The artist behind a new waterfront bar in Dundee says he hopes the pub’s “unique” style will attract people from across the UK.
The Abandon Ship Bar at Dundee’s waterfront, which opened on Friday, has replaced Jam Jar, next to the Bird & Bear.
Entrepreneur Richard Davies, who launched the Abandon Ship clothing brand seven years ago, says the nightspot is his biggest project yet.
He has slaved over the interior of the “American dive bar”-themed watering hole, spending a total of 70 hours hand-painting his unique brand on around 55 square metres of wall throughout.
It will add to the area’s growing nightlife with St Andrews Brewing Co to open the city’s largest pub early next year just metres away.
The 32-year-old said: “We are offering something that is very unique.
“It’s something I have never really seen anywhere else in Scotland. We think it’s really special and different to anything else in the country.
“We have a great community behind us here in Dundee and I’m from here so it just felt like the best place to open.
“I’ve kept a few things under wraps so people don’t know everything that’s inside yet.
“I wanted to keep some things hidden from the photos we’ve shared on social media so far.”
The entrance features arcade games, before opening up to the main bar area with the upper mezzanine offering a more relaxed, casual dining zone.
The brand theme runs so deep even the toilet walls are plastered in artwork.
Richard said: “We have had so much interest from people all over the UK and even from across the world in this bar.
“We’ve had messages from people in America, Australia and countries in Europe.
“We are not relying on the new V&A to bring us customers, we want to bring people here for us.”
The official launch will be on Sunday.
