Communal dining: Making a meal of conviviality

Inspired by rustic, 19th-century European homes, the 33-square metre restaurant has just two sittings per night. The concept is a ‘dinner party in a farmhouse’, says co-owner and interior designer Nicholas Gurney.

Diners sit at the long table while enjoying a set menu that changes daily. The interior is made of salvaged wood, creating a weatherworn, cosy setting. To avoid any awkwardness caused by being stuck in the centre, the table has panels that can be lifted to let guests get up comfortably.

In 2010, we identified a major shift in mood and a desire to reconnect with people in an intimate setting. The communal ethos of Farmhouse exemplifies this Conviviality Culture macrotrend.