It’s one thing to choose outdoor furniture for your home and garden, but it’s another in a commercial setting. There are many additional factors to consider, and choosing outdoor furniture for restaurants and hotels means considering those factors.
Depending on the type of hotel or restaurant you run, there are various outdoor furniture types that you’ll need to think about. From choosing suitable tables and chairs to considering additional features such as bins and parasols, here’s our quick guide to ensuring you choose the right restaurant and hotel-quality outdoor furniture.
Outdoor Tables for Restaurants and Hotels
This is where most people start their planning, and for good reason. The tables that you choose for outdoor diners and drinkers are critical to get right. They need to match the tone and themes of your business while also being comfortable and practical.
The good news is that you have many options. We’ll look at choosing the right seating next, but don’t overlook the increasing popularity of tables that include the seating already. For beer gardens and outdoor dining areas, options like picnic tables are extremely popular for a reason.
1. Easier Bookings
One of the main reasons why fixed seating is such a common sight in restaurants and hotels is that it makes things a lot easier when booking tables for diners. If you have separate chairs and tables, those chairs will get moved around. That can make things more difficult when your table of seven shows up, and the chairs are being used elsewhere!
2. Privacy
Then there’s the fact that guests at your hotel or restaurant don’t just want somewhere to sit and eat or drink. They want hotel-quality outdoor furniture that gives them some form of privacy. With fixed seating tables, the guests will be in their own space, able to chat easily, and have a more communal feeling. They will also often get more streamlined table service as your front-of-house team knows exactly where they are.
3. Accessibility and Inclusiveness
Guests at your establishment will come in all shapes and sizes and have various needs. Fixed outdoor furniture for restaurants can be suitable for all ages and can even come in the form of wheelchair-accessible tables. Not only will your customers be happy, but it can also mean more bookings as potential customers call around to discuss their seating options.
Fixed Seating vs Flexible
When choosing the best outdoor furniture for restaurants and hotels, fixed seating should always be something you investigate first. Separate tables and chairs tend to mean a lot more work, while options like the Forest Saver Tri Table add style to any establishment while making it easier to control the flow of your clients.
If you opt for more flexible seating options, always remember that you’re often going to have to buy more chairs than you think you need. Movable chairs mean that your seating arrangements will be much more difficult to police as your customers move them around.
Outdoor Seating for Restaurants and Hotels
But what if you want seating that’s there for guests waiting for the rest of their party? Or for smokers heading outside? In those cases, a stylish picnic table may take up a little more space than you can justify. The good news is that the solution is relatively easy.
A wide range of practical, hardwearing and comfortable park benches and seats are available. And when it comes to choosing the right hotel-quality outdoor furniture, or outdoor restaurant furniture for your establishment, it’s good to know that you have options.
From recycled plastic seats that will last for decades to cast iron seating for the traditional look and much more, you’re sure to find outdoor seating for your hotel or restaurant that matches your needs.
Peripheral Outdoor Furniture for Restaurants
You’ve got the big job out of the way, and your guests have somewhere comfortable and inclusive to eat, drink, and spend. But what other kinds of outdoor furniture do you need to consider? While that will mainly depend on the style and theme of your business, you may want to consider the following:
Parasols/Umbrellas
From shade on sunny days to sheltering from the rain, some covering is always a good option. Always think about the material if you do decide to opt for parasols. They tend to be available in either aluminium, which means strong support even when the weather is getting extreme, or fibreglass, which offers a little more flexibility. Wooden parasols sometimes provide the best of both worlds, so do your research before choosing weather protection.
Many fixed-seating restaurant tables and hotel seating will come with a parasol hole already in place. Like the Round Picnic Table, which comes with a parasol hole as standard.
Planters
Once you plan the essential aspects, you should also consider the decor. That’s where commercial planters come in. Filling your outdoor space with greenery always adds a touch of style and class to a hotel or restaurant, and planters are simply the most convenient way to get that more elegant feel.
When you’re choosing commercial planters , the best material to look for is recycled plastic. Those planters, unlike wooden ones, will never rot. They’re frost-proof and won’t be affected by even harsh sunlight. They’ll last over 25 years, so you won’t need to replace them anytime soon!
They can also be easily engraved with your hotel name or restaurant logo, adding that subtle little extra “chef’s kiss” of the perfect finish.
Litter Bins
While the waiters in your hotel or restaurant usually clear away any rubbish, having a few litter bins scattered around the outdoor space is always worth considering. In large outdoor dining areas, especially, an out-of-the-way litter bin can make the job of your waiting team significantly easier.
Then there’s the fact that some helpful customers might clear away their own litter, so make it easy for them to do so. Something like the Thriplow Litter Bin looks classic and stylish and is easy to empty, so your FoH team don’t get frustrated at the end of every shift.
How to Choose the Right Style for Your Outdoor Space
We have a more in-depth guide to outdoor furniture materials, so let’s cover the basics. If you want some more insights into the best materials to look for in your restaurant and hotel-quality outdoor furniture, check out the guide. Choosing the right materials can often be a balancing act. You need to consider a wide range of factors at once, with the priorities being:
- Versatility
- Comfort
- Lifespan
- Durability
- Maintenance.
Let’s take a quick look at your options:
- Wood : Easy to clean and tends to be resistant to weather issues. Some types of wood can rot, though, so for your restaurant or hotel furniture, choose denser woods like teak. We have a range of wooden tables available for your restaurant or hotel, and you can even paint them to match the colours of your establishment.
- Rattan : This is rarely a good option for commercial spaces. While it can look nice, it’s extremely vulnerable to mould and mildew, which you don’t want anywhere near your business. Then there’s the fact that rattan is a bad choice with today’s eco-conscious customers. Many species of rattan are under threat of extinction, and the harvesting process can be extremely harmful to the environment.
- Steel : Steel outdoor tables are an excellent choice for restaurants and hotels, as you might expect. They’re durable, easy to clean and come in a wide range of designs.
- Recycled Plastic : Not only do recycled plastic outdoor tables for hotels and restaurants have a guaranteed lifespan of 25 years, but they also have the added benefit of being maintenance-free. They won’t rot or splinter, and they’re effortless to wipe down after any spillages.
So always consider the materials used in your hotel’s quality outdoor furniture. If you need some tips and advice, we’re always happy to help. Simply contact the Earth Anchors team , and we can give you the advice you need to make the best decision for your business.
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