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As the hospitality industry prepares to reopen in the coming months, many restaurateurs are taking time to consider how they can make the most of their available space whilst providing a safe, socially distanced environment for patrons. We’ve put together this guide to the furniture types and layouts that can help you create a restaurant space that is not only safe but inviting.

Please note that whilst we are experts in all things furniture, you should always follow the latest government guidelines around providing a COVID-19 safe venue.

Create clear paths throughout the space

One of the key things to consider when it comes to layout and furniture is that you will need to provide adequate walkways throughout your restaurant. This needs to include routes for customers reaching their table and making trips to the bathroom, bar and outdoor areas.

You will also want to ensure employees can safely make their way around the restaurant to carry out their duties.

Take the dining experience outside

If you have outdoor space available on your premises, now is the time to make the most of it! Previous lockdowns, the rise of European style al fresco dining, and customers’ concerns over enclosed spaces have all contributed to a boom in outdoor dining and drinking.

Whether you’re lucky enough to have a garden-style outdoor area, or even a space in front of your restaurant, adding weatherproof outdoor seating options will increase your capacity and draw in customers during the warmer months.

Our article on street café furnishing grants can tell you more about pavement licences and any government support that may be available to businesses.

Choose skinnier furniture pieces

With the need to ensure all tables are well spaced it’s only natural that capacity will have to be reduced. You can however mitigate this by choosing ‘skinnier’ furniture options which allow you to fit more smaller dining spots throughout your restaurant.

Smaller square tables designed for 2-4 diners are ideal as they can be kept as they are for smaller parties or pushed together for larger household groups. You may also want to consider using vertical space by adding poseur tables and stools. These can also create the perfect front of house waiting area for patrons to enjoy a drink whilst their table is prepared. 

If you want to create a more traditional look, farmhouse chairs are a timeless option that slot neatly under dining tables and wear well over time, whilst still taking up minimal space.

Add private booths

Dining booths create private areas which are ideal for housing slightly larger households. When placed along walls or corners they make good use of space and are naturally suited to creating a separate, closed-off area.

Our American Diner Bench (above) adds a fun retro feel but is also easy to disinfect between groups thanks to its durable faux leather finish.

Social distancing furniture for your restaurant

Trent Furniture offers a wide range of tables and chairs for fast delivery, perfect for refurbishing or updating your restaurant ready to reopen. View our social distancing furniture here or call us on 0116 2989 920 today to talk to our furniture experts about placing an order.

It is well known that things such as food and entertainment at a banquet can make or break the evening, but so can the furniture. A table that’s too crowded or an uncomfortable chair could be remembered more than the delicious three-course meal or brilliant DJ. Therefore,  choosing the right furniture for your venue and number of guests is crucial.

With more than 60 years of experience, we know a thing or two about banquet furniture, from stacking chairs to folding tables. Whether it’s a wedding, conference or party, this beginner’s guide will help you find the perfect furniture for the perfect banquet.

Tables

Banquet tables might not look like much by themselves, but when dressed up with table cloths, flowers and decorations, they can be one of the focal points of a venue. Made from either plastic or plywood, we offer folding and stacking banquet tables in a range of sizes to suit almost any event.

Round banquet tables

Round tables are a highly popular choice for weddings and conferences. They are not only sturdy but also look great in both large and small venues, providing a sociable atmosphere to help conversation among guests flow easily. We supply round banqueting tables suitable for between three and twelve people, with foldable wishbone legs that simplify storage and movement.

Rectangular banquet tables

For more intimate events at smaller venues, rectangular tables are ideal for creating long banqueting tables with guests sat on either side. Our rectangular tables are available in light oak, dark oak or antique white, making them great for use both with and without table cloths for a more rustic style. These tables are also perfect for top tables at weddings, or buffet tables that can be cleared away during the event thanks to our foldable and stackable product selection.

Semi-circular banquet tables

Half-moon or semi-circle tables offer more versatility for your event as they can be used by themselves as presentation tables at awards nights or conferences for example, or can be placed next to another table to create additional seating. They could also be used to round off a row of rectangular seating, or as part of a buffet table for convenient access for all guests.

Chairs

Depending on the type of event you are hosting, guests may spend the majority of their time sitting down. Therefore,  the chairs you choose need to offer both style and comfort. Our selection of banqueting chairs includes modern and traditional styles, all of which are stackable to offer increased efficiency for non-permanent applications.

Modern banquet chairs

Modern chairs featuring steel frames and straight edges are popular for events such as conferences, due to their versatility of design for a number of different settings. Our Harrow and Cambridge Steel Stacking Chairs are perfect for use around tables or as rows of seating, with armchair options also available to provide even more comfort.

Traditional banquet chairs

Traditional chairs such as our Buckingham and Chiavari Stacking Chairs are the ideal choice for weddings and other celebrations. Thanks to their simple, classic design, they are perfect as they are, with a choice of gold, silver or limewash frame, but may also be dressed up with chair covers and bows to match any décor and colour scheme.

Upholstery

If you are going to be reusing your banquet chairs, again and again, it’s important to choose a fabric and design that will go with all manner of colour schemes and venues. At Trent Furniture, we upholster all of our banquet chairs onsite in our UK factory, making each one to order. This means we can provide more than 70 fabric choices, from tartan to suede, blue to red.

We use the highest quality British fire-resistant upholstery foam on our banquet chairs to ensure all venue safety regulations are met. We even supply individual banquet seat pads designed to fit our Henley and Chiavari chairs so you can transform the look of your seating or give it a new lease of life by simply swapping out the pad.

A banquet of any kind is a celebration so you want to make sure everything is just right, starting with the furniture. If you would like to find out more about our range of banquet tables, chairs, and furniture storage trolleys, browse our site or get in touch to speak to our experts about your requirements.