Liberté and 1819

S+Co was engaged by Apex Hotels to develop a new brand identity and food concept for the refurbishment and refresh of the existing bar and restaurant facilities at their Waterloo Place Hotel in Edinburgh. The restaurant needed to appeal to both hotel guests and locals, offering a modern, high-quality dining experience that would reflect Apex Hotels’ ethos of quality, authenticity, and sophistication.

Work

BRAND STRATEGY
LOGO & VISUAL IDENTITY
GUEST COLLATERAL
TONE OF VOICE & STORY TELLING
BRAND GUIDELINES

COLLABORATORS

STU MCCLUSKEY
ISA ARCHITECTURE

We developed a sophisticated visual identity for Liberté, which included custom typography, a new logo, and a fresh colour palette. These design elements were crafted to reflect the restaurant’s rich Georgian heritage and its modern, more European influences.

our response

S+Co created the names Liberté and 1819 as part of the brand development. Liberté was named after the Scottish spirit of freedom, combining Scotland’s passionate energy with elegant European influences. 1819 is a nod to the year when Waterloo Place, Edinburgh’s first purpose-built hotel – designed by famed Scottish architect, Archibald Elliot – was completed. Steeped in Georgian history, the venue is also a celebration of the many renowned guests that passed through its doors, from Charles Dickens to Earl Grey.

We began by delving into the history of the place itself. Old Town Chambers is not one building, but four - The Mile, Warriston’s, Advocate’s and Roxburgh - each with its own story and character. Centuries-old buildings, some dating back to the 15th century, stand alongside sleek, state-of-the-art penthouses, all connected by the cobbled closes, time-worn steps and meandering closes off the Royal Mile. The idea of layers - of stone and story - became the foundation of the refreshed brand. Working with the ownership and Marriott teams, we developed the defining concept ‘Uncover the Unexpected’, expressing both the physical experience of descending through the closes and the emotional sense of discovery that defines a stay here. The logo was redrawn from this narrative, inspired by the steps and strata that shape the Old Town’s landscape.

Liberté was named after the Scottish spirit of freedom, combining Scotland’s passionate energy with elegant European influences.

The new logo's stacked, architectural form evokes the verticality of the city and the layered stories of the Chambers - a symbol that feels crafted, confident and distinctly Edinburgh

HOSPITALITY CONSULTANCY

The food concept - developed in collaboration with our hospitality consultant Stu McCluskey - was designed around bold, seasonal dishes, delivering a high-quality yet accessible dining experience for a wide range of guests.

The brand identity and food concept work hand in hand, and Liberté has quickly become a standout venue, winning Bar and Restaurant of the Year at the Scottish Hotel Awards 2025.