As spring turns to summer we all want to spend more time outside enjoying the weather and the company of friends and family.
Outside dining is more popular than ever and that has put a spotlight on cafe courtyards, pub gardens, and restaurant patios. Savvy customers are looking for more than just good food. They want to spend time in places that have stylish furniture and a great ambience.
Warner Contracts is adding lots of new outdoor commercial chairs to its range for this summer. This blog post gives you a sneak peek of six new chairs that we think will help you get your outdoor dining area ‘summer ready’ …
Effortless Parisian style
The bustling ‘cafe society’ of Paris is truly iconic. Everywhere you look there are pavements lined with tables and distinctive rattan bistro chairs.
The French may have perfected the art of pavement dining but, thanks to the pandemic, the UK is starting to catch up.
We think our new Carcassone Arm Chair with matching bistro table is a winner. Its effortless Parisian style is a must for any venue thinking about creating a French bistro look for their outdoor dining area.
The Carcassone chair is made with an aluminium frame painted to look like bamboo. And the seat and seat back are made with hard-wearing, weatherproof synthetic rattan in a checkerboard pattern. It comes in three colour options: black and white, blue and cream, and red and cream.
Mid-century retro
Mid-century furniture design seemingly never goes out of fashion. With pieces that blend simple form with innovative materials and bold colours, it’s easy to see why people love this classic style.
Our new Arles Side Chair is a great example. In looks it resembles a 60s canteen chair but instead of being made from wood, it is made from lightweight yet strong aluminium. And the whole chair has a hard-wearing epoxy power coating that can withstand the knocks of everyday use and the worse of the British weather.
Best of all, the Arles chair comes in a choice of two great pastel colours in blue or pink. These chairs will definitely brighten up a pavement or courtyard.
A bold statement
They say fortune favours the brave. And we think our new Livorno Side Chair will help any cafe or coffee shop that wants to make a bold statement and stand out from the crowd.
Made from robust moulded polypropylene, the Livorno chair is unbreakable, stain-proof, easy to clean, and can be stacked when not needed. It features a simple, clean design and is comfortable to sit on. And it comes in four colours; anthracite, lime green, mustard and orange. Why not choose all four and mix and match to create bright, enticing settings?
Mediterranean chic
If you’re looking to add a touch of Mediterranean chic to your outdoor dining area then look no further than our new Cordoba Arm Chair. With it’s unusual contemporary European styling, the Cordoba is the perfect choice for your roof terrace, hotel patio, or restaurant courtyard.
This elegant chair comprises a strong aluminium frame with a tough black epoxy powder-coated finish. And the seat back and armrests are made with a padded synthetic rope weave. The Cordoba also comes with a waterproof padded seat cushion for extra comfort.
Wonderful wicker
For a really versatile outdoor chair that can be mixed and matched with a wide variety of other styles we suggest you consider the Cadiz Side Chair. Its contemporary design is both elegant and practical and will look good in both fine dining as well as more casual settings
It will easily cope with heavy use thanks to a strong tubular metal frame. This is finished with a durable and weatherproof matt black epoxy powder-coating. The seat and seat back comprise an attractive and comfortable resin wicker weave.
Relaxing rattan
Our final pick of new outdoor chairs is the Bremen Outdoor Arm Chair. This outdoor chair is a great investment as it can be used for everything from fine dining setting to more relaxed social gatherings.
Its design echoes that of the famous Lloyd Loom chair but is made from modern weather-resistant materials and it will keep its looks for many years. Its aluminium frame is lightweight yet sturdy and helps make the chair easy to move around and store.
The chair legs have a black epoxy powder-coating which contrasts with the grey plastic rattan weave of the seat back. A weatherproof padded cushion is also provided.
Easy online ordering
It’s easy to order direct from our website, which features a huge range of commercial furniture. We also have a highly experienced and friendly sales team who are happy to help guide you through the best options for your particular requirements.
If you’re looking for a more customised solution then our great range of bespoke contract furnitureshould be of interest. We’re also happy to work with your own supplied upholstery material.
Quick delivery
As we source the majority of our stock within the UK, our standard delivery time is just 3-5 working days. We also offer an express service which delivers in just 24 hours for an extra fee. Bespoke goods can take between 2 and 8 weeks to deliver. Contact us on 0161 408 2390 or email us for a quote at sales@warnercontracts.com.
One of the key hospitality trends to emerge during the pandemic was the way commercial venues used their outdoor spaces. Outdoor areas have always been important to pubs, cafes and restaurants in the spring and summer. But now courtyards, pavements and parking areas have become vital spaces for extra covers to keep businesses operating.
As with any dining space, outdoor areas need to be kept looking attractive and welcoming to customers. And your choice of outdoor commercial furniture has a huge role to play here. Not only must your commercial tables and chairs be able to withstand constant heavy use, they also have to contend with whatever the British weather throws at them.
Warner Contracts Limited has been supplying high quality commercial outdoor furniture throughout the UK for many years.
If you’re planning to refresh the outdoor areas of your bar, cafe or restaurant then this blog post should help you choose commercial outdoor furniture best suited to your needs. You can order direct from our website and we can deliver stock within 3-5 days.
Outdoor furniture for pub gardens
When choosing outdoor furniture for pub gardens there are several different ‘looks’ you can consider. Warner Contracts stocks a large range of beer garden furniture from rustic wooden picnic tables to more contemporary outdoor tables and chairs.
If you want super durable, sturdy tables and chairs that can be left outside all year round then the more traditional beer garden picnic benchesare ideal.
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Round Beer Garden Tables£350.00 Inc. VAT
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Wooden Picnic Benches£166.64 – £235.46 Inc. VAT
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Beer Garden Bench£139.15 – £186.30 Inc. VAT
Choose from our solid wood Round Beer Garden Tables (seats 4), Beer Garden Bench (4, 6 and 8-seater), and Wooden Picnic Benches (4, 6 and 8-seater). All are made with sustainably sourced FSC-rated timber and are pre-treated to withstand all-year use outside.
We also stock a range of Parasol Umbrellas to provide shade to outdoor dining areas. The parasols are made from hardwood and quality canvas in a choice of black, grey, cream and green. Use with our Parasol Base Stand to keep them secure. The stand comes in an unobtrusive matt black finish which will complement any outdoor design.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to create a more contemporary look for your pub garden there are many attractive and hard-wearing outdoor tables and chairs to choose from.
Here are some options:
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Riga Complete Outdoor Table£232.00 Inc. VAT
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Riga Outdoor Side Chairs£117.00 Inc. VAT
Our Riga Complete Outdoor Table and matching Riga Outdoor Side Chairs are made with a black powder-coated aluminium frame with teak-effect plastic slats. Lightweight yet sturdy and fully weather resistant, this smart outdoor table and chair set will stay looking good for many years.
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Al Fresco Rattan Dining Set£1,450.00 Inc. VAT
Another different look for your beer garden can be achieved with our Al Fresco Rattan Dining Set. This attractive set comprises four Lloyd Loom-style chairs and a round dining table with a glass top. Made with a strong aluminium frame and attractive synthetic rattan weave, this outdoor dining set will add a dash of country living to your pub garden.
If you’re looking for this style of outdoor furniture then do check out the other products we stock in our range of synthetic rattan weave commercial furniture.
Outdoor bar furniture
When choosing outdoor bar furniture you need to balance design, durability and ease of storage. Our range of hard-wearing outdoor pub and bar furniture is made to contract quality standards in a range of durable materials and many are stackable.
Choosing from our range of complete outdoor tables and outdoor dining chairs will give you great flexibility in how to best complete your outdoor bar space.
Here are some options:
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Carlota Outdoor Armchairs£160.00 Inc. VAT
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Marine Rectangular Dining Table£298.10 Inc. VAT
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Alvor Stacking Outdoor Tables£190.00 Inc. VAT
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Matilda Outdoor Bar Stools£118.00 Inc. VAT
Our Carlotta Outdoor Armchair has a rustproof aluminium frame with a grey epoxy coated finish. Its stylish, curved seat back features a matching grey polyester rope weave. The Carlotta chair is fully stackable and comes with a waterproof cushion for extra comfort.
Alvor Stacking Outdoor Tables are a versatile addition to any al fresco bar area. It combines great practicality (stackable and lightweight) with a contemporary design. It also comes in taupe and anthracite.
Our range of Marine Dining Tables and Marine Poseur Tables will provide a dash of colour to your courtyard or patio. A robust black powder-coated steel frame supports a hard-wearing compact laminate table top with a colourful decorative finish.
And our Matilda Outdoor Bar Stool is an unbeatable option – a true workhorse. Made from hard-wearing fibreglass reinforced polypropylene these stools come in black, white, red, and green.
Outdoor Dining Furniture for Restaurants
Exterior dining areas such as patios, courtyards and terraces can be seen as extensions of your indoor spaces. It’s therefore important to maintain a consistent design theme and ambience. Luckily our range of outdoor restaurant furniture comes in a great variety of colours, styles and materials to cover most restaurants budgets and design needs.
Our outdoor furniture is made from synthetic rattan and polypropylene, as well as aluminium and solid wood. And we have products that will suit everything from retro-themed restaurants to fine dining and more casual settings.
Here are some options:
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Marden Square Dining Table£213.40 – £292.60 Inc. VAT
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Madrid Outdoor Armchairs£168.00 Inc. VAT
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Vienna Outdoor Armchairs£128.00 Inc. VAT
Our Vienna Outdoor Side Chair and matching Vienna Outdoor Armchair are the perfect choice for high end outdoor dining in restaurants and hotels. Both feature a bronze resin mesh seat and a curved back finished in bronze poly rope. The overall effect is a relaxed European style.
For some Spanish flair, consider our Madrid Outdoor Dining Chairs with matching Madrid Outdoor Armchairs and Madrid Table. The range is made from a sturdy aluminium frame covered with a natural or contemporary grey epoxy protective coating. The chairs have a comfortable woven seat and a seat back comprising an attractive grey PL rope weave.
Both the Vienna and Madrid chairs can also be paired with our Marden range of complete tables. The Marden range is extremely durable tanks to a sturdy steel frame and a super hard-wearing metallic copper effect HPL laminate table top. You can choose from a Square or Rectangular Dining Table. We also stock a matching Square and Rectangular Poseur Table.
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Canterbury Rectangular Outdoor Table£227.00 Inc. VAT
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Canterbury Stacking Outdoor Chairs£62.00 Inc. VAT
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Canterbury Outdoor Armchairs£67.00 Inc. VAT
For more casual outdoor restaurant dining areas our Canterbury Stacking Outdoor Chairs are ideal. Designed to withstand constant heavy use yet remain unscathed, these durable chairs are a great investment. They are constructed from black polypropylene with a contemporary rattan-style weave. Match with Canterbury Outdoor Armchairs and our square or rectangular Canterbury Outdoor Table.
Outdoor furniture for Cafes & Bistros
As customers have become more used to dining al fresco, they’ve also become more demanding. And cafe and bistro owners need to ensure the outdoor dining experience matches their customers’ expectations.
We can help you choose outdoor cafe furniture to create a well-designed and inviting space with stylish, hard-wearing and low maintenance outdoor chairs and tables.
Here are some options:
One way to provide an enticing dining space is to have fully matching outdoor furniture. Our Parade range of folding outdoor chairs and tables is a great example of how this can be done. With a clever design that harks back to traditional French bistro pavement furniture, the Parade range is weatherproof and folds away when not needed.
All items in the range are manufactured from an attractive black cast-iron frame that supports table tops, seats and seat backs made of treated slats of solid teak. We stock Parade Chairs, Armchairs, and Square, Rectangular and Round Tables. So you can mix and match to create seating options for 2-6 people.
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Topalit White Marble Table Tops£76.00 – £168.00 Inc. VAT
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Black Flip Top Tables£86.00 Inc. VAT
Another great option for outdoor cafe furniture is our Flip Top Table Base paired with Topalit White Marble Table Tops. The Flip Top Table Base is made from premium grade aluminium with a black powder coating. To store, it simply flips through 90 degrees to be stacked vertically. We also supply a twin pedestal version of this base for rectangular 4-seater table tops.
Topalit White Marble Table Tops feature a lightweight resin core that resembles Carrera marble. However, they are totally UV and weatherproof so it stay looking like new even with heavy use.
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Harper Stacking Armchairs£60.72 Inc. VAT
The contemporary design of our Harper Stacking Outdoor armchairs means they will work with most styles of outdoor cafe and bistro tables. They are made with a black powder coated aluminium frame with a sturdy black plastic rattan weave seat.
Outdoor furniture for coffee shops
In towns up and down the UK we’ve become used to seeing cafes and coffee shops make the most of the pavement and courtyard spaces outside their premises. Such outdoor furniture needs to be sturdy yet lightweight and easy to keep clean and to store.
Warner Contracts Limited offers a wide range of great value outdoor coffee shop furniture that will appeal to venues and customers alike.
Here are some options:
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Matilda Outdoor Bar Stools£118.00 Inc. VAT
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Matilda Outdoor Armchairs£88.00 Inc. VAT
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Matilda Outdoor Chairs£80.00 Inc. VAT
The Matilda Outdoor Stacking Chair is a hugely popular choice for coffee shops and cafes. And it’s easy to see why as the Matilda combines durability with style. It is made from reinforced polypropylene which provides great strength and weatherproofing. They are comfortable to sit on and can be easily wiped clean and stacked at the end of the day. They also come in a choice of green, red, white, black, grey, sand and yellow.
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William Ezicare Sidechair£84.00 Inc. VAT
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William Ezicare Chairs£94.00 Inc. VAT
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Covent Ezicare Tables£132.00 Inc. VAT
Another great value option for coffee shops is the Covent Ezicare Table. This complete table comprises an aluminium table base supporting a black synthetic wood-effect 2-seater square table top. The Covent table will match perfectly with the William Ezicare Chair. This fully stackable chair is made with lightweight aluminium with a chrome finish and synthetic black wood-effect slats. Also available as an Armchair.
Finally, we would suggest our Melbourne Outdoor Stacking Chairs and Melbourne Square Table. The 4-seater Melbourne complete square table matches with our Melbourne stacking chairs. Both table and chairs are fully weatherproof and are made from hard-wearing and strong black polypropylene. To ring the changes you can mix and match with our Melbourne Stacking Armchairs which come in black, grey, white, brown, taupe and teak.
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Carter Rectangular Dining Table£315.00 Inc. VAT
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Carter Square Dining Table£253.00 Inc. VAT
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Melbourne Outdoor Chairs£78.00 Inc. VAT
Easy ordering and quick delivery
If you’re looking for outdoor furniture for your pub, cafe, restaurant, club or hotel you can browse our extensive range of commercial outdoor furniture and order online.We also have a friendly and expert sales team who are happy to guide you through the best options for your venue’s requirements.
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 for an extra fee. Contact our friendly sales team on 0161 408 2390 or email us for a quote at sales@warnercontracts.com.
After all the lockdowns and uncertainty caused by the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the hospitality and leisure industries have welcomed the return of customers and normal trading. It’s now time to make sure they keep coming back to your venue.
Keeping customers satisfied is a constant work in progress. For cafes, bars, and restaurants, standing out from the crowd has never been more important. Customers are not just choosy about the food and drink on offer. They also want more from venues in terms of the ambience and interior design. This is where the careful choice of commercial furniture for your venue comes into play.
Warner Contracts Limited supplies high quality commercial furniture to the hospitality trade all over the UK. And it’s interesting to see which products are catching the eye of venue managers. This blog post takes a look at the 10 commercial tables and chairs − in no particular order – that have been our best sellers in March 2022.
1. Forza Table Bases
Our range of Forza table bases has proved extremely popular as these products can easily withstand constant heavy use in busy bars, cafes and restaurants. We stock 27 different variations including round, square and rectangular bases. There are also different sizes to suit commercial coffee tables, dining tables and poseur tables.
Forza table bases are made from durable and strong cast iron with a stylish scratch-resistant black powder coated finish. These table bases will blend in with any contemporary or industrial interior design scheme.
One advantage to opting for table bases is that you can create different looks depending on what type of table top you pair them with.
2. Bespoke Laminate Table Tops
Many of our hospitality clients this month chose from our huge range of bespoke laminate table tops. You just can’t beat laminate table tops for durability and design. Laminate table tops are hard-wearing, heat, stain and scratch-resistant, and can simply be wiped clean. These attributes make them ideal for everything from school canteens to cafes and restaurants.
Our suppliers create high pressure laminate (HPL) in a great range of colours, finishes and high quality decorative effects, including popular textures such as marble, concrete, wood grain, and granite.
In addition, we edge our laminate table tops using shock absorbing ABS plastic in matching colours and finishes. The end result is a table top that can cope with all the knocks, spills, and bumps of a busy commercial dining area without peeling or chipping. These ABS edges prolong the life of your laminate table top.
3. Naso Restaurant Chair
Choosing a dining chair that suits the style of your hotel, private club, restaurant or cafe and will stand up to constant use can seem daunting. Fortunately at Warner Contracts Limited, we are constantly adding to our range of commercial dining chairs. In addition, we are more than happy to help you make the right choice.
Our bespoke Naso Restaurant Chair is a recent addition to our commercial furniture range and has generated a lot of interest this month. Designed to suit the fine dining end of the hospitality trade, the Naso chair has a timeless, contemporary style.
It has a solid beech frame that supports a fully upholstered seat and curved seat back. We supply this chair with contract quality faux leather upholstery in a choice of more than 20 great colours including bold options like lime green and turquoise. You can also choose from 12 wood stains – from dark wenge to light ash. Further customisation can be obtained with our COM service where you supply your own material.
4. Madrid Outdoor Dining Chair
One lasting impact of the pandemic has been the huge upsurge and interest in commercial outdoor furniture. Venues have continued to focus on outdoor spaces to attract customers back to safe dining.
Our Madrid Outdoor Dining Chairs help to bring some Mediterranean flair to the outdoor dining areas of your bistro, restaurant, hotel, or cafe.
It has a lightweight yet sturdy aluminium frame that comes with an epoxy protective coating in a choice of natural or grey. In addition, the curved seat back and seat features an attractive grey PL rope weave.
The overall design is contemporary and works well in many outdoor spaces – from cafe pavements to restaurant terraces. Madrid chairs can also be conveniently stacked when not in use for easy storage. And you can create a stylish outdoor dining set by pairing them with our Madrid Outdoor Armchair and Madrid Outdoor Table.
5. Solid Ash Table Tops – oak
Solis Ash Table Top with Oak Finish
Our Solid Ash Table Tops with Oak Finish are in demand among commercial venues such as wine bars, hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars.
They are made to contract quality from solid ash hardwood in 25mm thickness and in a number of sizes in round, square and rectangular shapes. The table top comes in an oak finish protected by a hard-wearing contract lacquer which enhances the beautiful grain.
6. Paris Industrial Cafe Chairs
There’s a good reason why the Paris Industrial Cafe Chair is everywhere – it’s a perfect blend of classic retro design and practicality. This chair is made from steel and sports a design that harks back to the modernist classic Tolix chair of the 1930s.
It is made from steel with a durable powder coated finish. We stock three colour variations: grey, gun metal grey and vintage copper. The Paris chair is a reliable piece of commercial outdoor furniture and suits cafes, bars and restaurants, especially those with a vintage or industrial design theme.
When not needed the Paris chair can be stacked up for four high. Matching Paris Industrial High Stools are also available.
7. Hanover Outdoor Tub Chair
Another popular commercial outdoor chair is our Hanover Tub Chair. Like the Paris chair it has a retro design that pays homage to piece of classic design. Stylish and practical, it combines the elegance of the traditional ‘Lloyd Loom’ design of the 1940s with modern technology.
The frame and legs are constructed from strong but lightweight aluminium and finished with an epoxy powder coating in neutral taupe. And the main body of the chair is made from all-weather resin wicker designed to resemble woven rattan. A matching padded cushion is also provided for extra comfort.
The Hanover works well in pub gardens, cafe courtyards and outdoor dining areas of restaurants and hotels.
8. Marden tables
Sometimes a complete table is a better option for hospitality venues. Our Marden range of complete tables has been selling well to pubs, cafes and restaurants with an industrial design.
Designed primarily as commercial outdoor furniture, the Marden range is manufactured with a sturdy steel frame with a black powder coating. This frame supports an attractive yet hard-wearing metallic copper effect laminate table top.
The ultra-thin HPL laminate top offers exceptional resistance to weather, stains, UV and scratches which is why many bars, cafes and restaurants are choosing it. The Marden range includes a choice of Square and Rectangular Dining Table, and a Square and Rectangular Poseur Table.
9. Vienna Outdoor Armchairs
Another very popular seller this month has been the elegant Vienna Outdoor Armchair. This outdoor commercial cafe chair appeals to many outdoor cafes, bars and restaurants as it adds a dash of European style.
It has a lightweight yet strong aluminium frame finished with a hard-wearing black epoxy protective coating (EPC) and a comfortable resin weave seat. But the most striking detail of the Vienna Armchair is its striking curved ‘loom’-like seat back made with bronze resin weave fibres.
It can be paired with a matching Vienna Outdoor Side Chair which features the same seat back. Both the armchair and side chair can be stacked for easy storage.
10. Matilda Outdoor Stacking Chair
Last but certainly not least, comes our Matilda Outdoor Chair and Matilda Outdoor Armchair. When it comes to outdoor commercial chairs this is a proper workhorse – combining durability, practicality and style.
Manufactured from durable polypropylene reinforced with glass fibre so they are not only strong but are completely weatherproof too. They simply wipe clean and are fully stackable which makes them popular with cafes and coffee shops that have pavement tables.
Another plus point is the great range of colours Matilda chairs come. So they are guaranteed to brighten up a pub garden, cafe courtyard or restaurant patio. Choose from black, green, red, white, yellow, grey and sand. We also stock matching Matilda Outdoor Bar Stools.
Easy ordering and quick delivery
If you’re looking to refresh your pub, cafe, restaurant, club or hotel dining area you can browse our extensive range of commercial furniture and order online. We also have a friendly and expert sales team who are happy to guide you through the best options for your venue’s requirements.
We can also help with customised, made-to-order solutions. 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 for an extra fee. Bespoke goods can take between 2 and 8 weeks to deliver. Contact our friendly sales team on 0161 408 2390 or email us for a quote at sales@warnercontracts.com.
A new year has begun and after a hard couple of years for the hospitality industry we seem at last to be inching towards a post-pandemic world. So it’s a good time to take stock. This blog post takes a look at some key trends that might affect hospitality design and commercial furniture in 2022.
Colour and shape
To encourage customers to venture back to eating and drinking outside of the home, hospitality venues will need to offer welcoming, comfortable environments.
Many interior design experts are predicting that the recent trend for mid-century rounded shapes and soft contrasts will therefore continue. Creating a ‘home away from home’ look will provide a calming escape from the uncertain outside world.
For 2020 the Dulux colour of the year was a pale green called Tranquil Dawn which was inspired by the calming shades of the morning sky. In 2021, Brave Ground was Dulux’s colour of the year, offering ‘a bolstering, balancing feel to any room’. For 2022 Dulux have again chosen a colour that chimes with themes of well being and a connection with nature.
This year’s Dulux colour of the year for this year is Bright Skies™. They describe it as: ‘An airy, light blue that’s … reflects the limitless skies around us…The soothing tone integrates nature into daily life, transforming spaces into a restorative escape from everyday stress.’
Dulux colour of the year for 2022 – Bright Skies™. Photo credit: www.dulux.co.uk
Shades associated with the natural world evoke a harmonious atmosphere and are great to use for restaurant and cafe interiors. They also go well with materials like wood, leather, and textured plaster.
In contrast to this ‘back to nature’ approach, Pantone formulated a striking and unique new shade of blue named Very Peri as its colour of the year for 2022. More vibrant than Dulux’s chosen shade, Pantone’s Very Peri embodies the ‘happiest and warmest of all the blue hues [and] introduces an empowering mix of newness’.
The vibrancy of Very Peri chimes well with the green and purple hues which elledecor reported as being ‘everywhere’ (including furniture) at Milan Design Week in 2021. Purple and the brighter hues of green can add a touch of extravagance and luxury to an interior design scheme.
Outdoor Dining and Social Areas
Outdoor fit-out for The Railway Pub in Essex by Warner Contracts Limited
Throughout the pandemic we’ve seen cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants utilise more of their outdoor space to offer customers safe dining areas. This trend will likely continue in 2022. In fact it’s thought that al fresco dining will become more of a permanent offering for many hospitality venues. We may well see more tents, canopies, igloos and pods offering year-round dining.
For pubs and bars, the trend for an ‘indoor-outdoor’ look is definitely here to stay, with matching sofa and armchair sets – such as our Marseille Outdoor Furniture Set – helping venues to create attractive social areas. Made from hard-wearing and weather resistant synthetic materials, these sets offer a more contemporary take on outdoor entertainment areas.
Experiential Dining
Eating out as an experience. Photo credit: Pixabay.com
During the various lockdowns many customers got used to ordering a variety of different cuisines from home delivery apps. So cafes, restaurants, and bars really need to offer an extra something to tempt customers to dine out.
This has given rise to what’s known as ‘experiential dining’. People are now not just looking for good food and service. Millennials in particular are seeking an ‘experience’ – something they can’t get from ordering in. This may involve sophisticated lighting and sound systems and even live entertainment. So, expect to see more creative interior design schemes in 2022 that offer atmospheric and themed dining environments.
Another rising trend is the ‘open concept kitchen’ – where diners can watch fresh ingredients being expertly prepared and transformed into delicious dishes.
If you’re looking to refurbish your dining area in this post-pandemic period then you’ll need to pay close attention to what your customers expect.
Sustainability
The hospitality sector has a big role to play in protecting our environment and is already working towards greater sustainability. In recent years there has been a shift in focus to reduce food waste, to source ingredients locally and eliminate disposable products.
A venue’s choice of materials for interior decoration and furniture can also have an impact on overall sustainability. Increasingly, restaurant, bar and cafe owners are looking for furniture that has been designed with long-lasting, high quality materials and which, after a long life, can be re-used or recycled.
Examples of renewable raw materials include bamboo, cotton, and especially wood. Look for the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) logo on commercial wooden furniture to be sure that it has been made from responsibly harvested wood.
Commercial furniture can also be made from recycled materials such as PET or old wool fibres. Our Carter Outdoor Tables are a great example. Available in square and rectangular sizes and in poseur heights, our Carter range is made from recycled plastic and provides an attractive, durable and sustainable outdoor furniture option for cafes, restaurants and bars. Additionally, furniture manufacturers are moving away from using potentially toxic substances in the manufacturing process. For instance, by using low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and water-based glues.
Other areas to look at include buying from commercial furniture suppliers that use more locally-sourced materials and have shorter supply chains. We are happy to say that the vast majority of commercial furniture stocked by Warner Contracts Limited is sourced right here in the UK.
Talk to us about your commercial furniture needs
Warner Contracts Ltd has a huge range of contract quality commercial furniture which can be ordered directly via our website.
If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for then give our expert sales team a call on 0161 408 2390 or email sales@warnercontracts.com. Our friendly team will help you identify the right furniture to suit your venue and customers – from our bespoke and standard ranges.
Discounts are available on bulk orders and, as most of our stock is UK-sourced, our standard delivery time is just 1-3 working days. For faster turn-arounds we offer an express 24-hour service for an extra fee.
Broadly speaking, to the layman, furniture is just furniture. There to be sat on, to eat things from or somewhere to rest a cup or glass. However, for businesses there is a world of difference between items which are manufactured for domestic use and those put to work in a commercial environment.
For cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and businesses of all sizes in the hospitality industry choosing the right contract furniture is a critical decision. Therefore, in order to help you make the right choice, we have put together a list of the primary differences between domestic and commercial furniture – what you need know and what factors to beware of.
High Usage Furniture Needs High Performance
Even the very best domestic furniture is not designed for the kind of constant use that chairs, sofas and tables, etc. are exposed to in a high traffic, commercial environment. In many instances domestic furniture is designed for occasional rather than the kind of continuous employment that can be expected in a business.
Commercial furniture on the other hand, is manufactured with durability in the face of regular use (& sometimes abuse) very much in mind. Utilising high quality materials and construction, contract furniture is designed to endure the demands of daily service, whilst still looking good and fulfilling its function.
As a consequence of this sturdy construction, commercial furnishings also last much longer than their domestic counterparts – retaining their attractive appearance and comfort long after an ordinary chair or sofa has gone to the great recycling centre in the sky. Needless to say, in terms of value for money this longevity also represents a great return on your initial investment.
However, this kind of robust performance doesn’t mean you have to settle for a drab, utilitarian look. Modern commercial furniture, with its almost limitless design possibilities and wide range of attractive materials, can give your business exactly the kind of exciting chic look you desire without having to compromise on resilience and stability.
Safety Testing for Commercial Furniture
Due to the fact that retail furniture for home use is expected to be only used occasionally the legal fire safety tests items must pass are of a lower standard than commercial furniture. Domestic fabrics and upholstery are bound by only BS EN 597-1: 2015 and BS EN 597-2: 2015, relating to their resistance to a smouldering cigarette and burning match respectively.
As commercial furniture is used in public areas the fabrics and upholstery used are tested to a higher fire retardant standard, namely CRIB5 – a much more stringent trial which tests the material’s resistance to a burning wooden crib.
Needless to say, the higher standards of fire safety demanded of commercial fabrics and upholstery provide a much greater level of reassurance to businesses – especially those such as restaurants and cafes where naked flames, in the form of candles, may be employed.
In addition, to the extra fire safety testing many items of commercial furniture are also extensively tested and certified under SATRA, the independent research and testing organisation and FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association) schemes.
Domestic vs. Commercial Furniture: Continuity of Availability
A no less concerning factor for businesses is the continued availability of furniture stock lines. For example, what happens if you want you want to add matching furnishings to your restaurant, cafe or hotel some time after your initial purchase?
For domestic furniture this could prove an insurmountable obstacle. Retail outlets frequently change their stock, with new lines, products and variants quickly replacing existing items. Such is the nature of the domestic furniture retail business – Sales seem to be the norm with a constant turnover of new styles and options being demanded by the general public. However, for the business customer this presents a real problem. Very often, a particular range of domestic furniture is only available for a very limited time (and sometimes in limited amounts) – leading to a frustrating inability to obtain the same type of furniture as originally purchased at a later date.
However, commercial furniture suppliers tend to hold stock for much longer periods of time, ensuring that business customers will feel reasonably confident that they can get hold of additional matching items, such as chairs, tables and stools, as and when they may be required.
Short Delivery Times
In a related vein, commercial furniture is often available in bulk at much shorter notice than is normally the case with domestic retailers, who can take weeks to fulfil a single order – especially if they construct the furniture to order, as is common practice to avoid the additional warehousing costs required to store large amounts of stock – A critical factor that could spell disaster if your new establishment is opening in a few days.
Contract furniture suppliers on the other hand are often able to fulfil your business needs much quicker. Since the majority of Warner Contract Furniture’s range is UK stocked we are able to furnish entire businesses within just 3 or 4 days, as standard. In some cases this has been accomplished in as little as 18 hours!
Such impressive turnaround times can be a real asset in nearly all businesses, where lost time very much equates to lost revenue.
How Much Does Commercial Furniture Cost?
So having established that commercial furniture is not only more durable, better constructed and more rigorously tested for safety you’re likely to be expecting to pay lot more per unit than for ordinary, household furniture? Well, the good news is that you’ll find contract furniture prices are actually quite affordable for businesses- especially with Warner Contracts Ltd.
With a diverse product range which has been carefully selected by our expert commercial furniture specialists, an efficient order process, fast delivery and great customer service, you’ll find that we offer amazing value for money and some of the best price deals available in the UK.
So you are planning the refurbishment of your business and are looking for some new table tops to brighten up your commercial interior. With such a wide variety of table tops available for commercial use in the UK, it can be quite a daunting task to find the right tops for your business. For this reason we have decided to write a post to help you understand the pro’s and con’s of each type to help you decide which table tops will be most suitable for your bar, restaurant, pub or café. We have listed each type of table top below with a description detailing all you need to know and how suitable they are for each type of commercial interior.
Types of Table Top
Laminate Table Tops
Many years ago laminate table tops were considered to be an inferior product when compared to their solid wooden counterparts. This was because in the early stages of this materials development, there were not many laminate decors available and the ones that you could buy used to crack or bubble and a new table top would look very used and worn fairly quickly. Decades have gone by since this was the case and with much improved manufacturing techniques laminate table tops not only look the part these days, but now there longevity far exceeds that of a solid wooden table top in the same commercial environment. Modern laminate tables are very hard wearing, resilient to scratching and heat resistant to 180° F which makes them perfect for commercial use where food is being served such as cafes, pubs and restaurants. They are also very easy to clean and easy to maintain.
The industry standard thickness for a laminate top is 25mm or 1” however 40mm and 50mm thicknesses are not uncommon and can be manufactured for bespoke orders. The thicker tops usually have a BDE (Built Down Edge) instead of being the same thickness all the way through. This not only keeps the cost down but it also has the benefit of concealing the table base attachment when looking at the table from the side. The core material of a laminate table top is MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) that has one of many laminate decors bonded to the top side and a balancing laminate (usually white or grey) bonded to the underside. The purpose of the balancing laminate is to keep the top flat and prevent it from bowing. Some manufacturers self-edge the table tops (use the same material on the edges as the top) this has its drawbacks because self-edges are prone to chipping and peeling. Warner Contracts only use matching ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) edges, which look like the same material as the top but are actually made from a shock absorbent plastic which prevents chipping and peeling.
As a general rule laminate table tops tend to modernise an interior; however there are literally thousands of decors to choose from, some of which have a distressed appearance and textured finish which could potentially be used to maintain a traditional room setting. Our preferred laminate supplier is Egger due to their expansive range of quality laminate decors which suit a broad range of commercial interiors. Decors can also be sourced from a number of other companies such as Formica, Polyrey, Woodlam, Abet and Oberflex.
Warner Contracts stock a good range of laminate table top sizes and shapes, we can also produce bespoke sizes when required. All of our table bases can be used to support laminate tops even if you have not purchased them from us. You don’t need to drill pilot holes to attach them, just use 1” self tapping screws and drive them in using a power drill.
MFC Table Tops
MFC (Melamine Faced Chipboard) has been broadly used in the production of commercial and domestic furniture for many years. It was first introduced in the 1950’s as a material to make kitchen work surfaces and cupboards out of. These days the use of MFC is even more widespread and now it is also used as a commercial table top material in the corporate, education, leisure and hospitality industries.
The principle behind MFC is very similar to that of laminates, however the core material is chipboard rather than MDF, as this helps to reduce the cost. And instead of having a high pressure laminate bonded to the top a thin layer of melamine is applied which seals the surface and provides protection against wear and tear. The melamine is applied to the top and bottom of the table which means there is no need for a balancing laminate and both sides of the table top look the same.
As with laminate table tops Warner Contracts only use ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) edging as this helps to prevent chipping and peeling. We currently stock MFC Table Tops in four colours and in a variety of sizes with bespoke options also available. All of the MFC tops we supply are 25mm thick and can be used with any of our table bases.
MFC Table Tops provide many of the same properties as laminates, they are easy to clean, hard wearing and heat resistant to 140° F.
Solid Hardwood Table Tops
One of the most traditional materials used to manufacture table tops is solid hardwood. It’s virtually impossible to replicate the warmth and character of this natural material with any man made substance, further to this each top has its individual wood grain and therefore is 100% unique. Hardwood Tops are a perfect way to maintain a traditional commercial interior such as in a country pub or restaurant.
Although not quite as durable as laminates, when finished with an AC (Acid Catalyst) lacquer Hardwood Tops will withstand everyday use in commercial environments such as pubs and restaurants. They are also relatively easy to clean however certain industrial cleaning agents need to be avoided so the lacquer is not discoloured.
Warner Contracts stock a variety of 25mm thick solid wooden tops in Walnut, Oak, Wenge and Natural Wood Stains. Due to the woodgrain it is important to drill pilot holes before screwing the table base into the top, if holes are not drilled you run the risk of splitting the top.
Due to the costs involved in manufacturing these tops, they are considered somewhat of a premium product and as such are towards the top of the price range.
Ash Veneer Table Tops
If you like the look of solid hardwood tops but find that they are outside of your price range then one possibility might be Ash Veneer Table Tops. These are manufactured with an MDF core and a very thin layer of real wood veneer bonded to the surface. The tops are then stained and lacquered in the same contract standard AC (Acid Catalyst) lacquer as real hardwood tops are. Ash Veneer Tops are 25mm thick and the MDF edges are stained to match the top. One of the main drawbacks of these tops is that you can see the MDF on the edges, this isn’t so much of a problem on the darker walnut tables but it is clearly visible on the lighter natural colour tables.
In theory due to the hard wearing lacquer that is used in the finishing process ash veneer tables are equally as hard wearing as the solid hardwood tops. That said over time when the finish has deteriorated solid tops can be sanded down back to raw wood, re-stained and re-lacquered to bring them back to new again. This process cannot be carried out on ash veneer table tops because they only have a thin layer of real wood on the surface.
Any of our contract table bases can be used to support ash veneer table tops, you do not need to drill pilot holes. You can attach the base using 1” self-tapping wood screws once the top has been aligned the right place.
These tops are ideal for indoor use in cafes, canteens, eaterys and some hotels and because of their low cost they can be afforded by many businesses. Their appearance is similar to solid hardwood tops and therefore can be used in both traditional and contemporary commercial interiors.
Werzalit Table Tops
If you like the look of laminate table tops but want to use them outside then Werzalit Table Tops might be the way to go. These are manufactured from a resin composite material that is moulded into various shapes and sizes. One advantage of this kind of table top is that there is no cutting involved in the manufacturing process, each top is moulded as one piece and therefore there are no edges that will let water in or peel.
Werzalit Table Tops are available from UK stock in a wide range of colours, with an even broader array of options available to order with a relatively short lead time (usually 2 – 3 weeks). They are manufactured in Germany and have been on the UK commercial furniture market for many years.
Similar to laminate table tops, Werzalit tops are heat and scratch resistant but they are also weatherproof and UV resistant. One drawback of these tops is that they are not designed for joining 2 or more tops together (to make a larger table when required), this is because they have a bevel edge instead of a straight edge.
Werzalit Table Tops can be used indoors or outdoors and are ideal for cafes, bars, restaurants, break out areas and canteens amongst other uses. There are other companies that manufacture similar resin composite tops such as SM France and Topalit, Warner Contracts can also source from them so please feel free to get in touch if you would like a quotation.
Teak Table Tops
Teak is a beautiful hardwood that grows in the tropics, it has been used as a material to manufacture table tops and other furniture for many years. Teak is a oil rich wood which means that it is naturally weather resistant, making it a perfect material for outdoor furniture production. It is however advisable to oil teak furniture quarterly to help maintain the rich colour of the wood and to prevent it from cracking. This is especially applicable if the furniture is exposed to direct sunlight.
Due to environmental concerns regarding the sustainability of teak hardwood it is important to only buy FSC rated teak products, such as the ones listed on our website. It is also worth considering some other more sustainable alternatives such as acacia and robinia wood to take the pressure off global teak farming. These alternatives are often cheaper and share the vast majority of the properties found in teak and aesthetically they are also very similar. Warner Contracts also stock these products too, please view our table top category.
Marble and Granite Table Tops
Often considered as the ultimate in quality, granite and marble table tops certainly portray a premium image. They will also last indefinitely in a busy commercial environment because they are practically impossible to damage through normal use.
These tops are manufactured with a layer of plywood bonded to the underside to allow pretty much any table base we supply to be screwed into them. Stone table tops are extremely heavy and will require at least two people to move each table. This may be a concern if you constantly have to reposition your tables to accommodate different size groups of customers.
Price is also an important factor to consider as marble and granite table tops are right at the top of the price range. That said once you purchase these tops you should never have to replace them for maintenance purposes. Warner Contracts do not stock these products however we have supplied many businesses with them over the years, if you would like quotation please get in touch with sales.
One of the unexpected consequences of the Covid pandemic that no one could have predicted was how important outdoor dining spaces have become for the hospitality trade.
Pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels with outdoor spaces were able to continue trading (when not in lockdown) as they were considered safer for customers and staff alike.
This threw a spotlight on commercial outdoor furniture and prompted many commercial venues to assess their existing outdoor chairs and tables and invest in new furniture to create attractive and safe spaces.
We sell thousands of tables and chairs each year and were amazed at the demand earlier this year when the roadmap out of lockdown was announced. There are chairs to suit every type of commercial venue and it can be daunting to try to choose the perfect chair.
So in this blog post, we’re highlighting five of our best outdoor chairs to suit a variety of different venues – you’re welcome!
1. Vienna Side Chair
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Vienna Outdoor Armchairs£128.00 Inc. VAT
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Vienna Outdoor Side Chair£106.00 Inc. VAT
First up, just like its namesake city, the Vienna Outdoor Side Chair is stylish and elegant. This is a cafe chair that gets noticed. And it will help to create a sophisticated, classy look to many outdoor cafes, bars and restaurants.
A strong yet lightweight aluminium frame with a black EPC finish supports a comfortable resin weave seat. So far so normal. But what sets this chair apart is its striking curved ‘loom’-like seat back made with bronze resin weave fibres.
A matching Vienna Armchair with the same seat back is also available. Both the armchair and side chair are fully stackable for easy storage and cleaning.
2. Madrid Outdoor Dining Chairs
For our next outdoor chair recommendation, we have to travel from the coffee houses of Vienna to the bustling pavements of the Spanish capital. Our Madrid Outdoor Dining Chairs will definitely bring some Spanish flair to the outdoor dining areas of your hotel, cafe, restaurant or bistro.
This sturdy chair has an aluminium frame that comes in a choice of natural or grey epoxy protective coating. And the seat and curved seat back features an attractive grey PL rope weave.They look great and they are practical too – and can be conveniently stacked up to three high. What’s more, you can create a stylish outdoor dining set by matching these chairs with our Madrid Outdoor Armchair and Madrid Outdoor Table.
3. Parma Outdoor Chair
The good thing about the colour black is that it goes with everything and looks smart. So if you’re looking for a versatile chair for the outdoor space look no further. Its name might The Parma Outdoor Chair might conjure up thoughts of Italian piazzas but will actually fit in with any cafe, restaurant or bar décor.
Sporting an attractive synthetic rattan-look for its seat and backrest, the Parma chair looks great in a garden-style setting. And you can mix and match this chair with other items in the range to create cosy seating for your customers.
The range includes: Parma Stacking Armchairs, Parma Stacking Sofa, Parma Stacking Tub Chairs, and Parma Box Chairs. Choose bright scatter cushions to make the Parma chairs and sofas even more enticing and comfortable.
The Parma Outdoor Chair has the look and feel of hotter climates. With its simple black colouring this is an exterior piece of furniture which is easy on the eye, easy to maintain and will withstand the elements.
4. Parade Teak Chairs
The next item on our top 5 list of commercial outdoor chairs is the Parade Folding Teak Chair. Looking like the big brother to the classic French Fermob bistro chair, our Parade chair looks great outside up market bars, restaurants and cafes.
They feature a sturdy steel frame and slats of hard-wearing, FSC-rated teak wood for the seat and back rest. Ideal for outdoor use, these chairs conveniently fold away so they can be easily stored when not in use.
So why not give your outdoor dining space a touch of Parisian flair with our Parade chairs and matching Parade Armchair? We also stock a large Parade Folding Table and Parade Square Tables to create a harmonious dining area.
5. Matilda Outdoor Chairs
We’ve included the Matilda Outdoor Stacking Chair on our Top 5 list of outdoor commercial furniture because of its looks and practicality. These chairs are manufactured from durable polypropylene reinforced by glass fibre so they are weatherproof and can withstand constant heavy use. They are also easy to clean and fully stackable.
Adding colour is a great way to refresh the look of your pub garden, cafe courtyard or restaurant patio. And with the Matilda Outdoor Chair you have a choice of seven colours: black, green, red, white, yellow, grey and sand.
We also offer matching Matilda Outdoor Bar Stools and Matilda Outdoor Armchairs.
How we can help
Warner Contract Furniture sources and stocks an enormous and growing range of commercial furniture to suit the needs of the hospitality industry. And 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.