The Background

Spring Lane Farm is a family-run farm shop based in Mapperley, on the outskirts of Nottingham. The farm has been owned and operated by the Spencer family since 1939 and remains a fully working farm today. Building on the success of its popular farm shop, the family made the decision to expand its offering by opening an on-site café.

Like many farm shops across the UK, the introduction of a café was seen as a way to not only increase revenue, but to significantly enhance the overall visitor experience. The Spencer family envisioned a rustic, on-farm café serving hearty, homemade food using fresh local produce, all within a warm and welcoming countryside setting that celebrated the farm’s heritage.

Spring Lane Farm Shop

The Task

The Old Parlour Café was created within the farm’s former dairy shed, the very space where cows were once milked. This repurposed building became the foundation for the café’s character, inspiring a quirky, rustic aesthetic that the client was passionate about preserving.

Originally planned to open in summer 2025, construction delays pushed the opening back, heightening anticipation for the project. The client approached Contract Furniture Group with a clear vision: a relaxed, eclectic interior featuring industrial touches and a standout fixed seating centrepiece.

Our role was to translate this vision into practical, durable seating solutions that would work for a busy hospitality environment while staying true to the character of the space.

Spring lane Farm Shop Cafe

The Work

Loose Furniture

To achieve the desired eclectic, rustic look, we worked closely with the client to select table tops and bases that complemented the café’s interior features, including reclaimed wood counters, industrial milking cluster lights and a striking central olive tree feature.

We supplied a range of wooden table tops in different woods and finishes, with the client choosing our pine table tops in a rustic Rugger Wax finish. This finish offers a warm, weathered appearance with an industrial edge, perfectly aligned with the café’s countryside aesthetic. The table tops were supplied in 700mm square and 1200 x 700mm rectangular sizes, providing flexibility for different seating layouts and group sizes.

To further enhance the industrial feel, Zinc table tops and grey concrete-effect laminate tops were also selected. The laminate options offered a practical solution, as they are scratch resistant, easy to maintain and cost-effective, without compromising on style.

All table tops were paired with models from our best-selling Profile table base collection, finished in matte black. Featuring a mix of twin, square and round-column bases, the steel construction and contemporary design added to the eclectic, curated look the client was aiming for.

Spring Lane Farm Cafe

Fixed Seating Centrepiece

The client wanted a true focal point for The Old Parlour Café: a central olive tree surrounded by bespoke fixed seating. As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of contract fixed seating, Contract Furniture Group supported the project from initial site visit through to design and installation.

Following detailed measurements and consultations on site, our team designed a unique four-segment curved booth that wrapped around the olive tree. The design included a diamond-shaped opening at the centre, allowing the tree to sit proudly above the seating.

For upholstery, the client wanted a cost-effective yet high-performing material that resembled leather. Our sales representative, Louisa, recommended Iliv Saddle, a worn leather-look fabric that balances practicality with a luxurious finish. Ideal for busy hospitality venues, the fabric is stain resistant, antibacterial and waterproof, making it perfect for long-term use. The seating was finished with a deep-buttoned back to highlight the classic, rustic feel.

Spring lane Farm Cafe Fixed Seating

This project marked the first time we had created such a large, curved fixed seating unit mounted on castors. Significant attention was given to engineering and weight-bearing requirements to ensure durability and ease of movement. The inclusion of concealed castors allows the seating to be easily repositioned, offering flexibility for events and reconfigurations.

Rustic metal hinges were added to each section, allowing the segments to separate and be relocated along the walls when required. In addition to the centrepiece, we also supplied a 3300mm straight run of wall-fixed seating in the same deep-buttoned faux leather to maintain design continuity throughout the café.

 

The Result

Spring Lane Cafe and Farm Shop

The Old Parlour Café officially opened in December 2025 and has quickly become a hugely popular destination, praised for its warm atmosphere and comforting, countryside-inspired food.

Contract Furniture Group was proud to support a local family business in expanding its offering. Through our extensive range of loose furniture and our bespoke fixed seating capabilities, we helped bring the client’s vision to life, by creating practical, flexible and visually striking pieces designed to support the café’s ongoing growth.

This project is a great example of how thoughtful design, durable materials and close collaboration can transform a unique space from concept to completion.