The Client

West Lodge Park, a country retreat in the affluent Hadley Wood area of north London, has carried out a major refurbishment of its main lounge, restaurant and bar areas. This included a long overdue upgrade of its background music system, in order to increase the functionality of the venue for corporate bookings, and the general state of acoustic wellbeing for its residents.

Part of the family-run Beales Group –  which has been operating in the area since the mid-18th century – the elegant four-star hotel is idyllically set in 35 acres of landscaped gardens and countryside.

The Sound Division Group was recommended to the project by Sound Technology, UK distributors for the brands within the Harman portfolio (which formed the basis of the installed components).

Project Brief

The brief was to provide a good quality, but cost-effective, zoned background-music system. Sound Division conducted a site survey and designed a system split into four zones – including the private restaurant, bar/restaurant and reception areas.

System Solution

Multiples of JBL’s stylish Control 24C ceiling speakers have been recess mounted in the main bar and Mary Beale Restaurant and Terrace Bar, with a further pair provided for the private Orangery Restaurant, which doubles as a bookable conference/function area. The music source is provided from an iPod, and the entire system is controlled and powered by a Cloud 46/50 four-zone mixer amplifier.

The hotel’s electric piano comes into its own on weekends, and this is routed into the music system from its own plug-in point. Likewise, Sound Division has provided a suitable plug-in point for a Shure PG48 hand-held wired mic, used for speech reinforcement.

The Result

The enhanced background music system has now been successfully incorporated into the new upgrade. Says Sound Division Group MD, David Graham, “We have provided the hotel with a highly cost-effective system to a standard that would be expected of a four-star hotel. This job demonstrates our versatility and ability to deal with audio visual contracts whatever the scale.”

Managing director, Andrew Beale, confirms, “I am very happy with the service received from David Graham and his team. The sound system gives all the functionality I need while remaining simple to operate by a variety of different staff at different times of the week.”