SUBWAY PUB IS JUST THE TICKET
IT’S known for orange trains, pub crawls, and – of course – for being a circle.
Now, a talented Glasgow designer has brought the city’s transport hub to life in a vividly detailed Subway-themed bar.
Steven Bracki, right, is the brains behind the ‘Inner Circle’ concept, which has already wowed thousands of Glaswegians online.
Designed completely from scratch during the last six weeks, the bar features much of what we love about our Subway.
There’s the station steps, tiles, fabric of the seats and signage – not to mention The Inner Circle-branded rubber bar mats, Sub Crawl shot holders and full-size Subway car above the bar. Then there’s the DJ booth in the driver’s cabin and the pièce de résistance; a see-through dancefloor with subway tracks lit from underneath.
And since sharing his design online, Steven has been inundated with messages of support from thirsty locals who would love a chance to savour a pint or two in the watering hole.
The Kelvinbridge man said: “It’s been great and I have still not really processed it yet. On Twitter, it is going absolutely nuts. It’s amazing and really cool to see people’s comments about it.
“It’s cool to see how they have managed to spot the details in the images I spent so long trying to put in and find. When I was doing that, I never thought anyone would even notice but people are seeing them.
“People are even saying they can smell the images, which is pretty funny! Some of the comments are hilarious and it is just great.
“Hopefully it helps to brighten things up for people with everything else that is going on.”
Steven, who works for Merchant City-based Soluis, says he first came up with the concept a couple of years ago and loved the idea of creating a “hidden bar” in Glasgow.
Steven, 25, said: “The idea of visualising a bar that was hidden away would be fun and then it made me think of the Glasgow Subway. I started to play with the idea of blending the two together.
“Then it developed into the whole Inner Circle, secret, hidden away idea. I started looking at different aspects of the Subway and how that could incorporate into the main space.
“This includes things like the carriage above the bar with the seating in it and the booth seating along the sides.
“I also thought it would be cool being able to step onto the tracks which is kind of taboo when you are on the subway.
“I did use the Subway quite a bit because I live in the West End and work in the city centre – although I am not so sure I would use it anymore!
“When I had the idea and whenever I was in the Subway I was thinking about the materials and the lighting and how I could take those aspects and bring them to life.
“I was also looking at the history of the Subway and older pieces you aren’t seeing in the stations anymore.”
Will we now see the brilliant design brought to life for real? Steven is unsure but he is just glad to see it has made people so happy. He added: “You never really know what will happen but for now I am just still overwhelmed by the reaction.”