Restaurant designer David Collins dies

News: London interior designer David Collins has died after a short battle with skin cancer, his office has announced.

Collins, best known for restaurant interiors including The Wolseley, J Sheekey, Nobu Berkeley ST and Massimo (pictured), died this morning. “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of David Collins following a short but valiant battle with cancer,” reads a message on his website.

“David died this morning at 1.20am surrounded by his family and loved ones. A truly gifted and inspirational man who has left us with some of the most remarkable and treasured interiors.”

“David’s death is a real shock,” wrote Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman in a tribute on vogue.co.uk. “As well as being responsible for designing many of the most influential London restaurants and bars of our age, he was a dear friend of many at Vogue.

She added: “His work merged luxury, glamour and heritage in an inimitable fashion and his company was always of the first and most enjoyable order.”

Born in Dublin, Collins founded David Collins Studio in London in 1985 and landed his first big commission when he was hired to design every branch of French-style restaurant chain Cafe Rouge.

More recently Collins designed retail interiors for fashion brands including Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen and Harrods.

Read more

• News