The Hats & Barrels

Brand feat. bespoke ink illustrations for a pub in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Named after a reef of infamously treacherous rocks off the coast that has been the cause of many a shipwreck over the last few centuries. In the late 1700s a cargo ship carrying whiskey and wine struck the reef, which lies off the coast of Solva. There were no survivors of the tragedy - all that could be seen were the sailors hats and barrels from the hold of the ship floating in the sea. The pub serves honest Welsh food, carefully sourcing its produce from local suppliers to showcase the best that the region has to offer. The brief was to create an identity that captured the story of The Hats & Barrels (of which there are very few accounts) to preserve its place in the folklore and history of the local community that this pub with its namesake looks to serve. Using the sea as a primary source of inspiration, the inky illustration style pays tribute to the waves. The porthole-esque shape is a motif that acts as a frame for the logo to draw your eye into scene and make you feel as if you could be witnessing it all from onboard a ship yourself. The bespoke illustrations add depth and character to the brand, depicting native ingredients and the family fishing boat that is used for the daily catch.