QE2's original Look-out bar, by Theo Crosby

[Twynkle]

It would be interesting to know whether it was possible to stand on the deck outside and beneath the Lookout Bar.
On the deck plan above, there is decking shown, on the other hand in some of the old photographs, it looks as if it wouldn't have been possible.
There's a good photograph I saw in a book (Transatlantic Liners at War: Miller and Hutchins) where there's the splendid sight of QE2 sailing into in New York for the first time.
Here it looks as if there are not only crowds on the Bit Beneath the Bridge, also crew on the fo'c'stle, and possibly, people standing outside, to the fore of the Lookout Bar too.

[Rod]

It would be interesting to know whether it was possible to stand on the deck outside and beneath the Lookout Bar.
On the deck plan above, there is decking shown, on the other hand in some of the old photographs, it looks as if it wouldn't have been possible.
There's a good photograph I saw in a book (Transatlantic Liners at War: Miller and Hutchins) where there's the splendid sight of QE2 sailing into in New York for the first time.
Here it looks as if there are not only crowds on the Bit Beneath the Bridge, also crew on the fo'c'stle, and possibly, people standing outside, to the fore of the Lookout Bar too.

Rosie I am racking my brains...I believe it was possible....but not from the Lookout bar itself. I recall there were ladders from Q deck to get to exhaust vent on that deck...If I am wrong someone will shoot me down in flames...it was 44 years ago!

[Bob C.]

I want to say that I have a photo of a door (one port and one starboard) that led from the LOB to the deck in front.  It was not accessible while at sea (high winds, sea spray, etc) but I think there were two doors there that could be opened.  I'll keep looking and post if I find it. 

[Bob C.]

Rod,
    This might help.  At 19 seconds and 7m 58 s into the below linked British Pathe video, you'll see two doors, one port and one stbd, outboard of the Look Out Bar windows leading out from the LOB to the narrow deck.

   My father took the below photo of the LOB interior and you'll see a wood paneled door just outboard of the last set of forward windows.  I believe this was access to the port external door.

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/selected-originals-launching-of-the-q4/query/qe2

[Rob Lightbody]

I stood there last year in Dubai (in the kitchens) and imagined myself back to this photo. It wasn't too hard because there are still places where you can see the angle of the front and the blanked windows. I then stepped out of each of the doors in turn, something I'd always wanted to do, and onto the original deck outside. If I recall correctly it was quite a big step over the window sill.

Rob

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk.

[Rob Lightbody]

Can't resist posting this photo from 'British Marine Progress 1969' as I don't think I've seen it elsewhere.

It shows a stage area on the starboard side, with coloured downlights, and a scarlet piano to match the scarlet compass at the front of the room.

The furniture is black leather, with a moss green carpet.  The back wall is steel and bronzed aluminium and the walls are in cedar.

It must have been something to see.

[Adam Hodson]

Thanks for posting Rob. It looks quite nice, and a lot of the ship had cedar walls. Off topic but the British Marine Progress 1969 book must be brilliant.

[Rob Lightbody]

Behind the photographer of this shot, would be the massive expanse of big windows looking out to sea.



I still have a personal theory that the reason for the removal of this bar, and the massive box extension added to the front, was for strength.  I have a sneaking suspicion they didn't think the aluminium with the large windows in it would take the hammering from big waves...

[Adam Hodson]

Interesting theory Rob. So do you think they actually needed more space for the kitchens?

[Rod]

They definitely needed the kitchen space! Cooking for 1800 and moving that food around proved impractical! Escalators from the Columbia to the Britannia, were quite often breaking down, in rough weather, much food was spilled on the escalators, and worked its way down to the space below.....disgusting and a haven for vermin.
Just think, if roast chicken was served to a pax in the front portion of the kitchen...It would have travelled more than 200 yards before it got to the table!
 Would have taken a waiter about 4 minutes to get there. With 2 tables....8 minutes.... guest didn't like the chicken....another 4 minutes to get the steak...or whatever.
You seen to forget that a lot of people that design concepts for ships have never been on a ship! They simply do not realize that a ship moves...sometimes quite a bit!
The "bump out" was put there to house the extension of No 1 elevator to serve the Brit Kit!

As I have posted on another thread here...obviously Rob doesn't believe me... the Lookout bar was great......except in rough weather! Several brave/stupid people were injured that way.
Yes Rob the windows did come in once or twice!
They had a lovely animated map showing the course and speed of the ship up on the forward bulkhead.
that was where the "Daily Tote" was held.

[Rob Lightbody]

I was never doubting the need for the kitchen extension, just saying that there may have been a need to toughen up the front too. The box structure seems very substantial.  If you say the Windows came in a few times in the very few years they were there, that rather reinforces that!

[Cabin 2066]

In the early years, the Lookout Bar was the place to go for late teens and college age people. The disco (where the Queens Grill was built) was mostly older people (30's to 40's) and very uncool to us! However, sometimes in the Lookout, it would get noisy and usually an officer would come in and tell us to tone it down. At a later dinner on the eastbound maiden voyage, the staff captain remarked that noise from the Lookout could be heard in the wardroom and on the bridge and that a recommendation would be that there be no bands playing in the Lookout in the future. I did notice, on transatlantics in 1970 and '71 that there was no loud music in the evenings any longer but in '69 that place rocked!

[Twynkle]

In the early years, the Lookout Bar was the place to go for late teens and college age people. The disco (where the Queens Grill was built) was mostly older people (30's to 40's) and very uncool to us! However, sometimes in the Lookout, it would get noisy and usually an officer would come in and tell us to tone it down. At a later dinner on the eastbound maiden voyage, the staff captain remarked that noise from the Lookout could be heard in the wardroom and on the bridge and that a recommendation would be that there be no bands playing in the Lookout in the future. I did notice, on transatlantics in 1970 and '71 that there was no loud music in the evenings any longer but in '69 that place rocked!

Heading perilously close to off-topic, and just to ask very simply - when was it that the Yacht Club took over in providing wonderful music (with a strong nod to the 'younger' generation), from the Look-out bar? And were the bar tenders in the Look-out Bar sticky about the 'under-aged'  drinking alcohol?
Also in '69 did you guys (the wonderful rebellious teenagers)  dress up in dinner jackets too?
Maybe the Officers in the Wardie were envious -or missing sleep!
(Btw - I have recently sat in one of the Bertoias and yes, the Diamonds aren't a cushy sort of number, are they?!)
Thanks, Cabin 2066
Rosie

[Cabin 2066]

Rosie:
After the Lookout Bar closed, it was primarily Club Lido on quarter deck that took over. The Double Down bar was fairly sedate(much like the Theatre bar). It didn't seem to me that the Yacht Club bar actually got going until the early to mid '90s. Club Lido was definitely the "hang-out" place during the seventies and eighties.
The bar tenders in the Lookout bar didn't seem to care as I looked older and sipped responsibility. Generally traveling with my grandparents in those years didn't allow me to get "wild and crazy", at least until they retired for the evening!
Yes, dinner jackets were required for dinner, as we were normally in the Grill. However, as soon as I excused myself, it was back to my cabin ASAP to dress down and head off on the hunt.
No, the Bertoias would only be adequate for display on QE2 if she is used again(behind a velvet rope so one can't sit down and hurt themselves...)

[Hank Hargrove]

Can't resist posting this photo from 'British Marine Progress 1969' as I don't think I've seen it elsewhere.

It shows a stage area on the starboard side, with coloured downlights, and a scarlet piano to match the scarlet compass at the front of the room.

The furniture is black leather, with a moss green carpet.  The back wall is steel and bronzed aluminium and the walls are in cedar.

It must have been something to see.

It reminds me of an updated version of the observation bars on the QM and QE. The QM2's Commodore Club seems like an updated version of the look-out bar.