Home to Manchester museums, bars, restaurants and shops, the Spinningfields district now counts the Sexy Fish restaurant to its attractions – a name already synonymous with glamourous dining in London and Miami.

Owned by British entrepreneur Richard Caring of Caprice Holdings, Sexy Fish has long been a fixture in the global high-end dining scene. The Manchester restaurant comprises a main dining room, late-night bar, and a semi-private dining space known as The Tropical Reef Room, which can accommodate 30 guests.

It features sculptures by Damien Hirst, fish-shaped lamps designed by Frank Gehry, and a pink onyx bar, where guests offered a comprehensive selection of champagne. Its visual liveliness is accompanied by events, including the dinner parties where the restaurant becomes a world-class entertainment venue, hosting an impressive range of international performers and DJs.

Led by Danny Kissane, Group Technical Manager at The Birley Clubs, the collaboration between Sexy Fish and L-Acoustics was a progression facilitated by L-Acoustics Certified Provider Integrator Marquee AV. The Shepperton-based AV company already had a successful collaboration with Caprice Holdings, including L-Acoustics installations at luxury Greek-inspired restaurant Bacchanalia.

Considering the L-shaped venue, with its 7m-high ceilings, and luxurious materials, stone floor and bespoke glass columns created by master Venetian glassmakers on the island of Murano, it was essential that the sound system delivered comprehensive but targeted coverage in the highly reflective space. The Marquee AV team used L-Acoustics 3D audio mapping software Soundvision to navigate the complexities of the venue’s acoustics and find strategic positions for the loudspeakers, particularly in the bar area where placement options were limited.

‘Our goal was to keep acoustic energy lower down in the venue to minimise reflections, and L-Acoustics was the ideal choice for delivering a premium sound experience in the unique and reflective space that is Sexy Fish,’ says Marquee AV Project Director, Stacey Tough.

Marquee AV selected a mix of L-Acoustics A Series and X Series. The space features 15 L-Acoustics A10i Wide loudspeakers with Panflex for adjustable horizontal dispersion with ten compact X8 coaxial speakers for clear and powerful sound dotted throughout. Low-end extension is provided by seven L-Acoustics SB10i subwoofers, two SB15M subwoofers, and two KS21i subwoofers. One LA12X, three LA4X, and two LA2Xi amplified controllers drive the system.

‘The L-Acoustics sound system played a pivotal role in enhancing the variety of dinner events and parties hosted, contributing to the enveloping audio experience that complements the visual and culinary delights of Sexy Fish,’ Tough says. ‘The result is a seamless integration of the L-Acoustics sound system, delivering impeccable sound quality. While the venue is still in its early stages, initial feedback from the launch party and subsequent events has been overwhelmingly positive, signalling the success of the installation.’