Autex Acoustics panels "place sound at the heart" of Manchester's Bar Shrimp

Acoustic brand Autex Acoustics has equipped Manchester’s Bar Shrimp with sound-enhancing acoustic panels, creating an “immersive and energetic space” dedicated to music listening.

Bar Shrimp is a seafood-serving music destination designed to provide a high-quality music experience within a relaxed environment.

The bar’s interior combines luxury acoustic panels, layered textures, rich red tones, and atmospheric lighting to create an intimate space that can switch from a relaxed dining setting to a vibrant late-night venue.

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The bar’s walls were furnished with Autex Acoustics’ Mirage finish, a lightweight acoustic panel made from PET, customised using a precision laser etching technique to create a distinctive textured aesthetic.

The finish softens reverberation from the bar’s concrete floors, while its textured, soft appearance adds to the venue’s relaxed visual identity.

*Manchester’s Bar Shrimp is equipped with high-quality acoustic panels, including Autex Acoustic’s Mirage finish (seen in video) and Frontier Axis (above)*

According to Autex Acoustics, Mirage also controls background chatter and balances music played throughout the space, which, according to Bar Shimp’s co-founder Richard Cossins, was one of the key parts of the bar’s design.

“Our mission at Bar Shrimp is to place sound at the heart of the venue, treating it as an integral part of the experience,” said Cossins. “The goal is to deliver an immersive sonic identity, detailed and balanced within the space.”

Above the bar, an Autex Acoustics’ Frontier Axis system was also added for its striking grid-like appearance and additional sound-absorbing qualities.

*The bar’s walls were equipped with Autex Acoustics’ textured Mirage finish*

Autex Acoustics products are made in the UK from at least 80 per cent recycled content.

According to Cossins, the project was built on a shared understanding of how sound and acoustics can shape people’s experience of a venue, whilst also aligning on sustainability values.

“In hospitality, sound panelling is often an afterthought,” said director at Autex Acoustics UK and EU, Daniel Senior.

“But what we’ve learned with the team at Bar Shrimp is that acoustics can actually elevate the design and be an integral part of it.”

Bar Shrimp was named “Manchester’s new best thing ever” by Guardian food critic Grace Dent, and it is the third collaboration between Cossins and Autex Acoustics.

Autex Acoustics crafts acoustic products that combine decades of expertise with innovative solutions that aim to enhance both the visual and acoustic experience of interior spaces.

The brand has recently launched Raft, the latest addition to the Frontier range, which combines sculptural acoustic design with “significantly reduced embodied carbon and material use”.

To learn more about Autex Acoustics, visit its website.