Photo credit: bbc.co.uk_PA Media

Since the lockdown measures were eased in the summer cafes, bars and restaurants have had to radically change the way they do business to ensure customers and staff are kept safe.

One-way systems, hand sanitiser stations, collecting customer contact details, staff wearing masks, and ordering and paying via apps has become the ‘new normal’ when dining out.

With restrictions on the number of household groups and social bubbles being able to meet, many venues have moved away from offering communal dining experiences. And with social distancing rules still in place, venues have also had to look at operating with fewer tables.

Warner Contract Furniture offers a great range of commercial furniture for the hospitality trade, including many bespoke options to help venues maintain a design theme.

This blog post takes a look at how our contract furniture range can help commercial venues keep their businesses operating safely, while still keeping their overall design look. Don’t forget to call our friendly and expert team to discuss your specific needs.

Indoor Commercial Furniture

There’s little doubt that indoor dining presents greater risks to staff and customers – mainly due to poor ventilation and difficulties in maintaining adequate social distancing.

In response to this, many venues have removed tables to create more space and need to balance hygiene and safety with the need to run a profitable business.

Others have opted for smaller tables that can offer more flexibility – you can simply move two together to accommodate a household, or store them away to create greater space.

Hospitality furniture must be versatile. Venues need hard-wearing and easy to clean furniture that offers customers a comfortable and safe dining experience.

So – here are some ideas from our range of furniture;

Laminate Table Tops

We’ve said it before and it’s worth repeating – laminate table tops are the hardest working items of commercial furniture.

Because they are scratch and heat resistant, our HPL table tops retain their looks even with heavy use. And because they are water and chemical resistant, they are incredibly easy to keep clean and hygienic.

Our range of laminate table tops includes standard sizes in round, square and rectangular shapes and are supplied with ABS anti-chip edges. We stock a huge range of decorative and colour finishes so you can find the best fit for your interior design and style. Online ordering is easy and you can expect delivery within 1-5 days.

We also offer a range of fully bespoke laminate tops to help customers create customised items to match their interiors. We offer hundreds of different laminate decors and can make the table tops to your custom size, shape and thickness. Once ordered, we can deliver bespoke items in 3 – 4 weeks and a fitting service is available when required.

Versatile Table Bases

To complete the look, we offer a great range of table bases. Choose from round or square bases and profiles as well as a variety of different finishes including black powder coated and brushed stainless steel.

Our Braga Flip Top Table Base can accommodate 700mm round or square table tops and offers has a contemporary design. It offers great flexibility to venues which might need to change room layout frequently as the top can be easily flipped to vertical making them  make them easier to move around and store.

Great Value Indoor Seating

Simultaneously comfy yet easy to wipe down between sittings, our Sena Restaurant Chairs are a great choice for pub dining areas as well as cafes and restaurants.

We stock Sena chairs in cream, grey and brown which will suit most contemporary interiors. And the fully upholstered seat and seat back offers comfort and great styling with contract quality faux leather upholstery.

Other versatile dining chairs to consider include our Angel, Wave, and Burford side chairs which feature solid  hardwood frames and faux leather upholstery.

Making the Most of Outdoor Dining Space

Being able to provide outdoor dining has become a lifeline for many hospitality venues. Many have even worked closely with local councils to create dining patios on pavements or in car parks.

As we slide into the cooler autumn and winter months, this is likely to continue and venues may well have to invest in outdoor heaters.

We have a great range of commercial outdoor furniture to choose from manufactured from contract quality treated hardwoods, cast iron, steel, and durable plastics.

Great Looking Outdoor Tables

Designed to withstand anything the British weather than throw at them, our range of quality outside dining tables includes three that are sold in kit form that are easy to assemble on site. All are ideally suited for outdoor areas of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Each table is manufactured with a black powder-coated steel frame containing an extremely durable, solid core laminate top that is scratch and water resistant. The Carrara features a high quality marble decorative finish, the Dunbar features a contemporary polished cement finish, and the Marden has a polished hardwood finish.

All three are available in square and rectangular dining and poseur options.

Outdoor Bench Seating

Bench seating is a great option for outdoor dining and drinking. Benches can accommodate members of a family or bubble – or can be divided with tape to provide social distancing for two separate households.

Our Brew Ezicare Bench is robust yet highly stylish and will blend in with a wide variety of furniture designs and exterior settings.

Another option is our Brew Outdoor Bench which features a black powder-coated frame and a woodgrain seat.

Lode Outdoor Chair

Our Lode Outdoor Cafe chair has a cool contemporary design and is also very easy to wipe down and disinfect. It is made using tough air-moulded polypropylene and will easily cope with heavy commercial use. And better still, it’s available in six colours including lime green and vibrant orange as well as black, white, grey and brown. At the end of the day they can be stacked for easy storage.

Let Us Help You

You are welcome to browse our extensive range of commercial furniture and order online direct from our website. However, we have a highly experienced and friendly sales team just waiting to help guide you through the best options for your venue’s requirements.

If you’re looking for a more customised solution then we can also help you. We have a growing range of bespoke contract furniture are we’re also very happy to work with your own supplied upholstery material.

Our standard delivery time is just 3-5 working days as we source the majority of our stock within the UK. We also offer an express service which delivers in just 24 hours. Bespoke goods can take between 2 and 8 weeks to deliver

Call us on 0161 408 2390 or email our sales department sales@warnercontracts.com to get a quote.

Quite rightly, the UK has been in lockdown since 23 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s clearly vital that we limit the spread of the virus and reduce the strain on the NHS. However, social distancing rules have meant the almost complete closure of the hospitality trade.

But there now seems to be light at the end of the tunnel as the government considers easing the lockdown in phases to get the economy back up and running.

 Post-Lockdown Furniture Requirements

We know that restaurants, cafes, pubs, nightclubs and leisure centres are likely to be among the last venues to re-open. However, those with outdoor spaces will probably be able to open earlier.

It will be essential to continue to protect staff and customers by maintaining a physical distance of 2 metres wherever possible. And additional hygiene practices will almost certainly be required. There will probably also be a need to erect protective transparent sneeze screens at the point of sale.

So, for outdoor areas you’ll need commercial furniture that can not only withstand the British weather, but can also help customers stay six feet apart. You’ll want furniture that is easy to move around and stack when not in use, and, importantly, quick and easy to clean/disinfect.

If you’re a pub with a beer garden, or a cafe with a courtyard, this might be a great time to assess whether your outdoor furniture will be fit for purpose this summer and autumn.

Warner Contract Furniture stocks a huge range of great-priced, high quality Commercial Outdoor Furniture for the UK leisure, hospitality and contract markets.

The Warner top six post-lockdown chairs and tables

This blog post highlights our top six outdoor chairs and tables that can help you get ready for whatever the ’new normal’ will be for the hospitality trade.

1. Budget Flip Top Dining Table Base

Our Budget Flip Top Dining Table Base is exactly as described in its name. It offers  fantastic value and is a versatile addition for outdoor commercial venues.

The flip top mechanism allows you to flip any table top to the vertical for easy storage. It’s great for small spaces as it’s simple to stack and easy to store. It’s also tougher than it looks as it is made from robust contract quality aluminium/steel (?). And it wipes clean quickly and easily.

These great value table bases will support small 700mm round or square table tops so can make provide perfect social distancing for single customers in small spaces.

You could pair the Budget Flip Top Table Base with …

 SM France Arizona Table Top

Outdoor tables have to withstand a lot. They have to put up wth hot sunshine, pouring rain and even frost. And then there is all the eating and drinking. Plates and cutlery, glasses, and spills can all take a toll.

The SM France Arizona Table Top offers a great-looking and cost-effective solution for outdoor dining and drinking areas. It’s on our list because it will withstand heavy use and constant cleaning yet still look good.

That’s because it’s made from a moulded resin laminate material and is fully sealed. It’s also UV-stabilised so won’t fade in direct sunlight.

4. Lode Outdoor Chairs

Outdoor chairs need to look good yet also be easy to maintain and store. And our Lode Outdoor Chairs fit the bill perfectly. Made in one stylish piece using air-moulding technology from hard-wearing polypropylene, they are strong and fully stackable. They make ideal chairs for use in the outside areas of cafes,  bistros, and bars and come in  white, black, grey, brown, lime green and orange.

5. Matilda Outdoor Chairs

The Matilda Outdoor Chair combines great looks and practicality. The contemporary design includes a curved shell seat made from hardwearing polypropylene reinforced with glass fibre. The Matilda chair is not only easy to keep clean, but it is fully stackable too.

There is a choice of black, green, red, white, yellow, grey and sand, so you should find an option to suit your space. We also offer matching Matilda Outdoor Armchairs.

6. Brew Outdoor Table

Our Brew Outdoor Table is a stylish alternative to the more traditional wooden Beer Garden Bench. It is manufactured with a sturdy pwder-coated steel frame supporting hard wearing teak slats. The frame comes in two colour options: silver and grey.

The Brew Table can be matched with the Brew Outdoor Bench. To encourage customers to maintain the required 2 m distance apart you can easily place markings at each end of the bench.

The Brew range also includes the Brew Outdoor Poseur Table and the Brew Outdoor High Stool.

How we can help

Warner Contract Furniture sources a broad and diverse range of commercial furniture to suit the needs of the hospitality industry. Our sales team have the know-how to help you find the best furnishing solution for your bar, cafe, restaurant, hotel or activity centre.

We are continually adding new products to our website but would love to hear from you if you can’t see exactly what you’re looking for. We have long-standing relationships with furniture manufacturers and an expert in-house team that will rise to the challenge.

Our standard delivery time is just 3-5 working days as most of our stock is sourced within the UK. We can deliver even faster for customers who are working against the clock.

Call our sales team today on 0161 408 2390 or email our sales department sales@warnercontracts.com. We are happy to discuss your requirements and give you a quotation.

With a wide variety of woods, colours, and patterns to choose from, it’s easy to see why HPL Laminate is a staple in our food and hospitality industries, laminate table tops are sturdy, and known for their antibacterial properties, so it’s important to keep those tables stain-free, and looking their best!

The surface is easy to clean, and should be cleaned regularly, they require minimal maintenance under normal use and conditions.
When cleaning is needed, more often than not, you can wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth using an all-purpose cleaner such as Dettol or Flash; the use of bleach and harsh cleaning chemicals, particularly those with abrasive properties may result in permanently dulling and scratching your laminate product.

Furniture polish and other wax based cleaning products should be avoided as these clog up the surface structure causing a sticky layer to form, attracting dirt.

For small spillages such as tea/coffee, then your best course of action is to use paper towels, as soon as possible, to absorb the liquid then wipe the area with a damp cloth, for more persistent stains, we recommend household cleaning agents such as Cif, Flash, or Mr Muscle.

More persistent stains such as ink and dyes can be removed by using a stronger detergent or glass cleaner, but the stain should be tackled as soon as possible or it could become permanent. Allow the cleaner to work for several minutes before blotting with a damp cloth and then rinsing. If the stain persists then nail polish remover or paint thinner may be used, this may take a few applications, and should be followed by the cleaning routing mentioned above.

Christmas comes but once a year. And for restaurants and cafes it’s the busiest time of year. Throughout December commercial venues will be catering for everything from office knees-ups to family get togethers. So its vital that your furniture is up to scratch.

As we head towards the busy festive period, now is a great time to take a good look at your contract furniture. Is it looking a bit weary and worn? Will it add to the customer’s dining experience? Why not update some of your furniture to make sure you’re prepared not just for the Christmas rush for the new year too.

Order now for pre-Christmas delivery

With more group bookings expected at this time of year, it’s helpful to ensure that your restaurant tables can accommodate different size parties. For this blog post we’ve selected a few of our contract furniture items that we believe are ideal for busy restaurants.

All our stocked items are available to be delivered in time for Christmas 2019 if ordered by December 16. For bespoke items, you’ll need to contact us by mid November to ensure delivery.

Turning the tables …

First things first: tables. Are your current dining tables fit for purpose? Can you accommodate larger bookings by pushing tables of the same height together? Are they easy to clean? Are they able to withstand heavy use yet still maintain their good looks?

Warner Contract Furniture stock a huge range of contract quality dining tables. You can choose from complete tables, tables bases and table tops.

Perhaps the most versatile option for any venue is to buy table bases and table tops separately. This allows you to customise your dining areas to suit your business needs.

You can mix and match different styles and materials to create the look that perfectly suits your venue and ambience. Choose from metal, solid wood, veneer and laminate finishes and a good range of size options, from 2-seater to 8-seater options.

Even within a range of table bases we can offer flexibility. For example, take our Mayan range. These sturdy yet stylish black cast iron table bases come in round, square, single and double pedestal formats plus a range of heights.

The Mayan range looks good with any of our table tops, including solid wood, laminate table tops and metal. As with our table bases we stock a wide range of sizes and in square, round and rectangular format.

Our Chunky Oak Table Tops are a popular choice for restaurants. Solid wood is always in fashion and can blend in with a host of different interior designs – from contemporary to traditional.

For an even more hard-wearing table, then you should choose from our range of laminate table tops. With a huge range of decorative finishes to choose from – including marble, block colours and wood grain – our laminate table tops are incredibly hard wearing, easy to maintain and will age gracefully.

And for extra sparkle and shine, we also stock metal table tops, including beautiful brass, and copper, which will add to the festive atmosphere.

Pull up a chair …

Restaurant chairs need to be comfortable and hard-wearing. They also need to combine practicality with style so they can complement many different interior designs.

Our Homa Veneer Back Dining Chair is a popular choice. Not only does it look classy, it is one of the most robust chairs available in the UK. It has a solid beech frame supporting a veneer seat and back, stained and lacquered in a darker wenge finish.

It also features a wipe-clean faux leather cushioned seat pad in a choice of three colours: white, cement and mustard. What’s more, when not in use, these versatile chairs can be stacked up to four high for easy storage. Which is handy when those large group bookings turn up.

Restaurant Chairs that are immediately available include: the Trent Dining Chair which features a deep upholstered seat in cream and brown faux leather; and Epsom High Back Dining Chairs, also in cream and brown faux leather.

Other in-stock chairs come in classy burgundy and grey faux leather upholstery, including our Repton Side Chairs, Wave Side Chairs, and Angel Side Chairs.

Making it social …

Restaurants that offer a more contemporary dining experience require a more modern furniture style. Rectangular tables and bench seating offers a great solution. Such dining sets look ‘cool’ and can accommodate larger groups of diners, sharing ‘canteen’ style.

The clean, functional lines of our Tokyo Dining Set provides a minimalist, ‘utilitarian’ look for restaurants and even roof terraces. It comprises a dining table and two bench seats. The frames are made from contract quality steel with a lacquered finish in black or white.

There is a choice of four colour options: black frame with white top; black frame with oak top; white frame with white top; and white frame with oak top.

The Tokyo Dining Table can also be purchased separately for use with built-in upholstered bench seating and other commercial chairs.

And … don’t forget the kids

A Christmas family gathering without the kids is unthinkable. And you don’t want to be turning away business at this time of year. So, now is a good time to check if you have enough high chairs to cope with the Christmas demand.

Our Bambino High Chairs are ideal for use in restaurants. Suitable for children up to three years old, Bambino high chairs include a safety strap and fully comply with BS EN 14988-2017. They are manufactured from sold beech hardwood and come in choice of natural or walnut wood stain.  Bambino high chairs can be easily wiped clean after use and can be stacked (up to four high) to save space when they’re not needed.

We hope we’ve given you some food for thought about how you might refresh your restaurant furniture in time for the Christmas period. But remember, commercial furniture isn’t just for Christmas – it’s for life! Our contract quality tables and chairs will stand the test of time.

How we can help

Our sales team has the know-how to help you find the best contract furnishing solution for your bar, cafe, restaurant, hotel or activity centre.

We are continually adding new products to our range but if you can’t find what you’re looking for let us know. Our commercial furniture contacts and in-house team relish a challenge and we are happy to provide bespoke solutions.

Standard delivery time is just 3-5 working days as we source the majority of our stock within the UK. We also offer an express service which delivers in just 24 hours.

Call us on 0161 408 2390 or email our sales department sales@warnercontracts.com to get a quote.

As the end of the year approaches, we thought we’d indulge in a bit of crystal ball gazing. What will 2020 bring in terms of interior design trends? And how is this likely to influence the look of pubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality venues?

When it comes to hospitality design, creating a unique look is key to achieving business success. Increasing competition from home delivery companies such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo, means that cafes and restaurants need to offer more than just great food. Discerning consumers are looking for more of an ‘experience’ when they dine out.

And earlier this year at The Pub Show, a report was released that revealed what pub goers really want. Survey participants were asked to list the most important factors influencing their choice of pub. ‘Atmosphere’ was by far the most common answer, followed by a ‘decent outdoor space’, ‘interior design’ and ‘good background music’.

Hotels aren’t immune from the changing demands of customers either. Hotel lobbies are becoming less like waiting areas and more like modern living rooms and spaces to socialise in. These so-called ‘lifestyle lobbies’ focus on providing a personalised experience for travellers.

In this blog post we look at four key trends that we think will impact the interior design of commercial interiors over the coming year.

The Instagram Factor

There is no escaping the fact that venues need to consider their Instagram ‘worthiness’ as a key part of their design. Our previous blog post about Boosting Your Venue’s Instagram Appeal looked at this phenomenon.

Apparently young people (18-35 year-olds) now spend the equivalent of five days a year browsing food images on Instagram. And many will base their decision on which restaurant to book based on its Instagram presence.

So being Instagram ready is now a key requirement for bars, cafes restaurants and hotels.  This means paying careful attention to colours, lighting, furniture, and creating photogenic spaces.

Sustainable Materials

Concerns about sustainability and the environment will continue to have a huge impact on all areas of the hospitality sector. The industry has already taken important steps to reduce the use of plastics in food service. In 2020, we’re likely to see greater demand for recycled and sustainable commercial furniture.

Ten years ago the the British Furniture Manufacturers Association produced a report on a two-year study into Zero Emmissions From Office, Contract and Kitchen Funiture. Recommendations included procuring more sustainable materials, cleaner design, and greater recycling of materials into new furniture.

It’s not surprising then that one of the major factors influencing interior design trends for 2020 is ‘Zero waste’.  Expect to see a greater use of raw and unfinished materials as well as upcycled and recycled materials.

Examples of familiar materials that are already ‘eco-friendly’ include concrete, brick, cork and natural wood. We already see these materials used widely for flooring and structural elements.

Other materials that might become more prevalent for soft furnishings and upholstery include: raw/organic cotton, calico, bamboo, jute, hemp, ramie and linen.

Biodegradable Chip(s) Board made from potato peelings. Photo credit: Dezeen.com

We were intrigued to learn about an innovative new material made from potato peelings that can be used as a substitute for single use chip board and medium density fibreboard (MDF).

MDF is widely used in furniture manufacture and is the base for many laminate materials used in table tops, But it contains formaldehyde and other toxic resins and chemicals. And some 140,000 tonnes of MDF is disposed of or incinerated every year.

By contrast, the new wood substitute material – called Chip[s] Board – is fully biodegradable and non toxic. Innovations like this will have a huge impact on reducing the environmental impact of the hospitality industry.

Colour Palettes

The use of colour in interior design schemes is always evolving. Anyone remember the hideous orange and brown era of the 1970s? Colours come in and out of fashion and seem to reflect the general mood of society.

So, it’s interesting to know that one of the most on-trend colours of the moment is green. In September, paint manufacturer Dulux announced Tranquil Dawn (a pale green) as their colour of the year for 2020, saying:

“As 2020 is the start of a new decade, it’s a fresh start. A new dawn. In an increasingly hectic and digital world, there is a desire for meaning and kindness. So, inspired by the colours of the morning sky, our colour experts have created an inspiring new shade, Tranquil Dawn.”

The themes of well-being, comfort and sustainability are widespread in the world of interior design and do seem to be leading towards colour palettes and textures that connect people with nature.

For instance, 2020Spaces.com predicts that in the coming year, we’ll see a lot more of these colours: olive green, golden yellow, light pink, mango, champagne, navy blue, dark red and charcoal.

And earlier this year at the influential Milan Design Week a similar range of colours were shown for 2020. These included: champagne, lemon yellow, pumpkin red, fuschia, sky blue, terracotta, olive green, and pale purple.

Expect to see designers using contrasting colours and textures – for instance deep blue and terracotta, as seen in the Milan Design Show setting below.

Contrasting bold colours at Milan Design Week. Photo credit: ItalianBark.com

Use of Outdoor Space

One of the key trends for restaurants, cafes and bars is the use of any outdoor space to create attractive, comfortable spaces. Courtyards, garden terraces, and roof spaces have become increasingly popular in the UK and can be used year round – helped, no doubt, by the introduction of portable heaters.

Make the most of any outdoor space to keep customers happy. Photo credit: Pixabay.com

Careful choice of lighting and style of furniture is clearly important with outdoor spaces. Warner Contract Furniture is a specialist supplier of a wide range of contract quality outdoor commercial furniture.

We can supply complete tables and dining sets as well as a huge range of durable, weather resistant and stylish dining chairs, armchairs, bar stools, benches plus table bases and table tops.

Whatever way the design trends go, we can help you to keep your customers happy and comfortable. Our outdoor furniture range is manufactured from contract quality aluminium, teak, rattan and polypropylene in a wide range of colours and styles. Many items are stackable for easy storage.

So … goodbye 2019 – here’s to 2020!

How We Can Help

If you’re thinking about a new look for your bar, cafe, restaurant, hotel or activity centre then get in touch. Our friendly sales team has the know-how to help you find the best contract furnishing solution for your particular needs.

We are continually adding new products to our range but if you can’t find what you’re looking for let us know. Our commercial furniture contacts and in-house team relish a challenge and we are happy to provide bespoke solutions.

Standard delivery time is just 3-5 working days as we source the majority of our stock within the UK. We also offer an express service which delivers in just 24 hours.

Call us on 0161 408 2390 or email our sales department sales@warnercontracts.com to get a quote.