How The Ivy Collection Achieved Premium Quality at a Fraction of the Cost
The Client
The Ivy Collection is one of the UK’s most celebrated restaurant groups, bringing the inimitable service and vibrant atmosphere of the original Ivy on West Street to dining venues across the United Kingdom and Ireland. With more than 80 sites operating under the Collection — from brasseries and cafés to private dining rooms and garden restaurants — The Ivy has become a byword for timeless elegance, exceptional food, and occasions worth celebrating.
Founded in 1917, The Ivy has spent over a century earning its reputation as one of London’s most iconic dining destinations. Today, through The Ivy Collection and its sister brand Ivy Asia, the group serves guests across London, the South East, the North West, Scotland and Ireland — each site maintaining the exacting standards of service, presentation and quality for which the brand is renowned.
What Was Holding Them Back
The Ivy Collection had long used two sizes of sauce boat — a small and a large — as a key part of their table service presentation. The original versions were made from silver, a material that reflected the premium positioning of the brand and the high standards guests expected.
However, with over 80 sites to equip and ongoing replacement needs across a large and growing estate, the cost of maintaining silverware at scale had become a significant operational burden. The procurement team needed to find a solution that preserved the premium look and feel of the piece — without the prohibitive price tag that came with precious metal.
The core challenge: The Ivy needed to replace costly silverware sauce boats across 80+ sites without compromising the premium presentation that defines the brand.
Finding the right like-for-like replacement
The challenge was clear: find a supplier who could engineer a like-for-like replacement — matching the exact sizing specifications, maintaining a premium aesthetic, and delivering the durability required for a high-volume, high-standards hospitality environment.
How We Tackled It
At Bespoke 77, every product challenge starts with the specification first and quality non-negotiable.
Specifying the Material
We proposed producing the sauce boats in top-grade stainless steel, with a cast brass handle to replicate the warm, premium aesthetic of the original silverware.
Matching the Original Profile
The replacement pieces were carefully developed around the existing dimensions, ensuring staff could use them exactly as before while maintaining the same table presentation.
Sampling and Refinement
Samples were reviewed and refined until the finish, weight, handling and presentation met the standards expected across the estate.
Rolling Out at Scale
Once approved, the sauce boats could be supplied consistently across new and existing sites, giving The Ivy a repeatable solution for future replacement needs.
Built around the original service requirement
The replacement pieces were developed to preserve the original table service presentation while improving cost control and operational durability.
Small Sauce Boat
Large Sauce Boat
Premium presentation, dramatically reduced cost
The final stainless steel and brass sauce boats delivered the visual quality, handling and durability The Ivy needed, while reducing the cost to roughly a quarter of the original silverware price.
- Like-for-like replacement for the existing silver sauce boats
- Premium stainless steel body with cast brass handle
- Durable enough for high-volume hospitality use
- Consistent supply for new sites and replacements
- Maintained the premium Ivy table presentation
- Delivered at a fraction of the original cost
What this project shows
Bespoke does not have to mean expensive
By engineering the right material choice, Bespoke 77 helped protect the premium feel of the product while making the roll-out commercially viable.
Specification protects the brand
The solution worked because it was built around the exact operational and presentation requirements of a high-standard hospitality group.
Need a bespoke solution for your hospitality venue?
Speak to Bespoke 77 about custom tableware, ceramics, glassware and hospitality products built around your exact requirements.