By two in the morning, the wall next to the bar in a busy venue has been splashed, leaned on, bumped by glass collectors and lit by everything from warm pendants to coloured stage washes. Then it gets cleaned before opening the next day. Printed décor in pubs, cocktail bars and clubs has to look good in low light and survive treatment that would wreck an unprotected print within a season.
Zones and what they need
Behind and around the bar
Back-bar graphics, drinks menus and brand panels take the worst of the splashes. A coated surface can be wiped down, which is the main reason to protect them. Colourjet, applied through Landor Liquid Lamination, protects prints from water, chemicals and abrasion, so spilled drinks and cleaning sprays are far less likely to mark the image.
Seating areas and corridors
Booths, banquettes and the route to the toilets are where shoulders, bags and chairs rub against walls. Feature wallpapers and murals here benefit from the added abrasion resistance of a protective layer.
Beer gardens and smoking areas
Outdoor graphics face rain and sunshine. Use media made for exterior use and protect it with a coating; the integrated UV inhibitors in Colourjet help guard against premature fading. A printed garden-wall mural can transform a bare yard. See outdoor signage for the wider considerations.
Themed nights and quick changes
Nightlife venues reinvent themselves often, whether for a new concept, a sports tournament or a seasonal theme. For indoor walls, Phototex printable self-adhesive fabric can go up during a quiet afternoon without specialist installers and come down in one piece without damaging the wall underneath. It can be repositioned and reused, and it does not curl at the edges or peel. It is recommended for interiors only, so do not use it in beer gardens or exposed doorways.
Lighting and finish
In dim, moody interiors, a strong gloss can catch spotlights and draw the eye to reflections rather than the image. A lower-sheen finish often reads better. Before you commit, coat a sample, hang it in the venue and look at it during an evening session as well as in daylight.
Things we do not claim
Licensed premises are often inspected for fire safety, and wall coverings in escape routes may need particular performance. We do not make fire-rating claims for our coatings or for Phototex. Check with the media manufacturer, your fire risk assessor and the venue’s licensing or estates adviser. Solvent coatings also do not suit every substrate or ink, so testing the actual combination is important; our sample testing guide explains how.
Running a refit for a pub group or a single late-night bar? Our team is happy to talk it through on 01252 624 411, or you can reach us any time through the contact page.