Pub Refurbishment – Design Trends 2019

At Fairland Contractors, we know a thing or two about pub refurbishment. We’ve been in the business for decades, working throughout London and the south-east. Although we are a fast-track refurbishment company and not interior designers, we are fortunate to work alongside some of the very best designers in the business. We always look forward to seeing what they will bring to the table at the start of each new project. So, in this post, we thought we would share some of our recent observations on pub refurbishment design trends.

Pub Refurbishment Design Trends… And what we expect to see more of in 2019.

Firstly, bringing the outside inside:

In the last year, we have seen an emerging trend of natural and organic design in pub refurbishment. Lots of plants and living walls help to achieve the look and feel. This trend has also influenced the materials, textures and colours used. We’ve seen wood and soft textures dominate, as well as citrus accent colours. Floral prints are popular on walls and seating. There has also been a considerable move towards bringing the garden inside with simple gazebos constructed inside a pub or bar. That’s not to say outside areas aren’t necessary. Outdoor covered booths with heaters are very popular and not just for smokers! These offer cosy group seating and practicalities, such as phone charging stations.

On the surface:

Internal surface finishes can have an enormous effect on the look and feel of a pub. Of late we have noticed that tiles are big! Not just on bars and in toilets but also on pillars and bar fronts. They are often laid in many different and stylish ways, rather than just the standard horizontal ‘brick wall’ style. They are sometimes be laid vertically or in herringbone style. Elaborate bar walks are very popular. There are still plenty of industrial styles around with exposed brickwork and pipework as well as functional styled lighting in steel and copper.

Pretty as a picture:

The continued popularity of social media platforms such as Instagram means that we’ve noticed a rising design trend in decorative features that are interesting and snappable. Strikingly visual pubs such as Sherlock Holmes in WC2, London or the Coach and Horses in W1, London are regularly featuring online. Bold wording on brickwork is very visual and seems to be appearing everywhere. Dramatic feature lights often formed out of unusual materials make a perfect backdrop for the ‘Insta’ pose.

Girls just wanna have fun:

Pub companies are moving swiftly away from the strongly Irish or Sports themed bars by introducing more sophisticated textures and colourways. A more feminine feel to bars is a growing trend certainly in the South East. Chesterfield sofas, cushions and buttoned fixed seating are very popular in line with that softer feel. Toilets are now an important part of a pub refurbishment, whereas, a few years ago they might have been overlooked, a beautiful bathroom is a fundamental feature for female clientele!

Painting the town pink:

Interestingly pink seems to be an emerging colour in 2019.  With yellows and oranges popular too. These colour palettes haven’t always been associated with the standard pub or bar. We are currently refurbishing a Beer and Burger concept at the O2 in London, and the predominant colour will be pink in line with their other branches.

Embracing an era:

The retro look and the clean lines of the Scandinavian style are both still popular. These design themes are often emphasised in lighting, furniture and room dividers. That said, we see a move towards ‘maximalist’ interiors. Features include rich and detailed wall coverings, plenty of rugs, sold antique furniture, stylised ornaments, big mirrors and picture frames. All very much the ‘Victorian Parlour’ look!

Sticking with tradition:

The traditional pub is still very popular. Many venues choose to retain their original features which are much appreciated.  We see etched glass, etched mirrors, polished wood and luxurious fixed seating revitalised. An authentic Victorian bar with sympathetic lighting is always stylish and ageless.

The designers we work with are generally very in tune with the history and heritage of the pubs we are refurbishing. The decor embraces any architectural features that might be uncovered. English Heritage is, quite rightly, very strict on these issues but these circumstances can lead to some beautiful points of interest within a pub refurbishment.

Pictures representing the area and era of the property are very popular and can personalise a property.

An excellent example of embracing heritage in pub refurbishment comes from a recent project of ours. It was originally a Victorian Gin Palace, and the decor and the names of the letting bedrooms recognise this heritage.

A welcome return to the wholly overhauled ONeills Sports bars is the feature of the traditional Guinness Toucan rather than the standard Irish shamrocks of recent years.

At Fairland, we are a family pub refurbishment company with trusted employees who have been with us for many years. The consistent level of expertise they provide ensures that we complete projects on time and within budget. We pride ourselves on just ‘getting on with the job’, and we know our clients appreciate that. If you would like to discuss your next pub refurbishment project with Fairland, please contact us.