Craft & Draft: Redefining the Pub as a Community Hub
The humble pub has long served a unique set of purposes and rituals in British society, offering a space to meet, socialise, watch sports, eat, play games, discover entertainment or shelter from the rain – along with enjoying a drink or two.
Yet the first half of the year saw 50 pubs closing per month here in the UK, with the cost of living crisis and general shifts in consumer habits, coupled with increases in staff shortages and high rents, posited as the most prominent factors in this stark decline in publicans. Whatever the reason, a decrease in pubs means fewer spaces and opportunities for people to connect, which does not help form the antidote we need for a society that is said to be steadily growing more lonely.
It’s something that was playing on the minds of the cross-disciplinary team behind a freshly opened project and outlier to this recent trend, Craft & Draft. As the name suggests, there is a pub-based element to the venture, although it is part of a much bigger picture that seeks to bring together the people of a recently completed housing development in Wandsworth. New Acres is comprised of over 1000 apartments, as well as outdoor spaces, gym facilities, shops, and workspaces. One of the latter is home to the Royal College of Art’s Super Satellite Space; the melting pot of ideas from which this pub for the modern age was born and resides.
The space was a collaborative effort, led by First Hand Collective – a dynamic team comprising Kevin Haley of Kevin Haley Studio, Hannah Drakeford of Hannah Drakeford Design, Simon Hamilton of Simon Hamilton Creative, and Julio Calanche of Sales Done Right. The team also included a diverse array of individuals who joined the 4-day installation process, as Simon explains:
“Local artists like Shiza Naveed joined RCA graduates Kristiana Genca and students like Gemma Collins, alongside New Acres residents such as Eden James. We also welcomed professionals from fields as diverse as law and technology, showcasing the broad appeal of the project and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.”
As Julio points out, the on-site Design Through Making workshop format was clearly fruitful, providing a space for sharing and learning, as well as construction:
“What stood out to me was the energy and creativity everyone brought to the workshops. It wasn’t just about the physical building of the space but about fostering a sense of ownership and pride among the participants. Watching ideas come to life and seeing the community take shape through these sessions was incredibly fulfilling.”
The design itself is rich in detail, with sustainability and the reuse of materials baked in from the start. The catalyst for this was New Acres itself, with remnants from the construction, including leftover insulation, PVC ducting, ceramic tiles, and softwood timber incorporated throughout. Although as Kevin discusses, the team explored the neighbourhood for potential waste streams too:
“The Hop Pole, a local pub near the super Satellite, and its brother establishment, the White Hart in Whitechapel (near my Brick Lane studio), donated a treasure trove of items, including spindles now featured on the bar front, tabletops, stools, and other salvaged furniture. These pieces, many slightly damaged or unused, were repurposed to add character and history to the design.”
It’s a theme that extends to every corner of the pub. As well as the spindles, the bar itself is crafted with an L-shaped, split-height counter made from reclaimed timber and topped with reclaimed tiles. Positioned atop the bar is a Lazy Susan, a rotating display piece, inviting interaction and display opportunities. Suspended above the bar are three pendant lights made from abandoned light shades and reclaimed PVC ducting, enhancing the installation’s raw, sustainable aesthetic. Studio Sebastian Hugo donated rugs, which were cut and joined to form a patchwork infused with narrative while adding warmth to the space. Playful tweaks were also made to a collection of tables and chairs, crafted from a mix of salvaged and newly designed materials, creating an inviting, communal atmosphere. Finally, an oversized lounge pillow, constructed from wall insulation and wrapped in an unadorned rug, offers a comfortable, casual seating option. All of these elements combine to enhance the installation’s raw aesthetic while underscoring the team’s dedicated approach to sustainability and the circular economy.
The walls feature bold geometric patterns inspired by traditional pub wallpaper, scaled up for a playful effect and extended onto the windows with frosted vinyl, providing moments of privacy reminiscent of a traditional pub’s drawn curtains. The colour palette is also striking and speaks of the history of the British pub, drawing inspiration from the deep, rich tones traditionally associated with pubs – dark reds and greens – but reimagining them with a playful, contemporary approach. As Hannah shares, “These classic hues serve as the foundation, anchoring the design while allowing for bold geometric forms in the mural, which references traditional pub wallpapers but amplifies their scale to create a modern and dynamic aesthetic.” The paint used to create them, and to transform all the salvaged materials, was donated by YesColours, who also offered up surplus bar carcasses from their Decorex installation at Olympia, which have, in turn, formed the Craft & Draft bar.
But the space is more than a nicely designed pub, with a varied events and projects program already underway. As well as RCA teaching sessions, the Super Satellite space has already hosted panel discussions, workshops, parties and exhibitions including a Food Design Exhibition by Cofoo Lab, The Narrative Drawing exhibition and Earth Bound: Transforming Moss and Cardboard into Art. The intention is to create an all-encompassing community pub that brings people together and inspires connection, as Kevin explains once again:
“Pubs have traditionally served as a ‘home away from home’—informal public gathering places that foster social interaction and a sense of belonging. In this spirit, the Craft & Draft pub offers a welcoming environment where neighbours can meet, share ideas, and build relationships, reinforcing the social fabric of the community. By bringing together a diverse group of individuals to build and now operate the pub, we’ve created a communal space that truly embodies this principle. Local and wider community groups are invited to take ownership of the space, reconfiguring it to suit their needs and hosting their own events. This sense of authorship not only strengthens connections among residents but also provides a platform to discuss and shape the types of communal spaces they wish to inhabit within New Acres.”
Up-and-coming events to look out for include Tactile Memory workshops using pottery to record memories, upcycling exhibitions and workshops, a film industry panel discussion, and a performance lecture: Infrastructures of Heat and Cold. The workshops further extend the team’s hope of welcoming everyone in as a potential stakeholder of the space, with the clear message, “We welcome everyone to take part and help shape the future of this community hub.” And these events, much like the application process to utilise the space, are open to all, so why not take a look? You could even grab a drink and have a chat while you’re at it.
For more information check out @first_hand_design on Instagram or email Kevin hello@kevinhaleystudio.com
Image: First Hand Collective and Kevin Haley Studio