All Bar One Restaurant and Bar Refurbishment Case Study

Project Overview

The rapid refurbishment of All Bar One, Glasgow, underscores HF’s ability to execute high-pressure, multi-disciplinary projects within exceptionally tight windows. Completed in just three weeks during the logistical challenges of the COP26 summit, the project transformed the venue’s aesthetic through a sophisticated lighting overhaul, featuring feature LEDs on architectural columns and integrated strip lighting across multiple bars. By centralising control via a Tiger dimming system and deploying Electrical, Mechanical, and Fire & Security divisions in tandem, HF delivered a fully modernised, compliant hospitality space on schedule, despite significant city-centre access restrictions.

Project Sectors

Hospitality

Full Project Details

We completed the electrical refurbishment of the Glasgow All Bar One ground and first floor public areas. Our work also required expertise from our Mechanical and Fire & Security divisions for the Plumbing Fittings and Fire & Safety Testing of the newly refurbished Restaurant and Bar in Glasgow City Centre.

The electrical work required the replacement of all existing wall and pendant light fittings in the public areas. These were replaced with new, client sourced, light fittings. We were also tasked with the installation of centre piece LED lighting used for ‘feature columns’ in the public spaces. These ‘feature columns’ form a big visual element of the interior design layout of the refurbishment of the restaurant/bar.

Additional lighting units were fitted to replace the existing track lighting units in the public spaces and we installed LED lighting strips to the back bar gantry, front bar area, masterclass bar and upstairs cabinets to help the restaurant/bar area ‘mood lighting’.

The newly fitted lighting systems were all connected through a Tiger dimming system which replaced the Bars existing individual dimmers for lighting circuits. This new system now allows the All Bar One hospitality team to set specific lighting scenes dependant on time of day.

Our electrical team also fitted new plug sockets throughout the premises, all of which came with decorative twin USB sockets.

Our Mechanical Division were tasked with all the new plumbing fittings work for the new kitchen area. We also provided all of the plumbing fittings for the public washrooms in the venue.

Our Fire & Security Division completed the Fire Risk Assessment work for the newly refurbished Bar/Restaurant and completed successful testing of the Fire Alarm System.

Project Challenges: This project was completed in Glasgow City centre while the COP26 conference was taking place. This meant that our electrical, mechanical and fire & security team had to deal with the many road closures in Glasgow as well as other unique obstacles caused during the running of COP26.

The biggest project challenge however was the very tight timescales. All Bar One officially closed for the Bar/Restaurant Refurbishment to commence on Sunday 17th October. The final handover was scheduled to be on Monday 8th November with the venue to re-open on Wednesday 10th. This meant that there was a large amount of work to be done in a very short space of time.

With multiple service contractors (including plumbers, tilers, joinery, decorating and flooring contractors) all present and all working in relatively small spaces, and with a short time scale to complete the project, it was challenging to coordinate our necessary works alongside the other trades and their schedules.

However, as a professional Restaurant/Bar fitters we have worked on many similar projects in the Hospitality & Tourism sector which has given us invaluable experience to allow us to complete this kind of work to these kind of deadlines to specification, on time and to the highest of standards.