400+ custom-coloured speakers. One seamless guest experience
Nobu Hotel, Portman Square, London
Here, we’ll take a detailed look at how we delivered a high-end, discreet, and flexible audio system for one of London’s most prestigious hospitality venues: Nobu Hotel at Portman Square.
Designed during COVID restrictions and installed with millimetre precision, this was a project that demanded excellence at every stage.
About Nobu Hotel Portman Square
Nobu is a global name in luxury hospitality, known for its Michelin-starred restaurants, elegant hotels, and curated guest experiences. The Portman Square location in London represents a flagship site for the brand in the UK, combining contemporary architecture with Nobu’s trademark understated style.
MSL were brought in late in the project via technology consultancy Blend, initially to review an inherited audio specification. What followed was a full redesign and installation of a refined 12-zone system — enhancing both flexibility and performance, while staying invisible to the eye and unobtrusive to the space.
The Project
MSL designed and installed a complete audio system for all front-of-house guest areas on the ground and first floor, including:
- Hotel lobby and atrium
- Lobby bar
- Nobu bar
- Nobu signature restaurant
- Terrace and garden space (via later upgrade)
The system was designed to support:
- Background music
- Live and DJ audio (with connection points)
- Flexible music source selection by zone
- Seamless day-to-night atmosphere transitions
In total, over 400 speakers were installed throughout the venue – all colour-matched and installed to exacting standards.
The Challenges
This was a highly complex build. Nobu London was constructed within two tower blocks that were fully emptied and rebuilt internally. Every ceiling section was shared with lighting, CCTV, HVAC and more — and with each section worth tens of thousands of pounds, there was no margin for error.
We joined the project during construction, inheriting designs from a consultancy-only firm. From there, our role was not only to install but to elevate — recommending updated tech, improved layouts, and more scalable control.
Our team worked under COVID restrictions, with scaled-back crews and careful scheduling. What began as a 6–8 week install became an eight-month phased build — requiring close coordination with other professionals and precise on-site execution.
The Solution
We designed and installed a 12-zone audio system powered by industry-leading components and tailored specifically for the Nobu experience.
Speakers
- JBL CBT column arrays
- JBL Control 40 Series premium ceiling speakers
- JBL Control 26 ceiling speakers
- JBL AE Series subwoofers
Amplification, Processing & Control
- Crown DCi Series installation amplifiers
- BSS Blu processors (Blu-100 / Blu-326DA)
- BSS EC-4BV and EC-8BV wall-mounted controllers
Customisation
- Every speaker was colour-matched to its environment
- Logistics were carefully managed to align speakers, colours, and zones
- Touch-up kits used on-site during snagging to ensure a flawless finish
Control and Simplicity
Despite the scale and complexity, the system is designed for elegance and ease-of-use. Each zone can be pre-programmed with time-of-day settings, including source selection and volume level. From morning ambience to evening energy, the space adapts to its audience.
Music source control spans six different inputs, allowing management to tailor each space individually — with local override control for events or guest DJs. A classic Pioneer 1210 turntable setup was also installed for premium DJ-led evenings.
Training, Support and Ongoing Relationship
From a technical perspective, the system is sophisticated – but from the user’s side, it’s seamless. During handover, we worked closely with operations and management to set up preset levels, zone scenes, and simple workflows. Staff can now control the entire guest-facing audio experience with just a few intuitive actions.
Since completion, we’ve continued to support the site, including an outdoor audio upgrade for the garden terrace. There, we installed discreet Sonos landscape speakers and a subwoofer under the floor — delivering premium sound while visually disappearing into the foliage.
Why Middlesex Sound & Lighting?
MSL was brought into the project because of our ability to deliver exceptional audio while maintaining architectural sensitivity and operational simplicity. We don’t just install hardware. We design guest experiences.
Whether colour-matching speakers, simplifying control interfaces, or coordinating on-site trades to the millimetre, our role is to make the complex feel effortless.