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

[Michael Gallagher]

Artists Concept for the Lookout Bar

[Michael Gallagher]

Misc Lookout Bar images for you, Bob

[Michael Gallagher]

And more

[Bob C.]

This was an awesome room but I'm looking at it from a fire safety/evacuation perspective. Most codes require a primary and secondary means of escape from a room,  otherwise it is deemed a confined space which has a different set of strict requirements. 

For passengers, it looks like there was only one way in and out which is via the main entrance off the A Stairway landing on the Upper Deck.  There is a set of crew stairs behind the bar but would assume that unless guided there by crew, passengers would not know to take them (or find them). 

Most troublesome, there doesn't seem to be a way out of the port and starboard alcoves except the way you went it - in other words, one could be trapped in there if a fire broke out between the alcove the entrance. 

There are the port and starboard hatches to the weather deck area in front of the Lookout Bar but I would think that it would be difficult while underway to use these doors, especially in high winds and seas (the doors open out).

Don't get me wrong, I love this room and wish it never went away.  But would it be able to pass a design review from a safety standpoint today? 

[Michael Gallagher]

There was a lengthy debate about whether passengers should have access to the outside balcony and whether the room could be indoor / outdoor space which Cunard was keen to do but the difficulties while underway eventually decided that debate!

[Rob Lightbody]

Misc Lookout Bar images for you, Bob

Bob - on Michael's first post (quoted above) there are marks saying "down" and you can see the steps down marked.

Also, in another of his photos, alongside the funky alumnium wall, you can see the steps down there.

[Rob Lightbody]

Michael - are there any photos taken inside the alcoves?  I now think I've maybe seen some, but thought they were taken somewhere else.

[Lynda Bradford]

I was reading the VADS QE2 Design on the Look out bar. 

https://www.vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/DIAD/id/11417

On view 9 (picture bottom right) 10 and 11 there are images and interesting facts. 

[Lynda Bradford]

Michael - are there any photos taken inside the alcoves?  I now think I've maybe seen some, but thought they were taken somewhere else.

VADS View 11 has a picture of "one of the snugs at each end of the room" Is this an alcove?

[Rod]

I think the ramp was an afterthought put in by ships staff.
Similar ramps were put in Double Down room stbd side and maybe Queens Room. I was told and had a few /comments/complaints my self about ease of access.
In fact, when I was doing my publicity tour in the US for Cunard, we were asked many times about how good bad access was. The tour was well after the Lookout Bar though.

[Rob Lightbody]

I was reading the VADS QE2 Design on the Look out bar. 

https://www.vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/DIAD/id/11417

On view 9 (picture bottom right) 10 and 11 there are images and interesting facts.

Yes!  It looks like the alcove is shown nicely across views 11 & 12 (double pages).

I've glued the two pages together, cropped them, and attached it to this photo.

What a lovely space that would be to be in!  With those amazing windows to yourselves, yet private!

[Lynda Bradford]

Rob, that is so clever and gives us yet another view of the Look-out bar

[Lynda Bradford]

I was interested to read in VADS "Two splashes of colour enliven the sober and club-like atmosphere: a vermilion piano, attached to the wall on the starboard side to provide music for dancing; and a red chart reader, above, at the bow windows." and saw the piano in the image Rob posted in the first post of this topic.

Bob C also mentions the piano in this post.  Bob have you found the photos?

For some reason I missed this post.  The piano shown has had quite the tour around QE2 since debuting in the LOB.  I'll dig thought my photos to see what I have but I know it at various points in QE2's 1st ten years the piano was in the Theater Bar, Double Down Room and I want to say in the Mid-ships Lobby as well.  I may start a new post to not drag this one off topic.

[Bob C.]

Yes!  It looks like the alcove is shown nicely across views 11 & 12 (double pages).

I've glued the two pages together, cropped them, and attached it to this photo.

What a lovely space that would be to be in!  With those amazing windows to yourselves, yet private!

Brilliant photo Rob!  This is the first look I've had in one of the "snugs" as Lynda calls it. It also gives me an accurate height of the sofas by seeing they are even with the lower window sill.

[Bob C.]

Bob C also mentions the piano in this post.  Bob have you found the photos?

I found one photo but still looking for others.  I'll post once I've gone through them all.

However, my search led me to what I think is one of the only photos that shows the interior door that leads to the weather door out to the balcony deck - a big deal for me.  I needed this for my model.