If there’s one thing to be said for the team behind Abandon Ship, it’s that they certainly know how to stand out from the crowd.

From their beginnings as independent apparel retailers in the East End of Glasgow to the opening of their first bar in Dundee the brand's owners have cultivated quite the reputation thanks to their unique ethos which seeks to marry the worlds of art and hospitality.

When it comes to the eagerly anticipated opening of their new Glasgow venue, creative director Richard Davies tells us we should prepare to see more of their trademark flair than ever before.

He said: “The concept is quite out there. I think what we’re actually doing, and the scale of it is really going to surprise people.

“Without going too far into it, it’s going to be a fun and lively space centred around experience art.

“We want it to be inclusive and feel like we’ve invited everyone to the party.

“I think that location works really well for us because it feels like a real bridge from our past to where we’re headed in the future.”

Abandon Ship’s flagship bar, which has been open in Dundee since 2018, has proven extremely successful thanks to its ‘love-letter-to-New-York-dive-bars’ aesthetic and relaxed atmosphere.

Closer to home, fans of the bar’s sister unit The Luchador on Pollokshaws Road will already be familiar with the teams signature style and bespoke food and cocktail menus.

However, Richard hopes that the location of the new city centre bar will help to give this addition to the Abandon Ship family its own distinct personality.

Richard said: “Mitchell Street is becoming really interesting just now with places Sugo, Revolution and of course  Tingle which is a Glasgow institution.

“Even just being alongside the iconic Diamond Dolls sign has a really nice synergy with the brand - a little bit alternative and subversive.”

Since causing a storm on social media with the announcement of their plans to open back in April, any further information on the venue's interior has been kept firmly under wraps.

What we do know for sure, is that we can look forward to seeing plenty more of Richard’s original artwork. He said:

“There's 70 square meters of hand-drawn artwork in the Dundee bar and I’d say that there’s about 150 square metres in this bar.

“I’ve even painted the ceiling.

“It’s the biggest space we’ve ever opened so it’s really about taking that concept from the original bar and just dialling it up.

“The idea is that there are so many weird and odd things written all over the space that customers will be able to wander around and let the little details will catch their eye.

“It will just be a really fun experience, far beyond the food and drink offering.”

The brand’s Glasgow homecoming is the latest milestone in what has been a 10-year journey for Richard and his business partners Phil Donaldson and AJ McMenemy. Reflecting on how he has grown alongside Abandon Ship Richard said: “The brand has definitely evolved with me.

“When we started out I was in in my mid-twenties and now I’m in my mid-thirties,

“It’s probably a good thing that we’re only opening bars now because I think if I had done it in my mid-twenties it would have been a terrible idea, my younger brain wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

“But I've always loved being in and around bars. Whether that’s with friends or on my own I’ll gladly prop up a bar and speak to the bartender all night.

“One of my favourite things about the Dundee venue was just sitting in the bar and seeing people looking around, pointing bits of the artwork and enjoying that unique experience together.

“That’s the kind of places we’ve always wanted to create, somewhere you can meet someone new, strike up a conversation, and maybe make a friend for life.”

Glasgow Times:

Abandon Ship Bar is due to open on August 27 at 48 Mitchell Street.

The bar space will be open to all ages throughout the day and offer a brand new menu devised by chefs from sister restaurant The Luchador.