Client : Gong cha
Business : Food + Beverage
Location : City Centre, Manchester
SQM : 90
Completed : 2019

Launching an Asian brand into the UK market.

Founded in 2006, Taiwanese Gong cha is one of the world’s leading bubble tea chains with over 1,500 locations across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and America. 

NoChintz was briefed with introducing Gong cha to the West for the first time, developing a design for its flagship space in central Manchester that took influence from the brand’s traditional Chinese heritage, marrying it with an inviting sense of fun that would appeal to the European market. The design was a resounding success and led to the quick launch of a second outlet, this time at the heart of Manchester’s most established retail street. 

The traditional colours, textures and shapes of Asia are brought to life through NoChintz’s concept for the brand, which celebrates Gong cha’s origins through every detail. The interior is characterised by wooden cladding inspired by the structure of the tea field, while bespoke stools that reference Taiwanese writing styles continue the sense that this well-routed design has been created with meaning. 

Subtlety joins character at Gong cha, where the perfect Instagrammable nook is met by a bubble-adorned ceiling, succeeding in expressing the playful character of a brand that has, in a competitive marketplace, managed to leave its rivals behind.