Stage 01 · The starting point
A familiar venue, ready for a new direction.
The former Botanical had been empty for nine months. It still held Port Solent’s only late licence, but the space and proposition needed a complete rethink.
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Port Solent, Portsmouth
Mahina Tiki Bar
From an inherited venue that had stood empty for nine months to an immersive new hospitality concept, delivered ready for opening night.
Concept, design, build and launch
The project journey
From the starting point
to opening day.
Stage 02 · The brief
Give people a reason to arrive early — and stay late.
The ambition was to re-establish Port Solent as a destination to eat, drink, have fun and dance late, with a confident experience for an over-23 audience.
Stage 03 · Concept and brand
One idea to guide every decision.
Mahina became the organising idea for the whole experience — from the visual identity and menus to the layout, service cycle, uniforms, décor and launch campaign.
Stage 04 · Design and planning
Turn the concept into a workable plan.
Detailed layouts, technical design, approvals, programming and stakeholder coordination brought every moving part together before work began on site.
Stage 05 · Project kick-off
Clear the way, without losing control.
The old interior was stripped out in a controlled sequence, protecting the building shell and preparing the venue for the new installation.
Stage 06 · The build phase
Coordinate, solve and keep the whole picture moving.
Trades, orders and deliveries were sequenced around the programme. Decisions were made on site and details adapted without losing sight of the finished experience.
Stage 07 · Project handover
Ready to open. Ready to operate.
The completed venue was handed over to specification, on budget and on time — with the service environment and guest experience ready to deliver.
Stage 08 · Partners and people
Bring every partner, person and channel together.
Builders, technical teams, suppliers, authorities and internal teams were aligned. Recruitment, training and promotion built the operational confidence and opening momentum.
Stage 09 · Opening night
From an empty site to a complete hospitality experience.
Mahina opened with a distinctive brand, a trained team and a venue designed to work as one joined-up experience — from first arrival to late night.
