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The smooth, curved lines of bentwood chairs are synonymous with timelessly chic European cafe style. And although we take this style of furniture for granted today, when it first appeared on the scene in the late 19th century, it was a truly revolutionary design development and marked an exciting departure from the heavy straight lines of the past.

Who invented bentwood chairs?

All bentwood furniture, including Trent Furniture's extensive range, derives from the first bentwood chair made by German-Austrian cabinet maker Michael Thonet in the 1850s in Vienna. The first of its kind was named the Model 14 and soon became known as the 'chair of chairs'. This gamechanger in the world of furniture design received a gold medal at the 1867 World Fair in Paris.

Thonet died just a few years later in 1871 but his unique innovation survives to this day. Thonet-inspired Bentwood chair suppliers continue to use the technique to produce furniture in this classic style. Bentwood furniture for sale in the 21st century brings to mind that golden age of the late 1800s and still rivals many modern techniques for durability.

How are bentwood chairs made?

Part of the genius of bentwood chairs is the way they are made, with no need for any extra materials apart from steam. Thonet's in-depth experimentation allowed him to perfect the technique of using steam to soften the wood, bending it into the desired shape, and then leaving it to cool and dry back into a completely solid form.

The results are striking, even in the present day. A bentwood armchair offers gentle, sweeping curves that allow the seat, back and arms to be more ergonomically designed. This makes the chair as a whole not only aesthetically appealing, but also more comfortable for the natural shape of the human body.

What happened next?

Thonet's sons continued his legacy and bentwood furniture factories popped up throughout Europe. Slatback side chairs are a further example of the technique, combining the bentwood steam method with a straight or curved slatted back rest.

By offering excellent economy of materials used, particularly by avoiding the need to cut curved shapes of wood out of larger, rectangular timber, the bentwood method is perennially popular throughout bars, restaurants, cafes and bistros. Not only that, it offers good environmental credentials for the modern world.

Why are bentwood chairs used in bars?

Bentwood chairs make popular bar furniture for all of the reasons already mentioned. They look good and have a traditional appearance that suits a lot of bars and pubs. They are comfortable to sit in, encouraging patrons to remain on your premises for longer. And because they are manufactured by bending wood rather than joining it, there are fewer joints that might require maintenance in the future.

A slatback bentwood side chair coordinates well with upholstered seating, and many bentwood chairs feature a padded and upholstered seat or a slightly hollowed, ergonomically designed wooden seat, again giving customers a comfortable place to sit.

Finally, their primarily timber construction means bentwood chairs match well with other wooden bar furniture, such as our Wellington Table or cast-iron framed Rectangular Bistro Table.

Need quality bentwood chairs?

If you need quality bentwood chairs for a great price, view the Trent Furniture bentwood chairs range now. And if you have any questions or need further information about our furniture, contact us using the link below, we'd be happy to help you.

Running a successful pub is both a science and an art. On the one hand, there's the admin associated with running any business - hiring employees, balancing the books and so on. On the other hand, the real secret of how to make a pub busy and successful lies in the atmosphere you create and customers' desire to stay for longer and come back sooner.

There are all kinds of different ways to achieve this, ranging from modern bar furniture to rustic pub furniture that gives your premises a traditional and homely feel. Of course it's not just about the decor, but your pub furniture creates the fabric of your venue, which you can then use to deliver services ranging from a good range of drinks, to home-cooked food, to entertainment like pub quizzes, jukeboxes and pool tables.

Pros and cons of running a pub

The pros and cons of running a pub can depend partly on how much freedom you have. If you're a bar manager for a large chain, you might not be able to make decisions that affect your business as freely as you'd like, but there are still ways to stamp your own personality on the way you interact with customers.

If you have much more management freedom, then you can really make the venue your own with your choice of pub furniture and decor, the types of entertainment you provide, and the selection of food and drinks on offer. Don't be afraid to try new things - you never know when you'll discover an untapped niche in the local market.

How to make a pub busy with benches

An often overlooked aspect of furnishing a public house is making sure you have enough pub and bar benches. Think of a traditional pub and they usually have bench seating running the whole way around the interior, providing a huge amount of extremely space-efficient seating for groups of different sizes.

Freestanding pub and bar benches create similarly space-saving seating but don't tie you down to having seating physically built on to the walls, so if you prefer to retain the ability to reconfigure your interiors for events or just to keep things looking fresh, they're a great option. A bench seat or sofa can also create a cosy extra seating area in a previously unused nook.

Cater for individuals

Groups might spend the most collectively but be aware if a large proportion of your clientele tends to visit your premises alone. Sitting alone at a large table surrounded by empty chairs can be quite daunting, but equally sitting alone at a table for one can feel very exposed as well.

Smaller tables with two or three chairs can be the Goldilocks option for lone customers while still catering for couples and small groups, and again consider benches and sofas as individuals can sit on these without feeling like there are empty seats all around them. For more ideas about how to maximise revenue from the space you have available, or to place an order, contact Trent Furniture on 0116 4736 834 or sales@pubfurnitureuk.co.uk.

Valentine’s Day is the most booked day of the year for restaurants, according to research from the British Hospitality Association, so making the most of it can provide a huge boost for any restaurant. We’ve put together some ideas for promoting your restaurant and creating a romantic experience to remember.

Tweak your restaurant menu for Valentine’s Day

Creating a special Valentine's menu can entice people searching for a special place to choose you. Not only does it allow you to have a specially curated menu of top dishes on what is one of the busiest nights of the year, it lets people know your establishment is doing something special for the event. You can also use your menu as marketing collateral, sharing on your website and through social media to encourage bookings before the big day.

Take bookings to boost exclusivity

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, restaurants tend to get booked up in advance so even if you don’t usually take bookings, it can be reassuring for potential customers to know that their romantic meal is secured. It will also give you an idea of numbers and how you may want to arrange your restaurant furniture to cater for these guests. According to the BHA, the key time that a guest is likely to reserve a table for Valentine’s Day is 15-30 days ahead, so giving the option to book this early will help you secure these forward-thinking diners.

Create a romantic atmosphere

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, the atmosphere should be warm, inviting and of course romantic! Soft lighting and gentle music can set a great tone from the moment a couple walks in. Décor also plays a big part in creating the right ambience. Valentine's Day decoration ideas for restaurants could include adding tablecloths, flowers and candles, but the important thing is not to overdo it. Couples will want to be able to see and speak to each other across a table so keeping things simple is key – think a single candle or red rose in a vase rather than a full bouquet!

Move your restaurant furniture to maximise tables for two

Valentine’s Day is all about couples, so arranging your seating to have plenty of tables for two will allow you to comfortably seat more guests and take more bookings. Rethinking and reshuffling your floor plan beforehand will also be a lot easier and less disruptive to the romantic atmosphere than doing it on the night. However, it’s important not to try and fit too many tables in even with the high demand, otherwise customers can feel crammed in and will struggle to hear one another. Read more about this in our guide to the best restaurant furniture layout for Valentine's Day.

Hire a live band or musician

Nothing says romance like beautiful music! If your restaurant has the space for it, hiring a band or musician adds a huge boost to the atmosphere and offers something a little more special. You can also advertise that you will be featuring live music on the night on your website, social media and in promotional materials in the restaurant itself.

Offer takeout meal options

Dining out on Valentine’s Day isn’t for everyone – some couples like to stay home and avoid the business – so what better opportunity to offer a takeout package option. A slightly more refined alternative to pizza or a supermarket meal deal, takeout meals give customers restaurant-quality food and allow you to serve more people even if you are fully booked. Pre-ordering can be important here and again this can be advertised weeks in advance.

Get your restaurant furniture just right for Valentine’s Day

Having comfortable and aesthetically pleasing furniture is an essential part of creating the perfect atmosphere all year round. Trent Furniture offers a wide range of options including chairs, tables and more in a range of wooden and leather finishes. View our full range of restaurant furniture here.            

In this commercial furniture buying guide we'll take you through 4 key things to remember when buying bar tables.

Tables are a key investment for your bar or pub, so it’s vital to make sure every box is ticked when it comes to finding a table that will withstand heavy use while looking great for years to come. Trent Furniture has a great range of commercial bar furniture, so it’s easy to find the perfect bar table and matching chairs and stools.

When making your decision on which bar table to choose, don’t forget to think about the following:

• Bar table height
• Bar table shape
• Bar table finish
• Bar table durability.

We'll now take you through each of these points in turn, and explain in more detail why they are all worth bearing in mind when choosing your bar table.

Getting your bar table height right

Trent’s extensive range of bar tables, chairs and stools are all standardised so that any combination of chair and table or high stool and tall bar table will work together seamlessly. However, if you are buying bar tables to go with existing chairs, it’s essential to make sure that the table is the correct height so that your chairs will stack under it neatly and provide ample legroom for customers. Also, when buying bar stools, it’s vital to check that they are the correct height for your bar as well as for any poseur tables on your premises. Again, Trent Furniture’s tall bar stools are designed to work with the standard height of most UK bars. 

What's the best bar table shape for your needs?

Rectangular and square bar tables are a popular choice as they can easily be used on their own or pushed together to accommodate larger groups. However, round bar tables provide an eye-catching contrast to square shapes and small circular bar tables paired with stools are the perfect solution when it comes to maximising your space in nooks and crannies where you may otherwise struggle to accommodate drinkers. This is particularly true in traditional pub settings where irregular floorplans are common. Styles like Trent Furniture’s popular Wellington bar table are available in a choice of shapes, heights and three finishes with various chair and stool options, meaning you can choose the same stylish theme throughout your varying bar furniture needs.

Perfect the look with a quality bar table finish

Wooden bar tables are the most popular choice for bars and pubs as not only does wood look great, it’s easy to care for too. Most of Trent Furniture’s wooden bar tables are available in a light oak, warm walnut or dark oak finish and your choice will depend on whether you wish to create a bright modern atmosphere or a more cosy and traditional ambience for your guests. As well as being available in a great range of sizes and shapes, all Trent Furniture’s bar tables can be supplied in either a solid or veneer finish.

Durability - buy bar tables that really last

No matter what style of bar table you choose, its ability to withstand heavy use by people who may not treat your bar furniture as carefully as they would their own dining table, is a must. Contract strength is essential to withstand everyday kicks and spillages. Trent Furniture’s bar tables have solid hardwood or cast iron bases, designed to look fantastic as they endure year after year.

Find the perfect bar table for your space today

To find out more about Trent Furniture’s extensive range of bar tables and matching chairs and stools please fill in our contact form or call 0116 2985 816 or 0116 2989 855.

What is Retro?

The term retro tends to be banded around a lot, but what does it actually mean? Retro furniture refers to furniture which is of a past age, which has recently come back into style. Retro furniture was popular initially in the decades of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Currently, you will often find newly made furniture produced to have the retro look, since its boom in popularity. So retro is, in fact, the opposite of outdated; it’s modern and we are set to see more of it in restaurant design in the future.

Revival of Retro

The last couple of years have seen the return of retro style furniture, usually alluding to pop-culture, fashion, and graphic design. The most iconic of all retro furniture is the 50’s American Diner style. In the ’50s, furniture became much more slender and sleek, creating a more modern profile. Bold graphics and bright patterns became more popular, with Formica-topped tables and chrome bar stools.

The 50’s American Diner style usually includes the checked black and white floor, and the classic red leather booths and armchairs, compete with flashy lighting and 50’s style artwork on the walls. Create an ‘All American’ themed diner or restaurant with classic faux leather diner benches and chairs.

At Trent Furniture, we offer a choice of red and cream or black and white upholstery with classic decorative stitching and sleek metal frames. Designing a restaurant, bar or café with a retro theme gives it character and personality. The retro look appeals to older audiences, who enjoy the style in a nostalgic way, while also appealing to a younger audience because of the recent revival of the style.

Benches

The American Diner bench is arguably the most memorable and iconic of all 50’s American diner furniture. Our American Diner Bench, is a perfect example of this, with the deep red with cream stripes immediately creating that 50’s feel. The bench is also useful to seat extra customers as it can seat two people and can be used with another additional bench to create the classic American Diner booth seen within pop culture.

However, if a booth really isn’t your style, our American Diner Two Seater Chair is a great alternative, as it will still give that retro feel to any space.

Chairs

There are a few different retro chair styles for the American Diner look. The classic American Diner combines chairs and tables throughout the main space of the diner, with a bar complete with tall chairs. Our American Diner Chair and our Tall American Diner Chair complete this look perfectly, or if you fancy including a classic stool to really amp up the look, you can with our Tall American Diner Stool.

Restaurants may want to go all out and revel in this funky retro style, but you can also celebrate this vintage style in a more subtle manner with just a few items of furniture as a nod to the 50’s diner style which customers will appreciate.

If you’d like to deck out your restaurant with 50’s American Diner furniture take a look at our American Diner Packages. We have a selection of chairs and tables in our American Diner Package, and chairs, tables, and two-seater chairs in our American Diner Restaurant Package.

Whatever design you decide for your restaurant, we cater to every style and taste. We have a wide variety of retro furniture beyond the 50’s American Diner style. Our other styles include Brentwood Furniture, French School Chairs, and Xavier Pauchard Tolix inspired furniture.

Our products are of high quality and are at an affordable price. All our furniture is designed for contract use and with UK fire resistant upholstery. To find out more about our retro furniture or any of our other ranges, get in touch today to speak to a member of our expert team.