Set in the heart of London’s Mayfair, the Bacchanalia gourmet restaurant is the vision of Richard Caring and his Caprice Holdings group. It is inspired by the festive spirit of ancient Rome and offers a menu of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. Its richly decorated interior hosts artwork from renowned artists, including Damien Hirst.
Bacchanalia’s reputation doesn’t rely on its décor – the restaurant has also an exceptional reputation for entertainment, offering a mix of carefully curated background music, live performances, and DJ sets. To serve these various needs, the venue required a sound system that could integrate, dynamic sound within the Greco-Roman-inspired environment. The priority was preserving the venue’s aesthetic in the primary dining space and the adjoining Apollo’s Muse members’ club, one of London’s most prestigious private institutions.
Bacchanalia’s management chose an L-Acoustics sound system based around the discreet S Series. Specialist audio integrator Marquee AV handled the design and installation, already having worked with Caprice Holdings, including an L-Acoustics installation at Annabel’s private member’s club in Mayfair.
The system comprises a Syva-based loudspeaker system to, complement the venue’s unique architecture and minimise noise spill. ‘The main factor in our choice was the projection of the Syva highs, which perform flawlessly,’ says Project Director, Stacey Tough.
Seven Syva and seven Syva Low are evenly plaved throughout the main dining room and Apollo’s Muse club, and are sufficient to cover most of the space. Two additional KS21 subs add depth in the main room, especially for live performances, while the Apollo’s Muse space benefits from two SB15m compact subwoofers. Four smaller X8 coaxial speakers were placed in areas where the Syva could not be mounted due to the lavish interior design. Four LA4X amplified controllers drive the system, which is integrated with the venue’s Q-Sys control to provide an intuitive user interface for zone control and management of the audio system during events.
All of the loudspeakers were provided in white and then given a custom finish to resemble the restaurant’s marble and York stone details.
‘We chose L-Acoustics because of their reputation for exceptional soundscapes in high-end hospitality spaces and their products’ versatility,’ Tough says. ‘In Bacchanalia’s unique setting, we were not only challenged as sound engineers to ensure optimal audio distribution but also for aesthetic integration. We navigated complex logistics to ensure the entire audio system was custom-finished to the exacting requirements of Bacchanalia’s design team.
‘Our teams blended technical precision, aesthetic sensibility, and creative problem-solving. The result is a sound system that enhances the venue’s ambiance and fits beautifully into its richly decorated interior. Every challenge was worthwhile, and we’re proud to be an integral part of this unique hospitality experience in Mayfair.’
