The modern officers’ mess should combine the traditional feel of this long-established British military facility with the needs of today’s army officers. As it is primarily a place for dining and socialising, bar and pub furniture is generally a great match and as a result, many of the rules of good pub furniture also apply to the officers’ mess.
Read on for some top tips for furnishing an officers' mess for maximum comfort, flexibility and respect to tradition.
The origins of the officers’ mess
The term ‘officers’ mess’ derives from the former use of the word ‘mess’ in connection with food which appeared in the English language in the 13th century. "Mess" was used to describe liquid food such as soup or porridge and is used to this today as the name for the pudding Eton mess.
Although today’s officers’ mess is not quite as formal an environment as it was in the past, it is still a place where protocol and tradition rule. As a result, the various functions of the mess must be taken into account ranging from relaxed socialising to formal dinners.
The dining environment
Flexibility is key when choosing officers’ mess furniture as the room needs to cater for occasions ranging from everyday meals to formal regimental dinners with invited guests. Elegant yet durable banqueting furniture is essential. Trent’s extensive range includes attractive stackable chairs and foldable tables that can be easily stored and configured to accommodate a wide variety of occasions and numbers of guests. It’s also a great idea to invest in a chair and table trolley to enable staff to safely and efficiently set up and clear away functions.
Traditional refectory furniture is also a great option for comfortable and flexible dining in the officers’ mess.
The bar area
This is the social hub for the regiment’s officers so it’s important to include a good variety of seating options catering for those who wish to enjoy a quiet drink alone to large social gatherings.
Poseur tables with tall chairs are a great contrast to lower tables. Our range of traditional pub furniture includes both options to ensure consistency in whatever style you choose. For added comfort, armchairs and sofas are a welcome addition for officers who wish to sit back and shut out the stress of the day. Chesterfield furniture with its deep padded cushions and leather upholstery combines comfort with traditional English country house style.
Clever use of zones
If your officers' mess is open plan, you can create instant zone boundaries using sofas, benches and settles, as well as by changing the height of your chairs and tables, for example, close to the bar or near windows.
This variety helps to make the space look more interesting and can also help groups decide where to sit by defining areas more obviously for different sizes of party.
Classic military style
The British officers' mess is a byword for traditional style and we have plenty of military-inspired designs among our bar and pub furniture.
Our rectangular Wellington table is available in standard height and as a poseur or bar-height table for areas alongside the bar, as well as square and round pedestal designs. For hard-wearing, low-maintenance luxury, our admiral's chair in dark oak is a great choice.
If you'd like to know more about our range of officers’ mess furniture, please get in touch with Trent Furniture today.