Wonderland is an immersive dessert parlour in Stratford-upon-Avon

Designer / project manager / maker

I was tasked with designing a dessert shop which was as much a feast for the eyes! Alice in Wonderland theme bubble waffles, milkshakes and gelato by day, cocktails and music by night. This meant creating a space appealing to children & adults. I used scale and lighting to immerse the customer into the different zones within the shop, which nod to the tales of Alice in Wonderland.

Painting the roses red- guests can sit beneath the rose arch, which climbs overhead, with mixed media stems, and giant white roses splashed with glittery pink resin. Below them, giant teacups double as seating for a mad hatters tea party.

Over to the pick n mix station, large mushrooms and foliage looms over you as you decide which treats to bag. They’re illuminated like lampshades and atop of them sits the caterpillar smoking his sheesha pipe, blowing out pink glistening clouds of candy-floss (sculpted from fly mesh) which decorate the ceiling.

Upon entry to the shop there are branches suspended above head, laden with wisteria, and spherical sculptures to imitate sweets. There are colour changing pendants amongst the foliage, and a winding trunk greeting you as you walk in, right in the middle of the shop.

You’ll also find a giant pocket watch, crochet themed flamingo busts, apothecary bottles and cake stands labelled ‘Eat me, Drink me’, the words of the Cheshire Cat in neon and giant playing cards fanning up the wall with the original illustrations from the book.