Rugby club's new £50,000 bar has FWP's winning touch

The design team at Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) has completed the £50,000 refurbishment of a popular bar at Preston Grasshoppers' Lightfoot Lane home.

The former Wainwright Bar in the clubhouse has been completely revamped and rebranded as ‘The 1869 Bar’, named after the year the rugby union club was founded.

Architecture, design and masterplanning practice FWP’s redesign has created a modern, stylish venue aimed at appealing to people living locally as well as ‘Hoppers’ club members and their visitors.

The 1869 Bar, which is now open, has a new glass fronted entrance, designed to make it more accessible and welcoming.

The FWP design has created a more contemporary, lighter feel, with a comfortable seating, modern lighting a striking colour scheme and a distinctive bar area.

David Simmons, associate partner and interior designer, at FWP, which has its headquarters in Preston, said: “Our remit was to deliver a design that would encourage greater use of the bar, both by members and local people, and not just on match days but throughout the week.

“The project represents a major investment by the rugby club and will play a key part in its strategy to expand the use of its clubhouse.

“As a Preston-based company we were delighted to be appointed to this project for Hoppers, one of the city’s best-loved sporting venues and a club with a fantastic history and place in the community.”

FWP, which also has offices in Manchester and London, has a wealth of experience in the sports and leisure sector, working with clubs at all levels to make a real difference to their communities.

Recent projects it has delivered include the £1.25m refurbishment of the magnificent clubhouse at Fairhaven Golf Course in Lytham – one of the finest in the North of England.

The revamp includes a new private function suite which can cater for up to 160 guests. As the designer and main consultant on the project, FWP oversaw all aspects of the work.

It included creating an impressive formal reception area for the club as well as new men’s and ladies’ locker rooms.

Fairhaven’s ground floor dining room was extended, along with a new bar area. The clubhouse’s first-floor bar was refurbished, modern office facilities created and a first-floor extension now sites over the pro-shop and men’s locker room.

FWP’s strong track record of delivery in the leisure and hospitality sector also includes the award-winning design of the clubhouse at Leyland Golf Club in Lancashire, which replaced the original building after it was destroyed by fire. 

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