All pubs have an element of design, even if they look as if they haven’t. At the simplest level it’s what the publican has inherited with a sprinkling of personal taste. At the other end of pub design it’s an approach that provides theme, décor and overall atmosphere. Not surprisingly it’s easy for things to go wrong and here are three of the biggest pub interior design mistakes:

Lack of overall vision

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a pub, restaurant, café or hairdressers; anywhere that caters for a public clientele needs an overall vision. In the case of pubs this can fall into three categories: keep things as they are; go for a bold ambitious approach; keep things traditional and renew as necessary. The first means continuing to trade and nothing else; the second a total refit and new approach; the third keeping things calm without frills and replacing only what needs to be replaced. None of these is necessarily a bad thing. If they are the result of a considered and planned approach they may well be just what the pub needs. If, however, they just happen with no real consideration of the impact upon the overall pub and its trade, trouble may well follow.

Over ambitious

A complete refurbishment with a magnificently decorated bar that serves cocktails as well as traditional pub favourites and a fabulous up to the minute kitchen to serve the best bar food in the county may seem like a winner; but if the venue is in the middle of nowhere with a solid body of regulars who come in after a day’s work and then head home it may struggle to make its mark and attract interest. The same can be said of many pubs that branch out into serving food. Pub food is as popular as ever, but it can take time to establish a reputation. While waiting to do so money can be wasted on additional staff, equipment and ingredients, while the usual pub trade may suffer if space is lost to create the dining area.

Underwhelming

What makes a pub popular will vary from person to person. But what virtually all (although there must be exceptions to everything!) popular pubs have in common is good quality products and good service. Nobody enjoys waiting too long for a pint of beer that’s not right or a cocktail that’s badly made. There is no excuse for this. Great surroundings can be worth nothing if the drinks and service aren’t good. Similarly good service and great drinks can fail to carry a pub to its full potential through a lack of attention to other issues such as furnishings, lighting and facilities.

Summary

No design can result in failure as much as too much. An overall vision is necessary, however basic, and it must fit with the potential clientele. Know your market and cater for it is a good maxim. The design can come from a specialist company such as  Dawnvale .

By Papa