BrewDog Bar HK

Scottish beer-maker BrewDog has opened a new bar in Hong Kong, built in an old building on Hollywood Road, opposite the Old Police Station in Central District. As the bar is located in a popular boozy zone, the design needs to stand out and draw people’s attention.

The two LED signage at the entrance—one bearing the bar’s name and the other reads “CRAFT BEER FOR THE PEOPLE”—gives out a 1970s underground vibe. The high foyer and semi-open area immediately make one feel at home in the cosy ambience of rustic wooden stools and red brick décor.

Inside, the industrial theme is pronounced in the high ceiling with exposed ductwork, the horizontal paneling on the centre wall, and the hanging lightbulbs. Pivotal to this concept was the choice of materials. The design team opted to use raw and industrial materials: rusty iron columns; bar counter made of shipping container and burnt granite top; cabinets made of unpainted medium-density fibreboard (MDF); copper fixtures and taps; vintage wood and metal stools; cart wood décor; and graffiti interiors done by Edinburgh artist Craig Fisher.

The designers wanted to use taxi seats in the banquet area, but these seats do not have fire certificates and are uncomfortable to sit on. The solution was to custom-make taxi seats to fit the banquet seating. The steel covering the column at the building’s façade is also custom-made to achieve the exact look and fitting.

As for mood lighting, hanging bare bulbs were chosen for their stripped-back, utilitarian and edgy look. The huge glass door bar fridges and bar metres also match the industrial theme.