RDS Ringbar
The Royal Dublin Society asked us to redesign their bar space with purpose, reimagining it for modern use while preserving its historic character.The RDS arena, originally designed for equestrian events, has strong agricultural and cultural roots that needed careful consideration. Our aim was to work alongside this heritage while creating a bar that feels inviting, yet purposeful.
The brief was to review the existing layout to increase operational capacity and customer experience and reconnect the bar to the customers of the horse show.
For decades, the RDS has hosted large-scale events like the Dublin Horse Show, LeinsterRugby, concerts, and conferences at its 42-acre venue. And as a centre for cultural and economic activity, the design needed to respect its history. The bar is located in a historic barn, overlooking the parade rings.
The new space blends tradition with modern functionality. We intentionally chose to keep original features, like the historic flooring which is the original stable floor full of history and charm. We used this as the foundation of the scheme and introduced new but traditional materials, such as a rustic brick bar front and timber elements to enhance the venue’s character.
The new bar design blends tradition with modern functionality. We chose to keep original features, like the flooring, while introducing new but traditional materials such as brick and timber to work with the venue’s character.
By layering textures and adding local references such as beer barrel tables and equestrian-inspired décor, it helped to tie in the site’s agricultural and cultural roots.
When it came to the layout, we thoughtfully planned to maximise space, improve service flow, and create an engaging environment for guests, differentiating it from other spaces.
The space is dark and moody, featuring tactile materials like brick, wood, and metal, softened by artworks and festoon lighting. By using timeless finishes instead of modern alternatives, the bar feels authentic and traditional.
The result is an efficient bar layout that makes the back bar space tighter and easier to navigate for staff leading to an increase in serving capacity and more space for customers in front of the bar. We also worked on the back bar aesthetics and display to maximise product placement and allow for clear information and marketing.
