A well-planned bar design is essential for both customers and staff, and can make a real difference to both your takings and the overall experience. Thames Contracts carry out high-end bar and club refurbishment for many businesses and organisations in London and Hertfordshire. Here we look at some of the key factors to consider when planning a new bar area or refitting an existing one.
Think of Your Staff
Design the bar area behind the counter with enough room for them to move around easily, as well as for them to access the main seating area simply with a moveable countertop (most commercial bars have around 3ft of space behind the counter).
Remember it’s a balancing act. The more space you have, the easier it is to move around and reach everything. However, it will take longer to serve drinks which can affect your bottom line and customer satisfaction. For the same reason, shelves should be at the right height so that staff don’t have to overstretch. As a general rule, bar glasses on the back shelf should be no higher than 6ft high otherwise they may be difficult for some staff to reach.
In the same way, the average bar counter height should be just under 4ft high. This is because, the average person is around 5ft 4in tall, taking into account men and women. So 4ft is easy enough for both customers and staff to put glasses, rest on, communicate, etc.
Think of Your Products
Drink sales will make up the bulk of your income, so make sure the dispensers are at the right height for customers to see, and servers to use. Place them strategically where your customers will be approaching from and position them accordingly.
And, it’s not just the drinks on tap you have to worry about, but the ‘accessories’. A lot of beverages need ice. The ideal place for this is under the counter, but not too low so that staff have to ‘stoop to scoop’.
You might also have to consider a place for bar snacks, even if you aren’t serving main meals. This is because they can help make people thirstier and more likely to order more drinks.
Tea and coffee are popular all year round too, so it’s worth investing in decent coffee and tea-making equipment. Cocktails will be especially popular in the summer so you’ll need access to a lot of different spirits and liqueurs as well, along with the ice mentioned earlier.
Think of Form as well as Function
Many bars are part of a bigger complex (hotels, cinemas, golf clubs, conference centres, restaurants), so this may affect your design choices. You also have to consider the overall atmosphere and the clientele you are aiming to attract. Music and lighting can be two ways to create the right ambience, as well as choosing the right fixtures and fittings.
Thames Contracts have been fitting out these sorts of establishments in North London and Hertfordshire for many years so we may be able to help here as well.
Think of Your Tills and Payment Methods
We are living in an age where contactless payments are the norm, so card readers are a must. However, some people still prefer to pay by cash, so you will need to create space for a physical till with a float in it.
Think of Your Hygiene Methods
Staff will need ready access to a sink to keep themselves clean. The same applies to glasses because you will need some method of washing and drying them. An automatic machine may be more efficient, but you will need to find space for it, as well as a power point. And, although the days of coronavirus restrictions are largely in the past, it may be worth keeping a few face masks around for staff as well.
Bar and Club Refurbishment in London from Thames Contracts
Thames Contracts can carry out high-end work for your bar area, whether you are refurbishing or refitting an existing space or having a new facility built from scratch. Our services include providing and fitting counters, seating and tables, flooring, ceilings, and connecting up all the utilities.
As with our office design service in north London and Hertfordshire, we will start with an initial meeting to create an agreed brief. This will be followed by a detailed design, with 3D images if required. At that point, we can provide a detailed budget and our network of tried and trusted tradespeople can get to work. We have a reputation for completing bar projects on time, on budget and to a very high quality.
For more information on our bar refurbishment services, follow this link and fill in the online contact form. You can also call us on 020 8368 0045 for a free, no-obligation quote.
