Commercial Bar & Restaurant Signs

Tips for the perfect sign.When looking for the perfect Commer-cial Bar or Restaurant sign, there are many things to consider…but don’t worry, as sign specialists we’re on hand to help. This handy download will get you started.Whilst reading through this article, please keep in mind your brand and what you think will compliment it best.

Size matters!Take a look at where your sign is going to be positioned. Ask yourself how much of this area do you want to fill with a sign and how will your logo fit onto it? If you are going to have a long and narrow sign and your logo is square, how are you going to fill up the remaining space? Do you have a tag line, web address or any additional information which needs to go onto the sign? Likewise, if you only have space for a small sign, can you fit your logo onto it at a size which is legible? Would you do better using your windows as the main form of advertising?

Remember – bigger isn’t always better! Just because you have a large shop-front doesn’t mean you have to fill it! Do what works best for your brand and will complement your building.

Read me!Have a think about the distance that your sign needs to be seen from. It is all well and good having a fab looking sign, but what good is it if no-one can read it? This is why letter height and colour contrast are important.If your sign is to be installed at first floor level and designed to be seen by pedestrians, then a 150mm letter height will suffice. If it has to be seen from the other side of a busy road, then a minimum letter height of 300mm us re-quired.If you are in a pedestrian area and positioned within a row of shops, then consider a projecting sign. On narrow walkways where pedestrians are looking straight ahead, they are unlikely to spot your sign as it isn’t in their line of vision. Therefore, you are losing out on impulse shoppers. By having the projecting sign, you are positioning your brand in their eye line, and if attractive, they are more likely to pop in and purchase something. These signs are relatively inex-pensive and yet they work well. This is why all the big chains have them.Looking to be seen from the road? Good colour contrast is important here in addition to the letter height. The best contrast is 90%. Examples of this are black on yellow and white on medium blue. Did you think it was a coinci-dence that warning signs are always black on yellow and the NHS branding is white on blue? So if you were thinking of having a black sign with white letter-ing, consider swapping it for white on dark grey instead.

Remember – it is easier to read in upper and lowercase. This is because the letter shapes are easier to identify and because when we learn to read, it is in upper and lowercase that we are taught in. So if you are wanting to attract people in cars, you are more likely to if they can read your sign quickly and easily.

Your name in Lights!

Illuminated signs are a popular choice. They ensure you have great visibility all year round and can be warm and inviting on those cold winters’ nights. With so many different options to choose from, make sure you have a look at the case studies on our website to see which option you best prefer. But before you compile your sign shopping list, remember that illuminated signs require planning permission.Seeking planning permission can be a very lengthy process and it costs. If you chose not to apply for permission, you can be made to remove your sign, so before you splash the cash you may want to see if it is likely to be granted first and here is how;

1. Are there any other illuminated signs in your area?If others have had permission granted then it is likely that you will to. If they haven’t then see if there is a reason why. Ask a business owner if they have previously applied.

2. Are you in a residential area?If yes then it is likely that there will be restrictions in place and the possibility that it will not be allowed at all.You are more likely to succeed in your application if you can reduce the amount of light pollution. So for example, instead of having an illuminated sign where the whole face lights up, have one where only the name illumi-nates. If possible use warmer colours which are less startling than white.If you had your heart set on built up face illuminated letters, consider halo illu-minated letters instead.Remember, the councils do not want to upset you, so if you are prepared to work with them a compromise can be achieved. You could swap cold white LED’s for warm white, use trough lighting instead or even offer to have your sign on a time switch so that it isn’t on all night.If you are placing your order with us, we will be more than happy to speak to your planning officer for you and submit the relevant drawings on your behalf.

Made of stronger stuff?There are many different sign materials to choose from and this can be mind boggling for you the consumer. When choosing, you need to consider both your budget and the longevity required.

Aluminium:This can be brushed, polished or powder-coat-ed. Having a 10 year plus life if maintained well making it a great option for all those who want their sign to stand the test of time. Be warned – because of the amount of fabrication involved it comes at a price.

Aluminium Composite:This is a good alternative to the above. With the option of one year life, three year life and 5-7 year life there is something to suit all budgets. Please note though that the 1-3 year life can only be used for flat panels and not trays.

Acrylic:We only use Perspex® acrylic as it is a cast acrylic making it a UV stable material and ideal for laser cutting. Also, Perspex® guaran-tee there acrylic for 10 years providing it has been looked after. It comes in many shades and covers everything from gloss to matte to frosted. With the silicon edge range, you can even have a sign which looks like glass. Why not pop in and have a look at our swatches.

Wood & Reclaimed Wood:Solid wood looks fantastic but comes at a cost. It can be used to produce hand painted signs, carved signs etc. Because we want your sign to last, we will treat it to preserve its life, and with a bit of love and attention from you, it will last years.If your heart is set on wood but you don’t want the expense, or perhaps you want it painted so

a cheaper option is more logical then marine ply is a great alternative. The other option is reclaimed wood. If you want the distressed and rustic look then this is the option for you. Reclaimed wood is very fashionable at the mo-ment and if you are in luck, it can sometimes be picked up at very little cost.

The next stepOnce you have an idea about what you would like please give us a call and we will arrange a site survey and take care of the rest for you.Can’t make up your mind? Speak with our Award Winning design team and together we will create the perfect sign! Don’t be afraid to ask for something a little crazy. We love challenging projects.

InstallationOur fully trained installation team have PASMA and Working at Heights certifi-cations so you can rest assured that your sign is installed perfectly and

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