CAFÉ CULTURE – THE PERFECT CAFÉ CHAIRS
Chairs are a humble staple for of cafes of all calibre, from the roadside grill to the high end, boutique café that graces the streets of capital cities all over the world, chairs are a necessity and can define a venue. Here we look at what makes the perfect café chair and the styles available.
Contract Chairs – In general
The first place to start is why you should only use contract grade chairs in your venue… Contract chairs are built to last and stand the heavy use that a commercial environment throws at them. You may be tempted to purchase furniture for your venue from well know stores (even flat packed!), but these have been designed for light residential use, and could fail when in use, causing issues down the line for you and your customers.
But contract furniture is built with stronger joints, upholstered with fabrics specifically designed for commercial use and in most case delivered ready to use or assembled onsite by one of our team.
You can find out more about what makes a contract chair HERE
Wooden CafE Chairs
The classic café chairs that everyone will be familiar with are the bentwood style chairs commonly seen in French bistros and on Italian squares – finished with rattan backs, they are elegantly classic and are still a hugely popular choice today. But there are many other styles of timber chairs available from contemporary styles to traditional shapes and designs.
The benefit of a wooden café chair is the finishing options. They can be stained to match wooden tables or existing items in a huge array of shades, or they can be painted in practically any RAL to give a pop of colour to the space.
Metal CAFE Chairs
If you’re looking for something a little different for your venue, then the option of a metal chair offers a wide variety of contemporary and sometimes quirky shapes. Slimmer frames and various finishes offer a huge range of variations and can be tailored to fit any design or style, and when paired with upholstery or timber elements can elevate your venue from a simple café to a ‘destination’
Upholstered CAFE Chairs
To upholster or not to upholster, that is the question! Upholstered café chairs offer additional comfort and another designed detail as all of our contract chairs can be upholstered in your own choice of fabric or leather, but the general rule of thumb is that this does increase the cost.
Un-upholstered chairs are normally a cost-effective option, and still offer a decent level of comfort, and both styles are available in designs with metal and timber frames. Rattan and Cane is often used as an alternative to upholstery as it adds detail to a piece, and can be combined with both classic and modern looks.
Outdoor Café Chairs
Cafes can vary in size and maximising as many covers as possible often involves street dining or outdoor spaces, and choosing products that have been made specifically for use outside is vital to ensure longevity of the products and reduce the need to constantly replace.
Outdoor furniture comes in all forms of materials, from budget friendly poly-prop, to teak and metal options. Most come with matching tables and other models and for space saving a lot of models are stackable for easy storage.
Stacking CafE Chairs
Both internally and externally, stacking chairs are essential when space is tight and to allow for flexibility of layout. They can be easily moved and stored when not in use, then brought back out when needed.
Also available in many different materials and styles, there is something for everyone, including lightweight polypropylene chairs, folding metal chairs and more solid timber chairs. We have a great range of stacking products, and have included in a handy guide for more information:
Second Hand CafE Chairs
If your looking for a really cost-effective option, our sister site Furniture for Trees has a great selection of pre-loved furniture that has already served a contract life and been saved from landfill. Each chair has been inspected for safety and is still fit for use but may have a few marks and scratches, and can easily be brought back to life with a bit of love and care. Prices start from £10 per chair so could be the ideal ‘budget’ option for venues looking replace or furnish a space for very little cost.
Hill Cross Furniture and Your Venue
At hill cross furniture we have a huge range of chairs suitable for use in cafes and other hospitality / commercial venues in many different styles and to suit all budgets.
But what makes us different and what we are really proud of is the service we offer around the products – from a fully project managed service to a range of delivery options that include delivering, unpacking and taking away all rubbish to save you the time and effort.
We also the capability to supply tables, sofas, bespoke banquette seating and so much more.
So, to discuss your project or venue with us, call us on 01325 378 307 or fill out the form below and one of the team will call you back for a chat.