The Client

Azzura is Aqua Restaurant Group’s Italian seafood restaurant located on Sloane Street in Knightsbridge. Inspired by a ‘boat-to-table’ ethos rooted in Italian coastal dining, the concept focuses on seafood sourced from British waters and prepared simply, with an emphasis on provenance and seasonality.

The menu centres on standout coastal dishes, including crudo (raw seafood dishes), whole fish and sharing plates designed for relaxed, high-end dining, with whole grilled turbot, served simply with lemon, good olive oil and herbs, as a hero dish.

Set beneath high ceilings in a spacious, light-filled setting, the 190-cover restaurant pairs design-led detail with a mood that shifts from elegant daytime service to a more vibrant evening atmosphere.

Project Brief

Sound Division’s relationship with Aqua Restaurant Group began in 2013, when we were approached through recommendation to deliver two large scale music systems for the new Aqua Shard and Hutong restaurants located on levels 31 & 33 at The Shard. In addition, we completed sound system upgrade works as part of the refurbishment of Aqua Nueva on Regent Street in 2015.

For this new prestigious location, Sound Division was appointed once again, to design and install a premium, multi-zoned sound system capable of adapting seamlessly throughout the day. The brief required audio that would remain refined and unobtrusive during daytime service, while providing greater energy and impact for DJ-led evenings.

Discreet integration was essential. All equipment needed to complement the interior design and acoustic considerations of the space, preserving the venue’s aesthetic while delivering consistent, high-quality sound throughout.

The project was delivered in collaboration with Robert Angell Design, Gardiner & Theobald (project management), WFC Contractors (main contractor), TEI Electrical and Sandy Brown Associates (acousticians), an industry top-draw team.

System Solution

The audio system at Azzura was designed as a fully zoned installation to support the different functional areas of the restaurant, while maintaining consistent sound quality throughout.

In the main bar and dining areas, multiple Martin Audio CDD6 compact loudspeakers were installed. These were selected for their full-frequency, dynamic performance from a small enclosure, with a discreet form factor and clean lines that allow them to blend into the space.

Low-frequency reinforcement in these areas is provided by multiple Martin Audio SX112 subwoofers suspended at ceiling height. These support the main loudspeakers by delivering controlled, impactful low frequencies, adding depth to the sound while maintaining a balanced and comfortable listening experience.

All speakers, including subwoofers, were ceiling mounted at high level and custom sprayed to a matching RAL deep blue to blend into the ceiling, aligning with the mediterranean concept.

The private dining room is served by four Martin Audio CDD5 ultra-compact loudspeakers, providing high-quality, even coverage while remaining visually unobtrusive within the interior design.

Within the guest toilets, walkways and lobby areas, multiple Martin Audio Adorn C4.8T flush ceiling loudspeakers were installed providing a clear and even music coverage throughout these peripheral areas.

To support DJ-led evenings, two DJ connection points were installed, positioned at either end of the main dining room to suit different performance set-ups and allow the concept to scale seamlessly from background music to more energetic weekend sessions.

System processing and zone management are handled by an Industry Standard BSS Blu100 digital networked audio processor, allowing precise control of levels and signal distribution across all zones. The system is powered by a combination of Powersoft amplification, including Quattrocanali 2404, Duecanali 1604 and Mezzo 602A DSP amplifiers, providing efficient, high-quality power matched to each speaker zone.

For day-to-day operation, Sound Division delivered a discreet back-of-house control point using a wall-mounted iPad with a custom-designed interface. This provides simple source selection (playlist or DJ), individual zone volume control, and a dedicated bass enhancement control so management can fine-tune low-frequency impact to suit different times of day, and particularly when DJs are performing.

The Result

• “Large-scale hospitality fit-outs are what we have established our reputation and expertise on handling, so we know how important it is to get the detail right, from coverage and control through to discreet integration. At Azzura, the system sounds really nice, refined and balanced. And honestly, it is always so much easier working with a build team at this level of professionalism to get the job done to deadline and to budget.”
  — David Graham, Founder and Director, Sound Division
• “Sound Division have done another good job for the Aqua Restaurant Group, in fitting out Azzura. The sound is spot on and the service and attention to detail to delivering the installation has been excellent.”
  — Keiran Terry, Senior Director of Operations, Aqua Restaurant Group