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# Velvet Cocktail Bars
Dive Occupies a Two-Level Basement Space in Marylebone

By Amy Duong | Published 2026-06-18 | Art & Design
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dive-2
References: [dive.london](https://dive.london/)

![Velvet Cocktail Bars](https://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/618/dive-2.jpeg)

[Dive](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kocom-the-frame) is a [cocktail bar](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brutes) designed by Golem in the basement of a building in London's Marylebone district. The venue is organised into two distinct areas, with a brighter bar positioned near the entrance and a more intimate lounge located on the lower level.

Red velvet covers much of the interior, including walls, floors, seating, and booths, creating a tactile environment intended to evolve through everyday use. Curved forms, reflective surfaces, and convex mirrors define the upper bar area, where glossy finishes introduce contrast to the soft upholstery.

A dark corridor connects the main bar to the lounge, which is arranged around a series of structural arches. Built-in benches and movable cushions allow the seating layouts to be adjusted for different group sizes and social settings. One arch contains a carpet-lined room with a U-shaped configuration designed for lounging and gatherings.

The space also functions as a [listening room](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodbye-horses-1), featuring a dedicated DJ booth and custom shelving for a vinyl collection. Non-gendered bathrooms sit at the centre of the plan behind a one-way mirror.

Image Credit: Dive

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 4.3/10
- Popularity: 31% | Activity: 15% | Freshness: 82%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: Europe

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign)

## Key Themes

### Key Themes Behind This Trend

- **Tactile Hospitality Interiors:** Material-rich environments that age through use create differentiated guest experiences for venues seeking deeper sensory identity beyond visual design.
- **Hybrid Listening Lounges:** Cocktail bars with DJ booths, vinyl libraries, and intimate acoustic zones signal a shift toward nightlife concepts built around curated sound and social immersion.
- **Adaptive Social Seating:** Flexible benches, movable cushions, and modular lounge layouts reveal potential for hospitality spaces that accommodate changing group dynamics throughout the night.

### Where This Applies

- **Hospitality Design:** Basement venues with layered lighting, curved forms, and immersive finishes expand the role of interior design as a core driver of destination value.
- **Nightlife Entertainment:** Music-centered bar formats blend drinking, lounging, and listening into compact cultural hubs that compete with traditional clubs and restaurants.
- **Commercial Real Estate:** Underused below-grade spaces gain new relevance when transformed into atmospheric, multi-zone venues with strong experiential appeal.

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