Radiant Blinds & Awnings has recently completed a striking commercial awning installation for the exciting new Braai Bird restaurant on Nunhead Lane, London SE15. The project involved manufacturing and installing a new motorised folding arm awning and a new fixed frame awning, both featuring a stunning bespoke purple red and white striped fabric, complemented by traditional signwriting completed by our talented in-house signwriter. The finished result is a truly eye catching transformation, giving the restaurant exceptional kerb appeal, a distinctive identity and valuable street level advertising that can be appreciated from a considerable distance.
Introducing Braai Bird – Bringing South African Flavours to Nunhead
Located at 57 Nunhead Lane, London SE15 3TR, Braai Bird is an exciting new restaurant concept from Amy Corbin and chef Patrick Williams, the talented team behind the acclaimed Kudu restaurant group. Inspired by the South African tradition of braai, which celebrates cooking over an open fire and bringing people together over delicious food, Braai Bird specialises in wood fired rotisserie chicken, slowly roasted and seasoned with aromatic South African spices. The restaurant’s menu features whole and half rotisserie chickens, accompanied by delicious homemade sauces including peri peri butter, Cape Malay and preserved lemon and garlic. Diners can also enjoy braai spiced fries, grilled sweetcorn, seasonal vegetables, sharing platters and a selection of South African wines. With its relaxed neighbourhood atmosphere, emphasis on sharing and wonderfully bold flavours, Braai Bird promises to become a fantastic addition to Nunhead’s vibrant restaurant scene. Radiant Blinds & Awnings was delighted to contribute to the restaurant’s exterior appearance with two beautifully designed, bespoke commercial awnings.
A Stunning Bespoke Purple-Red and White Striped Fabric
One of the most distinctive features of this installation is undoubtedly the magnificent striped awning fabric. Rather than choosing a standard striped material, the design was bespoke manufactured at Radiant’s own factory, combining the rich, sophisticated shade of RAL 3004 Purple Red with contrasting white stripes. This beautiful colour combination creates a dramatic visual impact, with the deep purple-red providing warmth and character while the crisp white stripes give the awnings a fresh, traditional appearance. The result is a wonderfully distinctive frontage that stands out along Nunhead Lane. The benefits of choosing bespoke striped awning fabric include:
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Exceptional visibility: The contrasting stripes attract attention from pedestrians and passing traffic.
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Strong brand identity: The distinctive colour combination helps customers recognise and remember the restaurant.
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Traditional character: Classic striped awnings create an inviting and timeless appearance.
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Bespoke individuality: Custom-manufactured fabric allows businesses to achieve a design that reflects their own personality.
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Outstanding kerb appeal: A beautifully designed awning can completely transform a commercial frontage.
At Radiant Blinds & Awnings, our ability to manufacture bespoke striped covers gives our commercial customers the opportunity to create something truly individual rather than being restricted to standard fabric collections.
Motorised Folding Arm Awning with Somfy Technology
For the main retractable awning, Radiant installed a high-quality motorised folding arm awning, combining traditional appearance with modern technology and convenient operation. The awning was fitted with a reliable Somfy motor, allowing it to be extended and retracted effortlessly using a handheld Somfy remote control. Motorised folding arm awnings are particularly beneficial for restaurants, cafés and hospitality venues because they provide flexible shade and shelter without requiring permanent supporting posts at the front. The system also incorporates a Somfy vibration wind sensor, sometimes referred to as a vibro wind sensor. This clever device detects excessive movement of the awning caused by windy conditions and automatically signals the motor to retract the awning when its programmed threshold is reached. Although no awning should be left extended in unsuitable weather, a vibration wind sensor provides an additional level of protection and peace of mind.
Bespoke Stand-Off Brackets Manufactured by Radiant
An important part of this installation was the manufacture and fitting of bespoke stand off brackets. These specially designed brackets allow the awning to be positioned at the required distance from the building’s façade, accommodating the particular installation requirements of the property. At Radiant, we regularly manufacture bespoke fixing brackets for installations where standard brackets are unsuitable. Our experience in designing and manufacturing specialist fixing solutions enables us to accommodate a wide variety of building styles and architectural features.
A Beautiful New Fixed Frame Awning to Complement the Motorised Installation
Alongside the motorised folding arm awning, Radiant also manufactured and installed a new fixed frame awning. Finished in the same stunning bespoke RAL 3004 Purple Red and white striped fabric, the fixed frame awning complements the retractable installation perfectly, creating a cohesive and beautifully coordinated restaurant frontage. Fixed frame awnings are an excellent choice for commercial premises because they offer a permanent architectural feature and help provide shade and a degree of weather protection to designated areas. They are particularly popular with restaurants, cafés, shops and hospitality businesses seeking to enhance their exterior appearance. By combining a motorised retractable awning with a fixed frame awning, Braai Bird benefits from both operational flexibility and a consistent, distinctive visual identity.
Traditional Hand Signwriting – Turning Awnings into Powerful Advertising
Another particularly impressive feature of this installation is the beautiful signwriting applied to the awning valances by Radiant’s own highly skilled in-house signwriter. The restaurant’s branding has been carefully incorporated into the valances, ensuring the business name is clearly visible and beautifully presented. The combination of the bold striped fabric and expertly executed signwriting creates a striking finished appearance. An awning is much more than a means of providing shade, it is also one of the most effective and attractive forms of permanent outdoor advertising for a business. For restaurants situated on busy streets, professionally branded awnings can provide numerous marketing benefits.
Why Signwritten Awnings Are So Effective for Restaurants
1. Increased street visibility – The attractive purple-red and white stripes can be seen from a distance, drawing attention towards the premises before potential customers are close enough to read the signage.
2. Continuous brand advertising – Unlike temporary advertising, a beautifully signwritten awning promotes the business every day, helping establish a recognisable presence within the local community.
3. Exceptional kerb appeal – A smart, coordinated frontage creates an inviting first impression and encourages passing customers to take a closer look.
4. Memorable brand recognition – Distinctive colours, traditional stripes and carefully positioned signwriting help customers associate the appearance of the premises with the restaurant’s identity.
5. A professional and established appearance – Bespoke awnings demonstrate attention to detail and create a sense of quality that reflects positively on the business.
For Braai Bird, the finished installation is a superb example of how carefully designed commercial awnings can combine practical functionality with highly effective visual marketing.
Commercial Awnings for Restaurants, Cafés and Hospitality Businesses
Radiant Blinds & Awnings has extensive experience manufacturing, recovering and installing commercial awnings for restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels and retail businesses throughout London and the surrounding counties. We understand that a commercial awning needs to do much more than provide protection from the sun. It must also complement the architecture, reflect the company’s branding, create an attractive customer-facing environment and withstand the demands of everyday commercial use. Our range of commercial shading solutions includes motorised folding arm awnings, traditional Victorian awnings, fixed frame awnings, Dutch canopies, drop arm awnings and bespoke branded awning covers. With our own manufacturing facilities and in-house signwriting expertise, we can offer a complete service from initial design and fabric selection through to manufacture, installation and finishing touches.
Over 160 Years of Traditional Awning Manufacturing Expertise
Radiant Blinds & Awnings is a long established, family run business with a proud heritage stretching back more than 160 years. From our factory and offices in Surbiton, Surrey, we combine traditional craftsmanship with modern awning technology to produce high quality, individually tailored shading solutions. Our experienced team works closely with customers to ensure every installation is carefully designed to suit the building, the practical requirements and the desired appearance. Whether manufacturing a bespoke striped fabric, creating specialist fixing brackets or applying traditional signwriting, attention to detail is at the heart of everything we do.
Another Stunning Commercial Awning Installation in South East London
We are extremely pleased with the finished installation at Braai Bird on Nunhead Lane, SE15. The combination of the motorised Somfy operated folding arm awning, complementary fixed frame awning, bespoke purple-red and white striped fabric and beautiful in-house signwriting has created a truly memorable frontage. The bold stripes are visible from afar, while the carefully signwritten valances advertise the Braai Bird brand in an attractive and sophisticated way. It is a perfect example of how bespoke commercial awnings can transform a restaurant’s appearance while providing practical shading and valuable advertising opportunities. Radiant Blinds & Awnings is delighted to have been involved in this exciting new restaurant project, and we wish the entire Braai Bird team every success with their new venture.
Looking for Bespoke Commercial Awnings in London?
If you are opening a new restaurant, refurbishing an existing hospitality venue or simply looking to improve your business frontage, Radiant Blinds & Awnings can help. From bespoke striped fabrics and traditional signwriting to motorised retractable awnings and fixed frame canopies, our experienced team can design, manufacture and install an awning that makes your business stand out. Contact Radiant Blinds & Awnings today to discuss your commercial awning requirements in London, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and the Home Counties.