Design can have an impact on consumer appeal
A well-designed back-bar is important for efficiency, but the benefits are more than just operational.
According to back-bar specialists, the area also has an important role to play in the aesthetic appeal of a premises to its customers.
John Lilly, marketing director at back-bar equipment firm True UK, said items like fridges are designed to showcase the drinks on offer at the bar as well as to perform their primary function of refrigeration.
“Increasingly back-bar design is integrated into the whole concept to present a seamless look throughout the entire operation, pleasing to the eye and user-friendly to both staff and customers,” he said. “Designed to look good as individual units, when specified together they create a uniform appearance behind the bar.”
It’s a view shared by Guy Cooper, managing director of hospitality equipment supplier Mitchell & Cooper.
“A back-bar should always contain equipment that makes it appear attractive and enticing to customers, so replacing anything that looks tired and doesn’t work as efficiently as it could is essential,” he said.
Upgrading bar technology can obviously have a knock-on effect on the design of the back-bar, particularly when the new piece of equipment is a different size. Cooper advised operators to keep this in mind.
“With technology advancing quickly and new products being released frequently, sometimes it’s simply not possible for outlets to keep redesigning their back-bar to accommodate new gadgets, so choosing ones that can slot in or take the place of existing back-bar layouts is important,” he said.
