Poolhouse London

A cinematic, narrative‑driven reimagining of the iconic game of pool.

Poolhouse is a game‑changing new competitive socialising concept located at 100 Liverpool Street in the heart of Broadgate, Central London. Ellis Design Studio was commissioned to design the brand’s flagship 21,000 sq.ft venue — a spectacular, multi‑layered environment that redefines the traditional game of pool through immersive storytelling, premium hospitality and cutting‑edge gameplay technology.

As the foremost interior design studio in the competitive socialising sector, Ellis Design Studio approached Poolhouse with a bold conceptual ambition: to elevate pool into a richly atmospheric, cinematic experience that blends grit, glamour and Americana‑infused nostalgia.

A Journey Across the American Landscape

The overarching design narrative is inspired by a voyage across the vast American landscape — a conceptual journey from dawn to dusk under the open road. This framework shapes the guest experience throughout the venue, creating a sense of discovery, movement and intrigue.

The interior celebrates familiar American iconography associated with the heritage of pool: the diner, the motel, the dive bar, the casino and the roadside bar. References to Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper and Jack Kerouac enrich the narrative, infusing the space with artistic depth and a sense of wanderlust.

A Dramatic, Immersive Arrival

Guests enter through a starlit vaulted portal — a shimmering, twilight‑inspired threshold that sets the tone for the cinematic journey ahead. Search‑light accents and desert‑sky hues create an enveloping sense of anticipation.

Ground Floor Bar — Grit Meets Mid‑Century Glamour

The curvilinear ground floor bar is inspired by mid‑century roadside architecture: diners, gas stations and futurist forecourts. A glowing radial canopy, ribbed vaulted back bar and illuminated feature column anchor the space, set against a multi‑hued landscape mural referencing O’Keeffe’s abstract expressionist works.

Materiality is rooted in roadside Americana: burnished metals, polished concrete, topographic textures and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow.

The Staircase — A Cinematic Transition

A sweeping staircase connects the two floors, continuing the narrative of travel and transition. Polychromatic walls evoke desert night skies and swirling petrol‑in‑water patterns, creating a sense of movement and discovery.

Reception — Motel‑Inspired Character

At the top of the staircase, guests arrive at a motel‑inspired reception featuring a cubist pool mural — a playful nod to the heritage of the game.

The Suites — Twenty Bespoke Pool Experiences

Poolhouse’s twenty private and semi‑private Suites reinterpret the familiar grit and glamour of vintage motels and dive bars. Each Suite features:

• Custom‑designed pool tables with modernist silhouettes, coloured veneers and hand‑finished burl wood inlays
• Three‑tier illuminated chandeliers that encase gameplay technology while creating a sculptural focal point
• Hand‑painted walls, distressed wallpapers, oversized cork patterns and custom carpets

The result is a series of intimate, atmospheric play spaces that blend nostalgia, authenticity and premium craftsmanship.

Main Bar — Vintage Vegas Glamour

The main bar is the shimmering heart of the venue, inspired by the iridescent allure of vintage Las Vegas. Golden‑age casino architecture informs its glowing, multi‑tiered forms, crowned by:

• A gilded starburst chandelier
• A radiating fibre‑optic canopy
• A rose‑gold bar front and sculptural ceramic bar top
• Bespoke brass palm lights and layered hand‑painted finishes

This bar embodies the glamour, spectacle and theatricality of classic Vegas.

Queen Vera’s — The Private Room

Named after legendary British pool player Vera Selby, Queen Vera’s channels the grit and authenticity of traditional working men’s clubs and dive bars. Snakeskin‑inspired ceilings, scale‑patterned carpets and desert‑inflected textures create a nostalgic, atmospheric retreat.

The Eight Room — Invitation‑Only Exclusivity

Inspired by American pool icon Janet “The Black Widow” Lee, this hidden room features vermillion pleated velvet walls and a dramatic, theatrical aesthetic that reflects Lee’s distinctive persona.

The Jungle Room — A Tribute to Graceland

Referencing Elvis Presley’s iconic Jungle Room, this Suite features pleated fabric ceilings, jungle‑inspired laser‑printed timber panelling and vintage rattan lighting — a playful homage to one of America’s most legendary interiors.

A New Benchmark for Competitive Socialising

Poolhouse represents a landmark project for Ellis Design Studio — a richly layered, narrative‑driven interior that elevates the universal appeal of pool through cinematic storytelling, meticulous craftsmanship and a bold blend of grit and glamour.