DESIGN FOCUS: THE ILLICIT STILL, ABERDEEN

The Illicit Still in Aberdeen was only ever in need of a little nip and tuck, rather than a full-on face lift, despite the wear and tear of years at the top as part of Saltire Taverns’ portfolio. This was the challenge for new owners, The Signature Pub Group, who took over last May.


Earmarking £200K for a subtle redesign, and the brief was nothing too radical but just enough to freshen up a design that’s stood the test of time – and attract new, as well as retain existing, customers.  “We use TibbattsAbel design across all our outlets. It’s a challenge for them to come up with new concepts – but I think that they have delivered once again. The execution has been subtle enough to freshen up, without losing the bar’s original identity” Signature boss, Garreth Wood comments, “Since re-opening last month, the weekly turnover has doubled to £15K, so the combination of old-meets-new seems to have received the ‘thumbs up’ from all-comers.
This is far from the end of the line for the refurbishment. The ground floor of the outlet, accessed through a separate entrance on Netherkirkgate, will open as an American-themed sports bar in January 2012.
Once submerged in the subterranean bar, via the Guest Row entrance, your eyes quickly adjust to the dim light, and the evidence of the refurbishment immediately presents itself.  An intricate gold light hangs above the entrance staircase, and the gold rag-rolled effect on the newly painted walls and ceiling has certainly invigorated what was a well-worn space. The wall-mounted copper still on the wall is now more prominent, purely down to more effective illumination.
Inside the bar, the layout pretty much remains the same. It’s still split into three rooms. The main bar, a separate seating area and newly added pool room.
However there are three noticeable changes as soon as you step inside. The removal of one side of the bar to create the new pool room, the addition of a new ‘gothic’ area, and the removal of the raised walkways.
The first of these you happen on right away, as you emerge into the pool room. The bar has now been reduced to a one-sided servery, and where the second part used to look out onto is now the pool area. Two brand new pool tables, in a brightly lit area with gilt-edge framed plasma and enclave booths in the walls, are standout features. “Apart from pool halls, there aren’t really any other outlets in the vicinity with a pool offering,” explains Garreth.  “It’s opened up a whole new market to us – as it’s a comfortable place to play a few games, and it’s proving to be one of our biggest draws, and the carpet gets everyone talking.”
The carpet has a print pattern of wooden floorboards, and it looks so convincing that people – including our very own editor – hesitate before committing to stepping on it.  It was from a company called Ego, based in Denmark, that Garreth sourced on line. Sister venue Paramount has the chopped log version of the carpet, although Garreth’s not so keen on that one and may change it in the near future.
The second big change comes in the form of the gothic seating area, with dark painted wood and mirrored tiles on the ceiling at the back of the outlet in a space once occupied by the now downsized kitchen.
Says Garreth, “We wanted to attract an older, corporate clientele, and it has certainly bolstered our lunchtime trade. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but it has grown on me. It’s a lot darker than the rest of the design,with heavy black painted walls and gargoyles, and I personally think it fits very well with the original design.”
There are 500 green wine bottles glued and screwed into the ceiling – making for the design focal point. They also did this at the Queen’s Arms in Edinburgh  Garreth comments, “On the day we opened I stood outside the local Oddbins at 10 in the morning, as we were 22 bottles short of 500. That’s dedication for you.”
Elsewhere, the changes are subtler. The bar has been fitted with a copper top, which is so brand spanking new that it sparkles in the light. Although the idea is that it will tarnish in time, thereby settling to the original design. And the names of whiskies that use to be painted along the tops of the walls have been replaced by quotes and witticisms about the ‘water of life’.
All of the wooden partitions and balustrades have been dyed a deeper stain and new furniture, like cow hide covered seats are a bit of a departure, but they work a treat.
Then there’s the addition of new pieces of bric-a-brac dotted about the place, mirrors on all the pillars, and new candles. But the famous ‘candle wall’ behind bars in the raised seating area remains, and this area now contains tables and chairs instead of couches. The rest of this area remains pretty much unchanged, apart from the ceiling/wall paintwork.
Nothing Signature has done in any way detracts from the original design. Nic and Garreth Wood’s less is more approach has revived a classic.

Category: Features