BGN Develops Fresh Brand Identity for Manchester's Black Cat Club

A Manchester based agency has launched the new brand for Black Cat Club.

BGN has created the brand for the latest opening from Mills Hill Development Limited, the team behind iconic restaurants El Gato Negro, Canto and Habas.

Black Cat Club is a new concept and is on the site of Habason Brown Street which was a modern Middle Eastern-influenced restaurant that closed last year. Black Cat Club is a dynamic fusion of interactive shuffleboard and darts games, vinyl DJs, cocktails, live sports and a small plates menu curated by chef, Simon Shaw.

BGN were appointed in October 2023 and have worked closely with the Black Cat Club team to create a brand that draws visual inspiration from much-loved sister restaurant, El Gato Negro, by incorporating its iconic cat emblem.

Through illustration, BGN has developed club style stickers which are reminiscent of sports badges and a palette that reflects the restaurant’s vibrant social atmosphere.

They took all our ideas, good and bad, and managed to make this sleek, sophisticated brand concept that we are unbelievably excited to be opening with
Lucy Silcock

The new brand will be used across all assets including the website, venue signage, interiors, menus and marketing materials.

David Newton, creative director at BGN, said: “It’s been fantastic to work with the team on the new brand for Black Cat Club.

“It’s a stunning place so we wanted to create an innovative brand concept that set a new standard in the restaurant space and that really resonated with the Manchester community.”

Lucy Silcock, Operations Manager at MHDL, added: “When we first approached BGN with our concept, we couldn’t possibly of imagined this finished brand design. They took all our ideas, good and bad, and managed to make this sleek, sophisticated brand concept that we are unbelievably excited to be opening with.

“Having a brand that you are confident with, makes the world of difference to the launch. We can’t wait to share this success with the team and watch is grow and develop in the future.”

BGN is now also retained to deliver ongoing design and digital services across the group’s entire portfolio of venues.

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