Felix is more than just a name: it means lucky, happy and blessed. And that’s exactly what we hope he brings to Felixstowe: good fortune, joy, warmth and a sense of togetherness.
Standing proudly outside the Orwell Hotel, Felix symbolises everything we believe in: hospitality, community, and the perfect blend of British pub comfort and Indian warmth.
When we created Elephant & Barrel, our dream was simple: To bring the warmth of a British pub and the generosity of Indian hospitality under one roof.
But we wanted to express that dream in a way no one had ever tried before.
NOT JUST A LOGO.
NOT A PAINTED MURAL.
NOT A DECORATIVE ORNAMENT
We wanted something that would inspire wonder, spark conversations, bring smiles, and make every guest, young or old, feel connected to our story.
Across cultures, elephants represent:
STRENGTH & STABILITY
WISDOM & INTELLIGENCE
POWER & PRESENCE
GOOD LUCK & PROSPERITY
LOYALTY & DEVOTION
In India, elephants are often treated like family. They are known for their incredible gentle nature, deep loyalty, and their ability to form emotional bonds with humans.
Their stories of protectiveness, intelligence and compassion are legendary.
WE WANTED TO BRING THAT SAME SPIRIT OF KINDNESS, LOYALTY AND MAJESTY INTO THE HEART OF FELIXSTOWE.
What you see in front of the hotel is not a statue. It’s not a model.
IT IS THE RESULT OF OVER A YEAR OF RESEARCH, ARTISTRY, ENGINEERING AND MADNESS, ALL COMBINED TO CREATE THE WORLD’S FIRST LIFE-LIKE HOSPITALITY ELEPHANT.
To make Felix (and his siblings at our other sites), we had to combine:
THE ARTISTRY OF SCULPTORS
THE PRECISION OF MOTOR ENGINEERS
THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF MODEL BUILDERS
THE CREATIVITY OF DESIGNERS
THE STUBBORNNESS OF PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY REFUSE TO TAKE “IMPOSSIBLE” AS AN ANSWER
We wanted realism every vein, every crease, every tone, every fold of skin, every tiny hair to honour the true majesty of the animal.
90 DAYS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP to sculpt and perfect every detail
45 DAYS TRAVELLING ACROSS THE SEA imagine a 500kg elephant trying to fit into a shipping container
TOO TALL FOR THE CONTAINER, THE SOLUTION?
Cut the elephant in half (yes, really), ship it, then fly artists across continents to reassemble it perfectly
AT ONE POINT, MULTIPLE EXPERTS TOLD US TO REDUCE THE SIZE.
SO INSTEAD OF SHRINKING THE DREAM, WE MADE THE DREAM WORK.
THE FINAL CHALLENGE
Felix weighs over half a tonne, meaning moving him, installing him, and reconstructing him required an entire team trained across India and the UK working in perfect coordination.
If you’re reading this thinking, “THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MOVIE” …YOU’RE NOT WRONG.
that stands proudly as:
A SYMBOL OF OUR VISION
A GUARDIAN OF THE ELEPHANT & BARREL BRAND
A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH COMMUNITY SPIRIT
A TRIBUTE TO INDIAN HOSPITALITY
A REMINDER THAT GREAT IDEAS NEED COURAGE, TEAMWORKAND A BIT OF MADNESS
Felix isn’t just here for photos
(though we love those!):
HE’S HERE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
By scanning this QR code, you’ve unlocked the story behind Felix.
BUT THE TRUE EXPERIENCE IS INSIDE, WHERE GREAT FOOD, WARM HOSPITALITY, AND THE CHARM OF ELEPHANT & BARREL AWAIT.
Elephant and Barrel is a trading name of Bangalore Fulham Limited. Bangalore Fulham Limited is registered in England and Wales with company registration number: 15371630