Bar, Club & Restaurant Refurbishment

The steps involved in a club and bar refurbishment depend on a lot of factors. However, most design and build companies usually follow this sort of protocol:

1). Listening to your brief

Any good design and build company will carefully listen to exactly what you’re looking for out of the bar and club refurbishment. Attention to detail at this point is key for a smooth project which delivers perfect results.

2). Planning

Planning involves sketches, designs and brainstorming ideas to build a definitive plan out of what you want from your bar or club refurbishment. What sort of theme are you going for? What sort of colours do you like? What fixtures and fittings would you prefer? Would you like to change the layout? Many design and build companies, including Bischell, can produce 3D computer graphic designs and even interactive walkthroughs which show you exactly how your finished bar or club refurbishment will look before the work begins.

3). Preparation

At this point, the on-site preparations will begin. Skips and any equipment will be moved in to place ready for work to begin. Furniture and other areas of the property may also be covered and protected. Build teams will also be briefed of their tasks and schedule.

4). On-going construction work

The build team will begin working on your bar or club renovation. In the case of some design and build companies such as Bischell, a dedicated project manager will be on-site every day to oversee the project and keep you updated. The overall schedule for the build aspect of the project will vary, but usually any structural or building work will be completed first, followed by work on the walls, floors and ceilings. Once these are done, electricians and fitters will move in to install any fixtures, fittings and permanent furniture. After this, moveable furniture will be moved into place and any finishing touches will be made.

5). Sign-off

Once you’ve had a look at the finished project and you’re happy with the result, you can sign off the project and prepare your grand opening for your new-look bar or club!

There are usually three main types of regulations to consider during a property renovation. However, in the case of bars and clubs, this can be extended to 4:

Planning permission and permitted development

Extensive work may require planning permission from your local authority. However, a recent change in UK law introduced ‘permitted development’. This is where you can conduct construction work without planning permission provided that your project falls within a specific set of rules and regulations. Most good design and build companies can advise you on whether your plans fall within permitted development. However, even if they don’t, your company of choice will usually handle the paperwork involved in applying for planning permission on your behalf.

Building regulations

Building regulations are a set of rules laid out by the UK government which set a minimum standard of safety, accessibility and environmental impact. Bischell, including many other design and build companies, can make sure that your bar of club renovation falls within all relevant building regulations. This is especially important when you have a publicly accessible property, as injuries or accidents caused by a lack of correct building regulation protocol can leave you open to legal ramifications. Some of these building regulations include:

• Correct disabled access
• Heating safety and ventilation
• Electrical safety
• Structural safety
• Thermal insulation requirements
• Sound insulation requirements (especially in the case of sound pollution)
• Glass safety
• Correct water supply and drainage
• Acceptable levels of accessibility
• Fire regulations

Party wall

If your refurbishment involves work on a wall which you share with a neighbouring property, you will have to consider the rules laid out in the 1996 Party Wall Act. This governs what you can do to the wall, how you should notify your neighbour and what you should do if your neighbour disputes the work being carried out. Bischell, along with other design and build companies, can handle this process for you in line with the Party Wall Act.

Landlord/leasehold considerations

If you have a leasehold on your property, or the establishment is licensed from an existing owner, then you may have to consider what you are allowed to do to the property and whether the owner will allow it. For example, if you’re simply leasing the property, then the owner may not allow structural or layout changes. If you have licensed the bar or club from a different owner, then there may be rules set in place involving the theme, design and style of the interior and exterior of the establishment.

If you don’t out-right own your property, then it’s highly advisable to pass your ideas by the owner to ensure that the design and build project can go ahead without any objections.

Here are 8 points to consider when you’re forming the ideas for your new bar or club refurbishment:

1). Conduct research

Market research can take the guesswork out of a lot of your decision-making. Speak to your target clientele and learn about what they do and don’t like. Also visit your competitor’s establishments to see if you can spot any missing elements which you could include in your bar or club to make it stand out.

2). Set a theme to attract the clientele you want

Figure out the exact demographic of your target clientele and then piece together an overall design theme which would be the most appealing for them. The design team of a good design and build company should be able to assist you with this.

3). Take advantage of the refurbishment to springboard your bar or club

A brand new bar or club refurbishment can be the talk of the town, especially if it’s in a prominent place. Many people will be curious to see what changes have been made, so take advantage of this initial burst of attention by creating a launch party or a marketing campaign focused around the renovation.

4). Pay close attention to lighting

Lighting plays a pivotal role in the ambience and atmosphere of a bar or club. It also plays a big role in setting the perceived quality of an establishment. Remember that certain lighting may look aesthetically nice, but it may not be preferable for your target clientele, so research can again be helpful in this case.

5). Visualise ‘pinch points’ in the layout

If you’re changing the layout of your bar or club, try and visualise the flow of people through your property and eliminate any ‘pinch points’ where people are likely to congregate. For example, including a bar next to a main thoroughfare could create congestion when there is a queue to be served.

6). Don’t underestimate the importance of exterior design

Exterior design may be just as important as interior design when it comes to those vital sales. It tells passersby on the outside what your bar will be like on the inside, and if you’re in a competitive place with many other bars and clubs, it can be an essential part of luring as many people into your establishment as possible.

7). Think outside of the box

A bespoke, highly elaborate fixture or piece of design in your establishment can be a strong talking point and really make your establishment stand out ahead of the rest. Any good design and build company should be able to explore some ideas with you if you’re looking for something different which provides a powerful impact.

8). Consider the impact of full or partial closures

Big refurbishments may require full closures, so be sure to calculate the financial impact of this to maintain a strong cash flow during the build process. However, in some circumstances, only a partial closure may be necessary, where a certain section can remain open whilst the other area is renovated during closed times. See if this is an option you can explore.