jestico + whiles: shilling bar and brewery glasgow

jestico + whiles converts former bank into bar and brewery in glasgow

located in a former bank of scotland building in glasgow’s city center in scotland, jestico + whiles has adapted the architecture of the 1920s grade B-listed building into a bar and brewery named ‘shilling bar & brewery’.

all images © james harris

the london-based firm jestico + whiles’ response saw the previous interior fabric being stripped from its architectural clutter which included a mezzanine floor, steel staircase and an intrusive bar. the designer’s chose to capitalize on the detailing of the 20ft-high coffered ceilings to allow more natural light to enter through the full-height windows.

fragments of the past have retained, including fluted marble columns that frame a glimpsed view to a wood-burning oven. the columns are designed to create a frame the moving projected images that will be curated to change with the seasons. this newly liberated space has become the brewpub with a long bar behind which the copper vessels of the brewery sit on an elevated gantry creating a distinctive backdrop.

the response saw the new program being stripped back to the former interior

a huge inset star embossed into the concrete floor signs the way to the bar, while a timber raised area, seared with the brand of shilling is framed by theater curtains- acting as partitioning for a semi-private zone if required. in the basement, the original foot-thick steel vault doors lead to the bathrooms tiled in black-and-white chequer board while, hidden behind the strong room, a private space with a picture window provides views to the brew room.

in the basement, the original foot-thick steel vault doors lead to the bathrooms tiled in black-and-white

‘our design for shilling responds to our client’s simple brief to create the best brewpub in glasgow. we have worked carefully to reveal the original interiors and have overlaid contemporary features that resonate with the building’s rich history.’ comments james dilley, head of hospitality and interior design at jestico + whiles

the unicorn -scotland’s national animal- is painted onto the wall