Historic English Restaurant/Pub Seeks Logo and Sign

The Falcon, http://www.thefalconbletsoe.co.uk

The Falcon was originally built as a mill in 1650 and is located in the village of Bletsoe, halfway between Cambridge and Oxford, UK. Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother to King Henry VII was born in 1443 in Bletsoe Castle, next to site of The Falcon. In 1727, the mill was turned into a coaching inn. In 1757, the building was made the official site for legal proceedings and the outbuilding were used to hold prisoners. In 1859 the Victorian writer Edward Fitzgerald wrote his famous 'The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám' whilst he stayed at The Falcon – a work most famous for the quote ‘A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou’.

At The Falcon, we believe that the enjoyment of good, comforting food and drink should be savoured within a beautiful setting. We just completed a historical restoration which now highlights the original 17th century floor tiles, original fireplaces, timbered beams and panelled walls. Our menu showcases traditional English cuisine, enhanced with influences from around the world, and beautifully prepared with fresh, local ingredients. We feature a wide range of excellent wines and traditional ales. As part of an upcoming exterior renovation to update and maintain the building (new paint, repairs, signage), we are also looking to refresh The Falcon’s public image through two of its most noticeable assets – its main roadside sign, as well as its logo.

- Local residents who look for a more sophisticated, but not pretentious, eating experience
- Diners who appreciate high quality, healthy, fresh, local ingredients in their food
- More distant patrons who will travel for a special dining experience without the experience breaking the bank
- Age group: 25-55, middle to upper income earners (consumers) and employees of local businesses (eg Unilever)

What are we trying to position when we communicate with our patrons?
- High quality and value for money
- A special place to dine - but not pretentious
- Somewhere to visit every week – not just for special occasions
- Generous portions of comfort food
- A restaurant where everyone is welcome – young and old
- Beautifully restored old building exterior and interior
- Historic but not old-fashioned
- Fresh, locally procured meat and produce
- International influences in food and design

The Falcon is run independently by its two landlords (operators) but, the building and property is owned by Charles Wells http://www.charleswells.co.uk, a large locally-based pub company. Charles Wells has a very traditional view of its pubs and therefore is looking for a roadside and logo image that will not look dated or inappropriate in 5 to 15 years when we, as the current operators/tenants, leave.

The Falcon is currently run by two business partners. These partners are eager to have this new signage and logo reflect their passion for The Falcon and for great food and good graphic design. Both operators appreciate history but, are set on avoiding the fussy, old-fashioned ‘Ye Olde English Pub’ look so common across many dining establishments in the UK.

Because the pub company wants a very traditional image and we, the landlords, are looking for a more stylized graphic approach, we need to find some middle ground. The attached detailed design brief contains all the background, requirements and images you'll need to be inspired by and complete the project.

Your final image(s) will be used to:
1. Replace the current roadsign
2. Replace the current logo

Thank you for your interest in our project. We hope you enjoy working on it as much as we enjoy running and living at The Falcon.