Sydney’s newest gastropub The Grand National Hotel has opened with design by Woods Bagot.

Situated in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Paddington, The Grand National Hotel has opened its doors once again, with interiors by global design firm Woods Bagot.

The pub’s three owners, Lance Burrows, Ben Tregoning and Jonathan Pearce, wanted to create a pub that balances the traditional sports pub with a feminine influence. Woods Bagot’s design achieved this by creating a seamless space for customers to move between drinking and dining, from the front bar which is more masculine and sports focused, through to a back bar which is softer, featuring a conservatory-style garden room.

In order to accommodate the reorientation of the bar, a series of new openings has been created, resulting in an open, inviting space that encourages interaction between the pub and restaurant areas.

“We reoriented the interiors to create a free-flowing space with bold graphics and bespoke light fittings creating a contemporary look. In the pub, we went for a green reminiscent of a more traditional, British pub space, while white and blue lends the restaurant and a conservatory style garden room a fresh, cool look.” says Linda Boronkay, Woods Bagot Associate.

The front bar features booths, bar stools and ample standing room, while the spacious, light-filled back area is geared towards casual dining. Authentic materials – like dark stained timber, brass, blackened steel and exposed brick – tie the two spaces together. The design also incorporates bespoke joinery items such as timber tram seats, large banquette in dining space and wall lights throughout creating tailored interior spaces reminiscent of the past.

A strong graphic-driven design approach has resulted in a series of geometric shapes and elements, such as rounded arches, circular brick reveals and a continuous pattern on the walls of both spaces that determines the position of the wall lights.