.” The result is a venue with a clear, cohesive identity across both halves: an inviting pub and an atmospheric dining experience, achieved on a modest budget. The response from customers has been immediate. “The feedback from customers has been incredibly positive, with so many commenting on how much more welcoming and cohesive the pub and restaurant now feel.” Joe Baron, The Cricketers Styled Home Design Project Scope – Concept design – Spatial direction – Material and finish selection – Colour palette development – Bar design concepts – FF&E direction – Overall aesthetic strategy About Styled Home Design Styled Home Design is a Cambridge-based interior design studio specialising in luxury residential renovations and bespoke commercial interiors. We work with private homeowners, developers, and businesses who want beautifully considered spaces without the stress of managing the process themselves. Our approach is collaborative, design-led, and detail-driven, balancing timeless aesthetics with practical, liveable solutions. From concept development and spatial planning through to detailed specifications, procurement, and project management, we oversee every stage to ensure clarity, quality, and confidence. Each project is tailored to the client, resulting in refined interiors that feel personal, functional, and enduring. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.