The boss of a Staffordshire creative design firm is looking for somewhere to park his airliner. He plans to open a design studio in the Lichfield area, housed in a Boeing 737 airliner which he has just bought.
Neil Morten, head of Rugeley-based GMP Design which specialises in pub, club and leisure design, is looking for a site in or around Lichfield where the aircraft can be permanently based.
He plans to convert it into a design studio and design academy during the day, an exclusive bar in the evening and a private hire venue with a difference at weekends.
He said the aircraft installation would be a valuable asset to the city, inspiring creative youngsters as well as providing a facility for people of the city to enjoy.
“Our young designers at GMP are creating wonderful leisure venues around the world, many of which are household names. All this wonderful work is being done from our headquarters in Rugeley, but we want to expand that into a truly inspirational venue. We have purchased a Boeing 737, which would otherwise have gone for scrap, and aim to create a magnificent design studio and leisure venue. All we need is the right site,” he said.
“Our visionary designers have created the concept and can’t wait to turn it into reality. Not only will it be a fantastic studio, design academy and venue, it is the ultimate in recycling,” he added.
This is not the only aircraft-related scheme GMP is involved in. The company is working with an international consortium to create a restaurant and bar near Thurrock in Essex, in a converted Boeing 747 jumbo jet.
GMP runs a successful paid internship scheme in conjunction with the design department at the University of Derby. Students spend part of their course with GMP and then opt to complete the third year of their degree on a part-time day release basis. For much of the time they work on live, high profile design projects. Two students have achieved first class honours degrees on the GMP course while others have achieved 2:1 degrees in venue design.
GMP, on the Towers Business Park, was established by Rugeley businessman Neil Morten 22 years ago. The firm has become one of the UK’s leading bar, restaurant and club interior design and fit-out companies, with major contracts throughout the UK, Europe and the Far East.
