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BRIO PUTS A CURVE IN IT
Brio architectural hardware made an adventurous curved door project a
reality for an innovative wedding venue in north Devon.
Tunnels Beaches is a network of hand carved
tunnels leading to sheltered beaches and a
tidal Victorian bathing pool at Ilfracombe,
the location of a breath-taking beach front
wedding venue operated by Devon Beach
Weddings. The bespoke building curving
out of the rock means there are no concerns
about the UK weather and whatever turn it
takes it is all visible through curved bi-folding
glazed doors – whether opened or closed.
The owner had the idea to refurbish and at
the same time to extend the upper story of
the curved building by 2 metres, installing
curved bi-folding glazed doors and thereby
increasing capacity from 130 guests to 160.
With a full house for weddings in 2017, (120+
weddings booked), over 100 weddings
already booked for 2018 and prime dates in
2019 booking fast, the extension was a must.
Awlwood Joinery already had a good
relationship with the owners Jamie and
Zoe McLintock having worked with them at
the Tunnels Beaches Bath House – an old
Victorian bath house – which was turned
in to wedding accommodation for the
venues guests, so when the scheme was
mooted to install curving bi-folding doors
the McLintock’s turned to David Wray at
Awlwood Joinery. “It wasn’t anything we
had done before but we are skilled guys and
the concept is not beyond the reach of man
– after all we can send men to the moon – so
we undertook the commission.
The architect, RGP of Barnstaple, came up
with a scheme and we did as they instructed –
but with fewer doors (two sets, opening out).
The design included wood cladding and lots
of steel.
“We opted for the Brio Weatherfold 4s system
after talking to Bob Harrison at Hebden &
but it is well worth the investment for the
huge improvement and simplified operation
and it looks so much better. Brio’s 286 Dual
Point Lock system launched last year has
been joined by Brio’s 288 Lever Furniture
to give joiners a deluxe option to offer their
customers who now, more than ever, are
looking for aesthetics as well as practicality.
Brio’s 286 Dual Point Lock is suitable