The Oystercatcher, Vintage Inns, Littlehampton
15 Jul 2024
The Barn, Chichester
25 Aug 2023
By
TheContractCrew
The Background
We have been working with the Harvester brand for several years now, rolling out site refurbishments for many of their locations in order to turn them into contemporary eateries in-line with the Mitchells and Butler vision for the 150-site chain. One of our most recent projects was at The Barn, a family-friendly Harvester restaurant in Chichester.
The Task
As well as enhancing guest experiences, the concept of sustainability lies at the heart of Harvester's continuous programme to refresh its existing sites. This means revitalising existing furniture by removing and returning worn furniture back to our workshop where frames are rejuvenated and reupholstered by our highly skilled team – rather than being replaced. By choosing to refurbish its furniture rather than opting for new pieces, Harvester is reducing waste and minimizes its environmental impact. Not only does this approach promote sustainability, but it also allows the brand to maintain a consistent aesthetic and preserve the character of its establishment.
The existing look of The Barn was very much that of a traditional pub, with chequered fabrics, oak-stained furniture and garish carpets. Together with the interior design agency, Inventive Design Associates, we started to transform this tired-looking space into a modern family restaurant.
The Work
To begin with, a site visit was completed to assess which furniture could in fact be reupholstered, this allowed the team to offer advice on which items could be updated or which would need replacing.
The current design of the venue consisted of multiple fixed seating areas including booths, L-shaped designs and longer pieces that were wall mounted, this allowed our team of upholsterers to easily refresh the fabrics, replacing them with more aesthetically pleasing fabrics such as abstract patterns, including Diez Strobe and Cascade by Sunbury. To improve the flow of the venue we installed new fixed seating areas, this also helped with the increase of covers Harvester could accept.
As part of the refurbishment, we rejuvenated well over 100 side chairs alone, sanding down frames to remove imperfections before re-polishing and replacing the fabrics in a range of different patterns and styles. Similar work was also undertaken on over 50 table tops.
To bring in a more contemporary look new furniture was also sourced and upholstered, including our Semifreddo Side Chairs, Memphis Side Chairs, Dean Carver Chair and our Barrel Low Stool. To maximise efficiency new Dumb Waiters were made to clients' specifications and installed on site.
The Result
The Barn is now a warm and friendly space, that boasts a modernised feel, featuring rustic and industrial assets, as well as bold prints, illustrative wall art and tonal paint colours. The adaptation of layout and operational floor planning has allowed the venue to increase its covers and welcome more guests.
Through Harvester's dedication to reusing and repurposing, they are setting an example for other businesses in the industry and taking a step towards a more sustainable future.
