The Background

Opened in 2024, Alora is a contemporary tapas restaurant bringing globally inspired small plates to Mapperley High Street in Nottingham. Housed within a former bank building, the venue has been thoughtfully transformed into a warm yet vibrant hospitality space that balances character with modern refinement. Traditional architectural features sit comfortably alongside bold textures, layered materials, and a confident colour palette, creating an environment that feels both relaxed and design-led. From daytime dining through to evening cocktails, Alora has established itself as a social destination within the local area.

The Task

Contract Furniture Group was appointed to deliver a full turnkey fit-out for the project, working closely with both the client and the appointed design team. This was not the first collaboration between the client and Contract Furniture Group, following successful previous projects across Nottinghamshire, including The Old Flower Shop, Copper in Mapperley, and Gilt in Bingham. This established relationship allowed for a collaborative and efficient approach, with a shared understanding of quality, functionality, and design intent from the outset.

During the early planning stages, the restaurant layout underwent significant revision. The original concept placed the open kitchen at the centre of the space, but the building’s low ceiling heights made this impractical. By relocating the kitchen, Contract Furniture Group helped unlock a new layout that improved circulation, enhanced sightlines, and allowed the venue to comfortably accommodate 76 covers. The revised design also created opportunities for a stronger bar presence and more clearly defined dining zones.

The brief called for a rustic yet contemporary aesthetic, incorporating exposed brickwork, tiled finishes, timber flooring, and warm metallic accents. The design team presented an initial creative vision, and Contract Furniture Group developed this into a full roll-out, delivering a complete renovation that balanced visual impact with durability and day-to-day practicality.

The Work

Bespoke Joinery

At the heart of Alora is the bar, which was designed and manufactured as a bespoke centrepiece. The curved bar features a striking black marble top, finished with refined gold trim detailing along both the top edge and base. A rounded, slatted wooden frontage introduces texture and warmth, reinforcing the venue’s rustic character while maintaining a contemporary edge. One side of the bar sits in front of the open kitchen, allowing guests to engage with the theatre of food preparation, while the other faces the back bar area. Contract Furniture Group also designed and installed bespoke back-bar cabinetry, integrating storage and display solutions that support efficient service while enhancing the overall aesthetic.

Loose Furniture

Throughout the venue, loose furniture was carefully selected and customised to define each distinct area while maintaining a cohesive visual theme. In the bar area, Randers High Chairs upholstered in plush jade green fabric were paired with walnut-stained frames to echo the timber detailing of the bar. These sit alongside Benet Side Chairs with cane backs and upholstered seat pads, offering both comfort and style. The seating is complemented by rectangular Verde Rajasthan marble table tops with a bullnose edge, providing a soft, tactile finish. These are supported by Ares Table Bases featuring a luxury gold base plate and funnel sleeve, subtly reflecting the gold detailing found throughout the venue while ensuring stability and durability.

Moving into the main dining space, a long room running parallel to the front windows is flooded with natural light from three large skylights overhead. Here, Monica Side Chairs in a dark oak finish were upholstered in auburn brown velvet by Warwick. The fabric’s Easy Clean finish makes it particularly well-suited to a busy restaurant environment, offering both practicality and comfort. The chairs are paired with square reclaimed wooden table tops that introduce a rustic, lived-in quality. These sit on Harley Table Bases, a traditional wooden base finished in walnut polish, chosen to create contrast against the contemporary seating while tying in with the bar joinery and wall panelling. This table and base combination is used throughout the venue to ensure consistency and continuity.

A further dining area features timber flooring, dark green walls, and rich wooden wall panelling accented with gold details. Within this space, Dean Carver Chairs were bespoke upholstered, with the seat pads finished in mustard and sage Yarwood Heritage leather, selected for its soft, aged appearance that adds depth and authenticity. The chair backs were upholstered in a stylised wisteria print from the Linwood Wild Life Collection, a luxurious velvet with a subtle sheen. Additional piping details in mustard leather were applied to selected chairs, providing a refined finishing touch and reinforcing the colour palette used throughout the venue.

The most intimate area of the restaurant offers a cosy, enclosed atmosphere enhanced by leafy-patterned carpets and coordinated wall panelling and wallpaper featuring the same wisteria motif. In this space, Ambrosia Side Chairs were introduced for their versatility, comfort, and contemporary profile. Fourteen chairs were supplied in a mix of velvets and bouclé fabrics, layering texture and softness into the room. Walnut-polished frames and additional Yarwood leather piping details ensure these chairs sit seamlessly within the wider scheme.

Fixed Seating

Bespoke fixed seating played a key role in maximising seating capacity while enhancing comfort and visual continuity. In the bar area, Contract Furniture Group designed and installed a five-metre-long fixed banquette with deep horizontal fluting and a rolled top. The main body of the seating was upholstered in Sage Yarwood Heritage leather, while the rolled top was finished in Linwood wisteria velvet, creating a strong connection between the seating, the loose furniture, and the surrounding wall finishes.

A second fixed seating installation was created for the skylight dining room. Measuring just under eight metres in length, this banquette also features deep fluted upholstery and a rolled top. The main upholstery is again in Sage Yarwood leather, with the roll top finished in Fern Teddy, a bouclé from Kirkby, adding softness and contrast. Both fixed seating runs were completed with dark oak laminate plinths and integrated gold electrical sockets, combining practicality with a considered design detail.

Soft Furnishings

To further enhance comfort and atmosphere, Contract Furniture Group’s in-house soft furnishings team produced a series of bespoke scatter cushions for the venue. Upholstered in Rhoda Fern fabric by Kai, the cushions introduce a contemporary geometric pattern and additional layers of texture, helping to soften the space and reinforce its welcoming, relaxed character.

Outdoor Furniture

To support pavement dining at the front of the venue, Contract Furniture Group supplied Marseille Arm Chairs paired with compact laminate table tops in a white marble finish. Compact laminate was selected for its durability, weather and scratch-resistant properties, making it ideal for outdoor hospitality use. These tables are supported by Juliana Flip-Top Table Bases in chrome, a robust and practical solution that allows furniture to be easily stored when not in use.

Following the expansion of the outdoor area in 2025, additional furniture was introduced, including Oxy Side Chairs in Olive and Black. These were paired with black compact laminate table tops with a marble-effect finish, extending the design language of the interior into the exterior spaces.

The Result

Through bespoke joinery, thoughtfully curated furniture, and high-quality upholstery, Contract Furniture Group delivered an inviting and character-rich hospitality environment that supports both the operational needs and the creative vision of the venue. The layered materials, warm colours, and tactile finishes combine to create a space that feels lively, stylish, and comfortable throughout the day and into the evening.

While Alora originally opened as a culinary-focused restaurant, the strength of the bar design and its vibrant cocktail offering have helped it evolve into a social destination for drinkers and diners a like. Since opening in 2024, Alora has been awarded prestigious two AA Rosettes, recognising not only the quality of its food but also the overall dining experience—an experience enhanced by considered design and expertly delivered fit-out solutions from Contract Furniture Group.