The context
‍When Steve Drake approached us, he had already held a Michelin star at two restaurants. So we knew his next venture would no doubt be of the same calibre. Housed in a stunning 300-year-old building in Dorking, Sorrel was to centre around seasonal modern British tasting menus. With the name, location, and menu already locked in, this renowned chef needed a visual identity and tone of voice to truly bring his vision to life. 

‍The craft
‍Inspired by Steve’s story, his extraordinary cuisine, and the serenity of the surrounding countryside, we immersed ourselves in every detail of the restaurant. From tasting sessions to meeting with the interior design team to look at their sample boards and mockups, we wanted to ensure every element felt authentic from the very start. 

The core proposition - Simplicity inspired by discovery - drew on Steve’s approach to food and our first-hand experience of the skill and passion that goes into every plate at Sorrel. 

Continuing this as our visual throughline, we created a clean, unpretentious, and refined visual identity. The uppercase logotype’s crafted, custom lettering created a quiet confidence, the photography was shot in an artistic, still-life style to showcase the quality and unique presentation of each dish, and our colour palette complemented the interior design textures and hues.

We then designed bespoke origami menus with GF Smith colourplan paper, greeting cards, packaging and a website to ensure that every moment was as consciously considered as each plate on the pass.  

‍The end result
‍A beautiful brand, built on simplicity and discovery, Sorrel is now Steve Drake’s third Michelin-starred restaurant.