How To Design A Traditional Irish Pub

Who doesn’t love an Irish pub to relax in with a pint after a hard day’s work? Irish style pubs are not just common in Ireland but all over the world as they are revered for their atmosphere, ambience and the feeling of comfort and fun that they create. If you are thinking of opening a new traditional Irish pub or renovating an existing one then here are some tips on how to design it.

Get The Irish Input

If you are thinking of opening an Irish pub outside of Ireland then you may struggle to make it authentic in the eyes of Irish visitors. The best way to combat this is to actually bring in someone from Ireland to either design the pub or to at least give you some pointers on how to make it authentic. They know the traditions of their country and they’ve experienced the type of surroundings and atmosphere that you are trying to create. When it comes to creating a traditional atmosphere credibly and authenticity is everything.

Visit Some Pubs For Inspiration

If you are not sure exactly what you want your pub to be like then the best thing to do is actually visit the Emerald Isle itself and visit a few traditional pubs to get inspiration. The great thing about Ireland is that no matter where you go whether it’s the bustling metropolis of Dublin or the remote outskirts and coastal towns you will always be able to find a traditional Irish bar. Visit them and just get a feel for the atmosphere that they create, the decorations, the history, the stories they tell, the music and of course the drinks that they serve.

Make Some Music

The big difference in the eyes of many Irish visitors to traditional Irish styled pubs in the real thing and the imitations is the music. Most traditional pubs in Ireland will have live music being played in them by locals or professionals most nights. Pubs in Ireland have long been a congregating point for local musicians to play flutes and fiddles and other traditional Irish instruments. Some of the bigger bars will also feature Irish dancers. If you were thinking of just playing Irish music CD’s on loop then you might want to reconsider. There’s nothing wrong with that but it doesn’t create the same ambiance as live music will.

Decorate It The Right Way

When you walk into an Irish pub you are often struck by the history and cultural references from the decorations on the walls. This is a very hard thing to replicate so you should do some research and find some traditional and cultural artefacts for you to display. You may have some family artefacts from Ireland which you can use or if not then there are lots of antique shops, swap meets, car boot sales etc. that you can visit to find some traditional gems. You’ll be surprised what you can find if you know where to look for it.

If In Doubt, Hire A Pro

There are professional pub designers who will design and actually fit your pub for you. If you’re looking for an Irish pub design then it makes sense to use an Irish pub designer as they will most likely specialise in this sort of design. Then all you have to do is let them know your budget and see what they come up with.

Michael Doherty is a pub designer from Ireland. To see some examples of traditional Irish pubs he has designed visit Intec Design.

Featured images: License: Creative Commons image source

Bio
Latest Posts

Marty Huggins

Brand Freak at The Local Brand

Administrator and Chief Editor for TLB. Loves to talk. Super freak about publishing. Loves watching obscure movies, good cook and overall gentle fellow. Reach him if you want to write an article for TLB. Email him on marty@thelocalbrand.com