A day in the life of Duncan Thorpe, our Senior Designer

This January, Duncan celebrates his 10-year anniversary at Robinsons. To mark the occasion, we caught up with him to learn more about his time here, what motivates him and what a day in the life of a Senior Designer at Robinsons looks like.

What brought you to Robinsons?

Well, I’ve always lived in Stockport, so to be asked to be part of a team designing Robinsons pubs was a something that really excited me, and something that still does, and I’m very proud of it. I worked for several external design companies, always designing pubs, bars, hotels, and restaurants. Then the opportunity came along to join Robinsons when John Riley (Director of Property) was putting together a team of in-house designers. I primarily came into the business to be the lead designer for our Managed Houses, something which was being put together by Dave Harrison (Director of Managed Operations). Dave and John were bringing in a team of people to start building up a portfolio of managed houses alongside our existing business partner estate. The very first managed house we refurbished was The Airport Pub back in 2014. The first ever design scheme I did for Robinsons was the Farmers Arms in Poynton, and coincidentally, that’s design scheme I’m currently working on again now, 10 years on, which is quite nice.

You recently won an award, which isn’t your first one. Tell us about your awards!

I think I’ve won 9 in total. At Robinsons, I’m most proud of the Restaurant Design Award for The Airport, it was our first ever Managed House, so it was quite an achievement for us. Also, winning Commercial Designer of the Year, which was for a collection of awards – The Airport, The Mulberry and one more, I can’t remember now. That felt like quite a big deal at the time.

What was the most stressful pub refurbishment you’ve done?

They’re all very stressful, but I think the first time we did the Queens Head in Troutbeck was possibly the most stressful. The pub received a big refurbishment after a serious fire seven years ago. The Mulberry was also stressful the first time round, we were totally changing the image of the pub, it was a very divisive design, and at the time it was very different to what Robinsons had done before.

What do you like most about working at Robinsons?

My colleagues, they’re all lovely people and they’ve become good friends over the years. I think the amount of time I’ve been at Robinsons is testament to the people who I work with. That’s from my colleagues in the property team right up to William, Oliver and all the Directors. I think you can genuinely say you’d be happy to have a drink with everyone outside of work. Also, being from Stockport, I’ve got a lot of pride in designing pubs that my friends and family can go into and enjoy.

What’s the best bit of feedback you have ever been given?

I suppose the best bit of feedback is when you win an award. It’s the people in your industry, your peers that are giving you recognition for your designs. I think people perhaps don’t always recognise the intricate details and consideration that go into a design scheme. So, for example, when Swan & Chequers won Bar Design of the Year at The Northern Design awards this winter, they listed the reasons why it had won – and the judges had seen and picked up on all the small details, that possibly isn’t even noticed or may be not recognised to the untrained eye who just pops in for a drink. So, to get recognised by industry peers is always nice.

What’s the hardest part of the job?

Everyone has an opinion when you do a creative job. I think I do deal with it better as I’ve got older and more experienced. But you receive opinions on absolutely everything. Over the years I think I’ll have designed about 100 pubs, 60 or so at Robinsons, and the design scheme will provoke thoughts and feelings in everyone who steps foot in the place, be it a business partner, a pensioner or a friend. That’s part of being in a creative role though, I suppose. But everyone gets to have an opinion on your work, and they’ll openly share that with you.

But, design is subjective, right?

It’s so subjective, be it based on the personality, mood or even the weather. And I like to think most of the time I get it right, but you can’t please everyone all the time. But I think anything that is a creative art evokes emotion and opinion. And I’m the worst for that too… if I don’t like a piece of music or art, I’m the first to say, ‘I don’t like that’.

So, what does your job as a Senior Designer at Robinsons involve?

It’s a lot more than people might often think. Its every element of an internal scheme, so all the drawings – which can be up to 20 or 30 drawings for some pubs. Things such as floor plans, electrical and lighting plans, ceiling plans, detailed drawings, all the co-ordinated services and operational requirements. It can also be more intricate aspects like joinery details to specifying all the finishes, fabrics, furniture, and lighting etc. Everything you see within an interior basically; the bar, waitress stations, partition screens - all sorts. Detailed drawings can take a lot of time, it could be up to three or four days for a bar drawing. Then you’ve got all the furniture, fabrics, upholstery and artwork schedules etc too.

Which do you prefer, the drawing or the furnishings?

I like the drawings, you think of something, design and draw it and then its costed and then manufactured. It’s your ideas becoming a reality. For example, the engine booths at The Airport, that won furniture design of the year. So that took a day to draw it, about eight hours, but it was an idea that I had. It went from an idea in my head to being made and that is so satisfying.

I also enjoy the on-site management of my design, going to site meetings every week. Making sure things aren’t going too far before they’re checked. Towards the end of the larger investments, I’ll go to site every other day to make sure everything is as I intended before it’s too late.

If you could pick any pub that you could go and have a drink in which, would it be?

I think it’d pick the Baker Vaults in Stockport or the Royal Scot in Marple as they are both great pubs with a good vibe. I think Bakers is great though because since we refurbed that pub, it was the catalyst for making Stockport market place a desirable place to go out again. Also, The Bakers is my favourite building of all within our estate.

What are you most excited for in 2024?

Ooh, can we say? I’m excited for The Pineapple in Stockport, that’s exciting with all the development happening in Stockport. That’ll be a big project with lots of investment going in. That’s going to be a brilliant business partner pub. The refresh of the Farmers Arms in Poynton is going to be great too.