During the design phase of a new pub or bar (or a refurbishment) it's important to pay attention to the lighting.
The light quality in a social establishment is essential to creating the atmosphere on which a bar thrives.
The most common question is: how high or low should these pendant fittings hang?
The simple answer to this is: to reduce glare and maximise comfort, they should hang at about eye level. Of course, the question now becomes "how tall is my average customer"?
Since we don't have that data, we don't know how tall your average customer is. Sparks Electrical recommends you err on the side of caution.
Accent Lighting
One thing that caught our eye today was this blog post, which showcases an Indian cafe in Shoreditch.There, the bar has glass shelves which are illuminated by what seem to be tiny light fittings. It looks great! But it's not just an aesthetic consideration: items under bright lights tend to sell better (it's why spotlights are often used in retail).
Highlighting spirits in this manner could drive up sales of spirits and premium cocktail ingredients.
Photo by Marcel Germain on Flickr (Creative Commons)Some under-cabinet lights can be co-opted for shelves, or some X-Flex strips will serve the purpose in a choice of colours.
Bar lighting is an essential part of the design process, so if you're thinking about opening or refurbishing a pub or bar, Sparks Electrical is here to help.
