The Client

Soom is a new Korean restaurant located on St Martin’s Lane in Covent Garden. Meaning “breath” in Korean, the concept centres on stillness, connection and togetherness, creating a dining environment defined by quiet sophistication.

The interior features a unique, eye-catching design, combining sculptural lighting, curved forms and tactile finishes. Every detail has been carefully considered to encourage guests to pause, connect and engage with the experience, balancing visual impact with a calm, refined atmosphere.

This philosophy extends to the menu, with signature dishes such as Yukhoe, a finely seasoned beef tartare topped with Korean pear and egg yolk, and Hae-Woo Tang, a rich, spicy seafood soup made with the chef’s selection of seafood and chilli-infused broth, showcasing authentic Korean flavours prepared in-house by Korean chefs.

Project Brief

Sound Division were commissioned to design and install a sound system that would complement Soom’s design-led approach while delivering consistent, high-quality background music throughout the venue. The brief required audio that would enhance the atmosphere without drawing attention to itself, supporting calm dining across multiple areas including the bar, main restaurant, private dining spaces, waiting areas, toilets and lobby.

The system needed to be zoned, simple to manage and visually unobtrusive, integrating seamlessly with the architecture and interior finishes.

System Solution

Martin Audio Adorn A55 compact loudspeakers were installed across the bar and main restaurant, selected for their ability to deliver warm, balanced sound while remaining discreet within the space.

In the private dining areas, toilets and lobby, Martin Audio ACS55TS flush ceiling loudspeakers were used. These ceiling-mounted models deliver consistent coverage across secondary guest spaces, maintaining sound continuity throughout the venue while remaining discreet within the architectural finishes.

System management is handled by an Optimal Audio Zone 8P powered mixer, allowing each area of the restaurant to be controlled independently from a single platform. Local control is provided via two wall-mounted Optimal Audio Zone Pad 4 remote panels, one positioned on the ground floor and the second in the basement reception booth. This gives staff straightforward access to level adjustment while keeping operation simple and unobtrusive. Dedicated connection points were also installed at each control location for playlist and source inputs.

The system layout and equipment positioning were planned alongside the interior design, so the audio naturally supports the atmosphere without interrupting the look and feel of the space.

The Result

“We had a lot of challenges on this project during the build and construction, and Sound Division worked with us closely from start to finish, accommodating design changes and programme revisions along the way. They’ve delivered a music system that works perfectly for us and provides all the functionality we needed. They did a great job!” — Ho Kim, Founder, Soom.