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Applying for street furnishing grants following Coronavirus

A number of local councils are setting up grant schemes as part of city wide recovery plans following the covid-19 outbreak so its worth being in the know and checking if your local council has business support funding available and whether you are eligible!

The schemes allow for independent restaurants and cafes to apply for grants to help with purchasing appropriate outdoor furniture and other outdoor goods to support their business to operate safely within the government guidelines.

How Do I apply?

Contact your local council to find out if they are offering grants or running schemes to support local business, if they are then you can usually submit an application online for funding. Most will require a copy of the quote for the items you would like to purchase and a copy of the plan with your proposed layout for outside seating. We can provide a formal quote by email so contact us for a same day quote with detailed pricing for you to submit with your application. All of our quotes are valid for 30 days so you have plenty of time to secure your funding before finalising the order.

Many schemes won’t have a specific deadline for applications but will continue to accept applications until all funds are allocated so its worth acting quickly to secure funds if you are eligible!

How do I know if I am eligible?

Again, this will be a case of contacting your local authority. Grants are generally for independent businesses and there will be certain criteria you will need to meet. You should be able to find this information online or by contacting the council.

Most grants are for businesses that provide table service food and either already have a street license or have applied for a temporary one under new government guidance. Applying for a street café or pavement licence can usually processed online. More information can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pavement-licences-draft-guidance/draft-guidance-pavement-licences-outdoor-seating-proposal

What can the grants be spent on?

This will ultimately depend on your local council and you would need to contact your local council or visit their websites for details but most grants are for the purchase of physical goods so this could include furniture such as tables and chairs, social distancing barriers, heaters or other items that enable you to comply with local policies relating to street café trading or pathway licensing.

Any furniture you purchase should be suitable for outdoor use so make sure you are buying from a reputable company and preferably one that specialises in furniture for contract and commercial use. Its important to choose tables and chairs that are of a high quality and that are complimentary to the surrounding area. At Trent Furniture we stock a wide range of outdoor furniture and chairs such as our Monaco Chairs which come in a choice of colours and finishes so that you can select a look that fits in well with your local area.

What happens if I am successful in obtaining a grant?

Once the grant has been approved and you have an agreement in place you will be able to purchase the goods so you would just need to contact the supplier of your selected quote and request to go ahead with the order. As our quotes are valid for 30 days, it gives you plenty of time to get everything in place before finalising the order. Once the goods have been purchased and delivered you will be able to set them up in the agreed outdoor space or street side area in line with the local licensing requirements. Again, these requirements will be specific to your local government.

You will usually need to provide proof of payment via bank statement and relevant receipts or invoices to submit your claim and the local authority to release payment. 

If you need a quote for outdoor furniture then please do get in contact with us at Trent Furniture. We are based in Leicester and offer fast nationwide delivery. We stock a wide range of outdoor chairs and tables that are weather resistant, stackable and easy to store! We may be able to offer discount on bulk orders and to help businesses to operate safely under the new guidelines so please do not hesitate to get in contact with us on 0116 286 4911.

You can view our full range of outdoor furniture online here

Links to local schemes

Leicester - https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus/coronavirus-business-support-grant-funding/street-cafe-furnishings-grant/ 

Swansea - https://www.swansea.gov.uk/outdooradaptationgrant

Pembrokeshire - https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support/cafe-culture-grant

Liverpool - https://liverpool.gov.uk/withoutwallsfund

The term pallet furniture is used to describe the upcycle of wooden pallets, the flat structures used for transporting, lifting and storing heavy goods, into both indoor and outdoor furniture.

The historic origins of pallets

In medieval times, a pallet was a makeshift bed made of a piece of cloth stretched over some straw or hay and mainly used by servants who were required to sleep at the foot of their masters’ beds. As living standards have evolved, pallets became best known as the familiar stackable wooden platform for holding goods.

Imaginative upcycling of pallets for furniture

Most pallets are resused until the time comes for them to go to landfill or be burned for fuel. However, there is an increasing trend towards prolonging the life of this relatively inexpensive yet sturdy material by upcycling pallets in good condition to make furniture. Not only is this an eco-friendly and innovative DIY trend, it ticks the style box too with the resulting furniture’s modern, industrial vibe.

Pallet furniture as individual as you are

You can use reclaimed pallet wood to create a real style statement in your home. The material can be used to create anything from a stunning centrepiece coffee table or kitchen table to quirky extras like coat hooks, cupboard units and shelves. Let the natural beauty of the wood take centre stage or add your own style stamp by painting or staining the wood to create a truly unique piece of furniture for your home.

Create bespoke garden furniture using pallets

Hardwearing and functional pallet furniture really comes into its own when it comes to creating a modern, versatile outside space. As well as being used for chairs, tables and sofas, pallets can be repurposed to create outdoor planters, bar areas and BBQ storage units. Removable padding and cushions can be used to inject a dash of colour and to add an element of softness and comfort to the clean, modern lines of your outdoor pallet furniture.

Making pallet furniture - the perfect DIY project

A quick internet search provides plenty of guidance and inspiration for people who want to have a go at making their own pallet furniture. However, if DIY is not your thing, you can still achieve this cool modern look by buying pallet furniture from a vast array of artisan manufacturers.  

Pallet furniture for bars and pubs

Due to the pandemic, the hospitality industry is seeing an unprecedented shift in pubs updating and expanding their outdoor seating areas in order to be able to increase the number of customers they can welcome in a safe and socially distanced way.

Whether it’s a few planters or a statement table, the pared back style of outdoor pallet furniture goes well with many styles of outdoor furniture including Trent’s stackable Monaco wood effect chair and Capra table, which is available in a square or round table top for added versatility.

Further reading on pallet furniture

For more information about the pros and cons of pallet furniture, check out our guide comparing pallet and rattan furniture.

Quality furniture for the hospitality industry

Trent Furniture provide a fantastic and competitively priced range of furniture for the interiors and exteriors of pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and more. Whether you are looking for traditional or modern styles, we have the perfect solution. To find out more, please call us on 0116 2988 583 or fill in our contact form.

Scratches are inevitable on any wooden table top, but they can be a particular issue in hospitality settings where heavy use by people who may not treat the furniture with the same degree of care as they would their own, takes its toll.

Although scratches can be dismissed as mere cosmetic damage, letting marks build up on your wooden tables will quickly create the impression of a lack of care and even cleanliness which may put customers off, so it’s important to deal with them as they arise.

The good news is that dealing with scratches is not usually as difficult or expensive as many people think.

Prevention is better than cure

Although scratches are bound to happen, it’s important to choose a material that provides some resistance. For pubs and restaurants, it’s vital to avoid scratch-prone softwoods like fir, spruce and pine in favour of hardwoods such as birch, oak or maple, whose denser nature makes them more resistant to accidental scratches.

Choosing the right wooden table

Trent offers a wide range of hardwearing wooden tables in a choice of veneer or solid finish. If you are looking for a large table for a traditional pub or restaurant setting, the Rectangular Tudor Table is a fantastic choice. Available in dark oak only, as the classic style lends itself so well to a traditional dark finish, this contract quality table is built to withstand heavy use by drinkers and diners. It comes in a range of sizes so you can match your tables to the exact layout of your space.

When it comes to side tables, Trent’s Wellington Pedestal Table is a smart choice for smaller spaces and nooks and crannies. Again, this hardwearing wooden table is built to last and it is available with a square or round top in a choice of light oak, dark oak or walnut to complement any interior design scheme.

Tricks of the trade

The best scratch removal method will depend on the severity of the scratch and the type of wood. These methods are all tried and tested ways to remove scratches from wooden tables:

• Oil and vinegar: mix half a cup of white or cider vinegar with ½ cup of cooking oil and rub onto the scratch using a microfibre cloth. For minor surface scratches, try combining the oil with lemon juice.
• Iodine: if your scratch is on a dark wooden table, try carefully applying a few drops of iodine with a cotton bud, wiping away any excess so it doesn’t stain the surrounding wood.
• Car polish: if your table has a polished finish, rubbing gently and sparingly with car polish may do the trick.
• Vaseline: while it will not remove a scratch, applying Vaseline and leaving it overnight may encourage the surrounding wood to swell up and surround the scratch, improving its appearance.
• Mineral oil and pumice: combine mineral oil and powdered pumice to make a paste, then gently rub on to the scratch using fine steel wool. Remove the paste with a damp paper towel before buffing with a dry cloth.
• The store cupboard: tea, coffee, walnuts, shoe polish and even peanut butter can all be used to fix wooden table scratches in certain circumstances.

Of course, if the scratch is particularly deep, it may be necessary to get a French polisher to restore the damage professionally.

Repairing other types of table tops

For further information on table top care, you can also read our handy guide to removing scratches from glass table tops.

Hard-wearing wooden tables for pubs and restaurants

For more information about our great range of stylish and durable wooden tables, please call 0116 2988 583 or fill in our contact form.

While pub gardens have long been a key feature of the Great British Summer, this has never been more the case than in the summer of 2020 as the public returns to bars and pubs in an enthusiastic but socially distanced manner.

Now that they can welcome guests again, publicans all over the UK are looking to make the most of their gardens as they cross their fingers for plenty of sunshine for the rest of the summer. Due to the new importance of maximising outdoor space whilst adhering to social distancing regulations, many landlords are refreshing and revitalising their pub gardens with new outdoor furniture. 

It’s a given that any pub garden furniture must be both durable and weatherproof, however there are plenty of styles that fit into these non-negotiable categories. Here, we take a look at the pros and cons of the two popular styles of rattan and pallet furniture.

Durable rattan pub garden furniture

Rattan and wicker furniture are both stylish and practical choices for your pub garden that will stand the test of time in terms of both fashion and durability.  Trent’s Monaco Wicker Stacking Chair is water resistant and can be stacked up to ten chairs high, meaning it’s easy to put into storage when autumn arrives.

Its eye-catching aluminium frame and natural, black, green or red wicker means it’s equally at home in a country pub garden as a city centre bistro terrace.

Another advantage of the Monaco Wicker Stacking Chair is its versatility; it’s also a popular choice for indoor use in venues such as social clubs, student unions and leisure centres.

Weatherproof pallet outdoor furniture

Upcycling pallets to make furniture is both a trendy and eco-friendly way to create unique pub garden furniture. Certainly, if you’re a dab hand at DIY, this can be a cost-effective way to create tables and seating for your beer garden. Many people opt for accents of pallet furniture in combination with more traditional outdoor choices. For example, Trent’s UV and water resistant Capra Round Table, which is also available with a square top, looks great next to pallet furniture and planters thanks to its stylish synthetic teak top and aluminium base.

A protective clear lacquer coating and adjustable feet add to its practicality.

Indeed, combining the two styles can be the perfect solution. While pallet furniture looks fantastic, it can be more difficult to source if you are unable to make it yourself, and it is less versatile when it comes to moving around and storing.

Find your perfect pub garden furniture

Whatever your theme, Trent can help when it comes to finding the ideal outdoor furniture for your bar or pub.  For more information, please call us on 0116 2988 583 or fill in our contact form.