The Vic
Crafting a digital hub for a local watering hole
- Brand
- Website
The Vic is a quirky, dog- and child-friendly pub in Low Fell, Gateshead. Known for its surreal decor, The Vic stands out with a distinct personality. It’s a vibrant, community-focused venue offering epic homemade scran and a superior splash of booze. The Vic’s brand is all about unconventional cool, attracting those who appreciate a unique pub experience.
The challenge: a website lost in the digital dark ages
Their existing online setup was uninspiring, and it simply didn’t capture the buzz or that unmistakable, quirky charm that The Vic has become known for. Their menus were left on a dusty digital shelf and weren’t easy for customers to access, and there was nothing to keep pub-goers up-to-date with events.
So, what exactly did we do?
The pub’s owner contracted us to spruce up the site so that the vibe was no longer lost in translation and instead matched The Vic’s fun, real-world personality.
The initial brief for The Vic’s digital presence was as unconventional as the pub itself. While the steampunk aesthetic was something that the client wanted to incorporate and provided a strong jumping-off point for our designer, the process quickly expanded to draw inspiration from a richer tapestry of influences. We took a deep dive into vintage aesthetics, circus art and surrealist imagery to truly capture the pub’s unique spirit.
Brewing a website with a surrealist edge
A key element in getting across this distinct character was engraved-style illustrations. This allowed us to build a visual narrative that felt both classic and offbeat, echoing the pub’s eclectic charm.
Knowing the pub is plastered with cool, slightly cheeky framed artwork, we consciously splashed that same playful artistry all over the digital design. We even threw in some slick animated elements, such as swinging frames, to mirror those eccentric pieces on the walls, bringing a slice of that unique atmosphere to every click and hover.
Pouring The Vic’s personality into every print
From pixels to pints, we also supported the local pub with printed marketing materials. This meant crafting a whole suite of physical assets that matched the fresh new website’s style and branding. We designed everything from vouchers to tempt new customers to eye-catching menus, engaging posters for events, fun stickers and bill folders. The printed materials were designed to feel like a natural extension of the website, reinforcing the brand experience, whether you’re having a nosey online or grabbing a pint at the bar.
The team at TVG got the memo. They listened to all our ideas and spun them into a cool website that reflects our weird and wonderful vibe. We couldn’t be happier with it! We also regularly use TVG’s print services, which have always been high quality and professional. We can't recommend this local marketing company enough.
Andy McDonald
Owner & Director, The Vic