Dish Cult Meets: Richard Davies, Abandon Ship Creative Director

Dish Cult: The Abandon Ship brand creates art focussed clothing. How did you make the move from that to launching a bar?

Richard Davies: Over the decade of the brand operating we had built up a reputation for partying and throwing events. And it was my favourite part of the business. Abandon Ship always felt most alive when we were surrounded by like-minded people partying, we wanted to create that vibe 24/7. We had a few stores, but with retail changing so much over the last decade, we wanted to create a home for the brand away from the apparel, that still had all the same values of being inclusive, fun and creating things we love. I had wanted to open a bar for years and eventually got to know the team at Macmerry 300 and the rest is history!

DC: Why did you choose a nautical theme for the brand?

RD: Although the brand is called Abandon Ship and there are obviously some nautical themes associated in the art, with the name we really aren’t a nautically themed brand. In the same way, we are a Scottish brand and embrace it, but don’t rely on it.
Abandon Ship came from a song I loved at the time and a wish to create a brand name that invoked imagery but could (and has) become synonymous with the brand beyond its original meaning. The naming of the brand might not be an exciting story but the history of the brand is.

DC: How would you describe the vibe in Glasgow’s Abandon Ship bar?

RD: The party never ends. We wanted to take what we’d created in Dundee and ramp it up. The sense of scale is huge with 150 square metres of artwork, massive neon signs, an arcade, merch stall and vibrant and exciting interiors.
We want it to be fun and exciting whether customers join us for lunch at noon or stay with us until 1am every night with live DJs.
It’s amazing to sit with a pint and be a fly on the wall watching everyone enjoy the space.

DC: What’s your favourite food item on the Abandon Ship menu?

RD: I should probably say buffalo chicken wings as they are an all-time favourite, but I think the Truffle Shuffle Burger just beats them now!

DC: And which is the cocktail we absolutely must try?

RD: I’m not sure if you can call a pickleback a cocktail, but if you’re in our Glasgow bar you need to check out our Pickle Shack merch stall and pickle bar, and try one. It’s a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of house pickle juice. It’s delicious and something everyone should try once.

DC: What’s been the most enjoyable part of setting up a new bar?

RD: Watching the team create and everything coming together. It takes a village of talented people to create a space like Abandon Ship Glasgow and it was amazing to see it come to life.

DC: And the least?

RD: Waiting to see if customers love the space as much as us!

DC: You’re an artist and create most of the brand’s artwork. Where do you get your inspiration?

RD: I pull inspiration from a lot of places. My main artistic influences are traditional tattoo art and historical iconography, but I pull elements from pop culture and anything that sparks interest. With the themes and narratives of any of the art, I pulled on experiences, conversations and my own weird brain. A lot of the art in the bar includes phrases, puns and jokes that I pull out of my head as I go along. I love to range from the positive to the satirical, the dumb to the dark and grim. Layers like that add depth and mean the murals are a constant source of joy, humour and confusion.

DC: Which are your other go-to bars in the Glasgow area?

RD: Of course, everyone should check out our sister bar, The Luchador, in Glasgow’s Southside, serving up agave cocktails and South American inspired cuisine in a beautiful venue. And for the curious cocktail lovers, there is a secret bar below called Mr Lincoln. To find it just follow the rose.
Also Fly South is a beautiful cocktail bar in the West End that serves delicious drinks.
The Bull is a new venue on Great Western Road that’s perfect for a pint and some delicious food.

DC: What’s next for Abandon Ship – do you have more projects in the pipeline?

RD: We are actually opening our next venue in Covent Garden in December. It’s our first venture in England and we are really looking forward to it! Beyond that, we plan to open 10 bars across the U.K. in the coming years. We want everyone to enjoy what we’ve created with Abandon Ship! It’s really an exciting time.