The Crabshell
Kingsbridge
The Crabshell is located in Kingsbridge; a market town with a population of around 6000, popular with tourists visiting the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Kingsbridge is located at the northern tip of the Kingsbridge Estuary, linking the town to Salcombe at the southern end. The pub is the only establishment in Kingsbridge to be right on the water’s edge with spectacular views across the creek.
The existing pub had a very laid-back informal style appealing to both
holiday-makers and locals. However, it lacked the warmth and comfort that
you expect of a pub and had been run predominantly as a restaurant/ cafe
prior to new ownership.
The ground floor had a deli
counter serving coffee, salads and pies that was not required for the future
of the pub, while the upstairs lacked any character; with a sea of loose café
style furniture and blank ceilings and walls.
We wanted to retain the playful informality of the existing pub, while
injecting elements of interest through-out, with the aim to create a sense of
discovery as guests move through the pub.
With the combination of fixed seating, suspended ceiling rafts, playful artworks and illustrations and bold colours; we’ve created a range of drinking & dining spaces that offer the familiarities of a traditional pub with a whimsical, nautical-mythology twist.
We’ve also enhanced the exterior design with new pub signage, decoration
and planting. The first floor terrace has also been elevated with new fixed
and loose seating, external lighting & a sculptural canopy to create a
‘premium’ area for taking in the spectacular views over the estuary.
Photography: © Ardy Media
Photography: © Ardy Media