The West End has been through a bit of a glow-up recently. From familiar pubs getting a fresh look to much-loved venues reinventing themselves, change seems to be everywhere.
By Eva Curran.
While it can be hard to imagine your favourite local looking any different (I’m looking at you, Arlington), I was curious to see what all the fuss was about at the newly reimagined Left Bank.
I was invited to have a look around and chat with one of the people behind the transformation, Jim McLaughlin. After celebrating 20 years and operating independently since 2006, the team felt it was the right time to breathe some new life into the space while keeping the community feel that has made it such a West End favourite.
The first thing you’ll notice is the atmosphere. The restaurant at the front is still buzzing with diners, but it’s been paired with warm, moody lighting, vintage-inspired décor and bold neon signs in the windows that instantly catch your eye. It feels familiar but undeniably elevated. Then you wander through to the Listening Bar in the back.
The space instantly reminded me of the kind of bars you’d stumble across in Japan. Dimly lit, intimate and centred entirely around music, it’s somewhere you could happily lose a few hours. A DJ works through a collection of vinyl while conversations hum in the background, creating the sort of atmosphere that makes you want to stay for ‘just one more’.
Space to Listen
Music is at the heart of the refurbishment. Jim spoke passionately about investing in both the sound and lighting to create an experience rather than simply somewhere to grab a drink. Now, I’ll admit that when he started explaining the Bose 901 speaker system, it didn’t mean a whole lot to me. But what I did notice was how different it sounded. I was sitting directly in front of one of the speakers expecting it to drown out conversation, but instead the sound was reflected around the room, filling the space without ever overwhelming it.
There’s plenty more to come too. The Left Bank has extended its opening hours until 1am, making it an even better late-night stop on Gibson Street. They’re also launching a new autumn DJ programme, with more live music and vinyl nights on the horizon. Students and hospitality workers should keep an eye on their socials as there are deals in the pipeline too.
If you’ve not popped in since the refurbishment, I’d really recommend it. It feels like a completely different venue, but not in a way that loses what people loved about it in the first place. Instead, it’s a thoughtful refresh that keeps one foot firmly in the Left Bank’s history while embracing a fresh, modern identity. Well worth a nosey.
