How to plan your pub furniture budget this summer

As a pub owner, you’ll undoubtedly understand the importance of contract furniture for your setting.  

Now the clocks have gone forward, the days are getting longer and the nights are getting lighter, you may be thinking about how to transform your outdoor space, or how to give your pub interior a fresh new look for your summer visitors. 

Furniture is an extremely important ingredient in the recipe for success for a pub. It plays a huge part in the feeling, ambience and character of the space, and the overall decor is vital for your customers and potential customers perceptions of your venue.  

Money isn’t always available in abundance, however, especially for large projects. Our pub furniture suppliers at Eclipse have therefore shared the following tips and ideas on how to plan your pub furniture budget this summer! 

Our top tips for planning your summer pub furniture budget: 

1. Plan and prepare 

We’ve stressed this many times before, but preparation and planning are absolutely essential when it comes to furnishing/refurbishing your pub – and this is even more vital when taking into consideration what you’re trying to achieve with your venue and within what budget.  

After all, there’s no point in planning something that’s just totally out of your price range! 

Start by thinking about what you’re planning for – undoubtedly, if you’re having a refurb or preparing for the summer season, there’s more to think about cost-wise than just pub furniture.  

So, write it down, and make sure you over-budget and add in some extra for contingency purposes. 

2.  Be strict 

Is your budget part of a refurb or refit pot only, or is it coming from somewhere else and part of a larger entity, and something you need to factor in within your annual budget?  

You should think about what money is going to where and make sure you stick within your budget. It’s definitely wise to record what you’re spending daily, otherwise, it’s just too easy to lose track and go over budget! 

3. Know which items to make a priority 

If you’re planning for the summer months and want to make the most of your outdoor space as much as you possibly can, then draw out what you need and where it’s going to go – don’t leave this to chance! 

What items do you need to ensure that you’re making the most of your outside space? How can you ensure your customers are comfortable, not too cramped, shaded from the elements? The list goes on… 

4. Shop smart 

It’s important to make sure you don’t buy the first pub furniture items you find. If you’ve followed our steps above, then you’ll know what you need to maximise your space. Now, you need to spend some time researching online! 

What are the types of prices things are selling for? Call pub furniture suppliers to see if they will reduce the prices of your desired items or to see if you can benefit from economies of scale. Do they have clearance or sale sections? If so, make sure you sift through these to see if there are any hidden gems to fulfil your pub furniture needs! 

5. Some additional handy tips: 

Re-arrangement  

Overhauling your venue doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend hundreds or thousands of pounds on all things new. Sometimes you can simply re-jig the tables and chairs and voila – you have a fresh new look! 

Table overhaul 

Good contract furniture which is taken care of and maintained shouldn’t need replacing for a long time. However, if your tabletops are looking a bit shabby (after all, these see the most use and most damage), you can easily replace them.  

Generally, pub furniture suppliers sell tabletops and table bases separately, which means it’s less of an expense to solely replace the top half. 

Accessorise 

You can create an oasis of calm just by adding some pops of colour in the form of pots and plants, and string lighting/lanterns and even artwork. Feature candles on each table, and vases of flowers. These will instantly brighten your area, and won’t cost the earth! 

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to budgeting for your pub furniture – or any other setting for that matter.  

However, you can certainly make a difference in the way you spend your money with some careful upfront preparation and planning. What this also means is that you may be able to achieve more than you thought as well, especially if you shop around wisely! 

Ready to start planning your pub furniture budget? 

Be sure to start on the right foot by exploring the pub furniture options we have available here at Eclipse!