The Powderkeg - award winning design from Congleton's Michaela Reysenn

Congleton girl finds streets paved with gold

We are sure that’s what Congleton  girl Michaela Reysenn thought when she decided to go to London to try to make her fortune , she set herself up in business Kai Design www.kaidesign.co.uk as all her Congleton friends knew her as Kai.

After in her start up year being nominated for and shortlisted for 'BEST PUB DESIGN' Award from The Publican 2011 and the 'BEST INDEPENDENT BAR OR CLUB DESIGN' Award 2011, from the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards she was off to a good start, The future looks rosy with the reviews for the new venture for Michaela as new venture the Powder Keg Diplomacy are now coming in. KEITH BARKER-MAIN of the London METRO, wrote

Powder Keg Diplomacy: the name conjures up a governor keeping a troublesome colony in check. Sporadic summer rioting aside, are St John's Hill natives really so volatile? New from SW4’s Lost Society/ Lost Angel boys, two south London bars I dig, there’s a distinct 1900’s revisited feel to their new sister; no more so, than in a handsome wrought iron-framed Edwardian conservatory-cum-dining room. Flatteringly lit, with wind-up gramophone speaker’s suspended upside-down as witty trumpet lily lampshades, it's lined in period-correct frondy kentia palms. Cutting the mustard in their Phileas Fogg attire, our waiters might be out of a Hovis ad, or staff from  Downton Abbey moonlighting in the Big Smoke. Mirroring a trend at other fine bars such as Worship Street Whistling Shop and ZTH, accomplished mixology served in vintage stemware also references a time when Britannia ruled the waves and a gin and milk was yours for a penny three farthings, guv. Fine East India and Empire cocktails, and whiskey and gunpowder green tea-based Chatham Artillery Punch are the sort of superior libations the Earl of Grantham could be quaffing if he’d only bin stuffed shirt Carson for a more clued-up flunky. Good too, is the autumnal Granddad's Allotment - your five a day in a glass plus a slug of hooch for being such a good boy. Powder Keg D is also strong on British cask ales (Oakham Citra/ Innis and Gunn Oaked et al), stout and porter, 'colonial' beers and wines from £17. Delve into some good stickies such as a Canadian 'ice' dessert wine made from frozen-on-the-vine grapes. Well-judged nosh covers anything from ‘tiffin’ (game pie/ kedgeree/ Scotch egg with hollandaise) to Mrs. Beaton-style blow-outs (pork belly, celeriac mash and savoury dumplings/ roasted venison parsnip puree and stout sauce/ pan-fried gurnard, capers, cockles and spinach mash).  Prices heed the bar's station in life (that'll be Clapham Junction) and for pudding, I’m urged to try a ginger three-way.  Supply your own punchline!

Followed by the London Evening Standard adding

Who's it for? Anyone up for a banging British booze-up south of the river.

Vibe? Brought to you by the owners of some of south London's finest hangouts (Lost Society, Blind Tiger), this eclectic, colonial Britain and Victorian-inspired pad is their best yet. Best of British is the game here, so expect cravats, top hats and old-school beats. All the food and drink - from the gin to the grilled gurnard fillet - has been sourced solely from the land and seas of the UK.

Proud Mum Desne Ward of Top Nosh hopes that a local company will be doing refurbishments soon and employ her talents so she can see a bit more of her.

Michaela can be contacted for interviews on

T: 07580 836 148
E: info@kaidesign.co.uk