DV8 Designs - Architecture & Design Practice

What DV8 Designs - Architecture & Design Practice does

DV8 Designs is a Warrington, UK-based architecture and interior design practice founded in 2006 by Lee Birchall. The firm provides B2B professional services spanning hospitality, commercial, aviation, leisure, and regeneration sectors, with a discernible specialization in hospitality and airport lounge interiors. Notable clients include Aspire/Swissport, Greene King, Hydes Brewery, Village Hotels, Sefton Council, Rochdale Council, Halewood International, Heaton Group, Taylor Estates, Low Wood Bay, and chef Aiden Byrne. The practice operates with approximately 13 staff and has accumulated industry recognition including NEWH UK TopID (2024/2025), Grafters Awards (2023 and 2024), and Sefton Design Awards (2023).

The firm generates revenue through project-based design fees on a portfolio that includes individual hospitality venues — disclosed project values include a £1.2M Belfast scheme, a £1.8M Liverpool scheme, and a £1.4M Southport scheme — alongside larger regeneration programmes such as the £200 million Eckersley Mills scheme. In 2023 the firm was appointed lead designers for Swissport/Aspire's international lounge rollout, subsequently delivering 11 lounges across 9 airports in Morocco, marking its first material expansion outside the UK. Sectors served extend from hotel, restaurant, and bar interiors to airport lounges, breweries, and council-led regeneration work.

The business model is traditional professional services: fee-for-service project engagements spanning several months to multiple years, with revenue tied to a relatively small number of mid-sized commissions each year. Recent operational activity includes a 2024 brand refresh and website relaunch, the 2025 appointment of Jess Sutherland as Design Director, and the hiring of junior interior designers Carrie Oliver and Josh Allen in 2025 to expand delivery capacity. No AI, software platform, or proprietary technology product is evident; the practice operates as a design consultancy rather than a product company.

Name

DV8 Designs - Architecture & Design Practice

Legal name

DV8 Designs

Website

https://dv8-designs.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DV8 Designs is a Warrington, UK-based architecture and interior design practice founded in 2006, serving hospitality, aviation, commercial, leisure, and regeneration clients through project-based design services delivered by approximately 13 staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Interior Design Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (541410), Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design practice
• Hospitality interior design
• Airport lounge design
• Commercial space planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Warrington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural and Interior Design Services: DV8 Designs generates revenue through project-based design fees for architectural and interior design services. Projects range from concept design through to completion, serving hospitality venues, commercial offices, government facilities, and leisure destinations. Revenue is earned on a per-project basis with fees based on scope and scale of work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DV8 Designs is a UK-based architectural and interior design practice delivering full-service design solutions spanning concept design, space planning, material and furniture specification, and project delivery for hospitality operators, commercial property developers, airport lounge brands, leisure operators, and local authorities. The firm specialises in transforming underused, dormant, or heritage-listed buildings into commercially viable destinations, with notable expertise in airport lounge design, hospitality venues, regeneration projects, and meanwhile-use activations.

Product overview

DV8 Designs is an award-winning architectural and interior design practice founded in 2006, offering a unified service spanning concept design through to project completion. The practice specializes across five core sectors: hospitality (bars, restaurants, pubs, hotels, fine dining), commercial (office CAT A/B fit-outs, business parks), aviation (airport lounges globally), leisure (gyms, spas, event spaces), and place-making (regeneration projects, meanwhile-use activations, market halls). Services include architectural design, interior design, space planning, and concept development. The portfolio encompasses flagship projects such as Aspire Airport Lounges (multiple UK airports and Morocco), Liverpool Gin Distillery, Salt and Tar event venue, Southport Market regeneration, and The Harry Beswick pub. The practice operates from Warrington serving clients across the UK and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Belfast Aspire Lounge Net Promoter Score increased above British Airways expectations, becoming benchmark for third-party lounges in their network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aspire Airport Lounges (Swissport)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018DV8 has served as Lead Interior Design Partner for Aspire Airport Lounges since 2018, delivering flagship lounge designs across UK airports (Belfast, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle) and internationally (Morocco - 11 lounges across 9 airports). The Belfast Aspire Lounge became the benchmark for British Airways third-party lounges. Relationship deepened in 2023 when Swissport appointed DV8 as lead designers for international rollout. DV8 also designed the first 3-tier lounge in the UK at Newcastle.
• Sefton CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with Sefton Council for regeneration projects including Salt and Tar (Bootle community hub and event space) and Southport Market (£1.4m regeneration). DV8 has delivered award-winning work that contributed to Sefton Design Awards recognition and wider economic revitalisation.
• Heaton GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed as concept designers for hospitality at the £200m Eckersley Mills regeneration in Wigan. Working alongside master planning architects Horizon | fletcher – rae to design 15,000 sqft food hall and micro-brewery operation within Grade 2 listed mills.
• Taylor EstatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed to reimagine Hollins Chambers, an iconic Manchester office building from 1925, into premium CAT A and CAT B office spaces. Delivered interior design and branding refresh.
• Rochdale Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed alongside Triangle Architects to design new customer advice centre - a one-stop shop for housing support. Design creates calming, accessible environment with biophilic elements.
• Low Wood Bay Resort & SpacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed to design spa destination at the Lake District resort overlooking Windermere. Led by Interior Designer Molly Smith from concept through completion.
• Village HotelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed to reimagine workout spaces at two Village Hotels locations - Village Leeds North Reformer and Village Wirral, with focus on elevating fitness experience.
• SwissportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinued partnership with Swissport for Aspire Executive Lounges, including £1.8m investment at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. DV8 serves as Lead Interior Design Partner for international expansion.
• Hydes BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing client relationship since 2010. Appointed to transform Heswall Police Station into 'The Harry Beswick' premium pub and dining destination.
• Greene KingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing client relationship since early years. Current projects include Greene King Hive and Nest, The Offas Dyke pub transformation.
• Aiden ByrnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed to design LI~LY fine dining restaurant in Grade II listed Tudor building in Knutsford for Michelin-starred chef Aiden Byrne and wife Sarah.
• Halewood InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed to design Liverpool Gin Distillery flagship unit in Grade II listed building on Castle Street. Multi-floor venue includes gin bar, dark spirits bar, three Gin Labs, and Bartender School.
• NEWHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member and participant in NEWH industry events. Managing Director Lee Birchall spoke at NEWH Leadership Conference in Paris. DV8 recognised as Top Interior Designer firm by NEWH.
• Crown PaintsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDV8 designer Hannah Warren contributed to Crown Paints Colour Insights 2024/25 launch event. Partnership in colour and design trend collaboration.
• Independent Hotel ShowcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerManaging Director Lee Birchall invited to join panel at Independent Hotel Show 2025. DV8 appointed to design the Hotel Business Stage exhibition space.
• Newmor WallcoveringsminorOthersSupplier partner for Independent Hotel Show exhibition space design. Family-run Welsh company crafting wide-width wallcoverings.
• PanazminorOthersContract fabric supplier partner for hospitality projects. 40+ years expertise in flame retardant fabrics.
• AJ CurtainsminorOthersSupplier partner for window treatments and soft furnishings with 34+ years experience.
• HRH Contract FurnitureminorOthersBespoke furniture supplier combining UK craftsmanship with European partners for hospitality, leisure, and hotel projects.
• Ought2minorOthersSupplier of moss walls, living walls, and greenery installations for biophilic design elements.
• E2 LightingminorOthersBespoke lighting design, manufacture and supply partner for residential, hospitality, and commercial interiors.
• BoConceptminorOthersModular furniture supplier for hospitality and commercial projects with Danish design heritage.
• TekturaminorOthersWallcovering and acoustic solutions supplier with 60+ years history serving UK hospitality and commercial interiors.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Benoy: International architectural firm with a substantial hospitality, retail, and commercial portfolio. Broad incumbent offering overlapping design services at significantly larger scale, competing for the same enterprise clients as DV8.
• Gensler: Global design firm with extensive hospitality, aviation lounge, and commercial interior design capabilities. Broad incumbent that competes with DV8 for premium lounge and hospitality briefs at far larger scale and geographic reach.
• Foster + Partners: Global architectural giant with significant airport, hospitality, and commercial interior work. Broad incumbent with overlapping design capabilities; while far larger, it competes for premium aviation and hospitality clients in the same category as DV8.
• BDP (Building Design Partnership): Major UK architectural practice with deep hospitality, regeneration, and public-sector portfolios including place-making work. Broad incumbent serving similar enterprise and public-sector clients at much larger scale than DV8.
• IBI Group: Global design and engineering firm offering architecture, interior design, and place-making services. Broad incumbent operating across hospitality, commercial, and public sectors at substantially larger scale than DV8.

Direct peers

• Jestico + Whiles: UK architectural and interior design practice with a long-standing hospitality, commercial, and cultural portfolio. Comparable mid-sized UK firm delivering integrated architecture and interiors across sectors that overlap DV8's core verticals.
• 3DReid: UK architecture, interior design, and masterplanning firm with hospitality, leisure, and commercial work. Comparable mid-sized UK firm operating across similar sectors and engaging clients through consultative B2B design commissions.
• Tonkin Liu: London-based architectural practice recognised for design-led hospitality, cultural, and residential work. Comparable boutique UK firm with similar scale, founder-led profile, and award-winning design pedigree.
• Foster Lomas: London-based architectural practice with hospitality, residential, and commercial projects. Comparable boutique UK architectural firm with similar project scale and integrated design approach to DV8.
• Sella Concept: London-based interior design studio specialising in hospitality, restaurants, hotels, and bars. Directly comparable boutique firm operating in the same hospitality-focused interior design niche as DV8, with similar project-based fee model and award-winning positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dv8-designs
• Instagraminstagram.com/dv8designs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DV8 Designs - Architecture & Design Practice