Pubs on hunt for furniture bargains

Licensees are getting smart and cutting costs by investing an increasing amount in secondhand furniture.​ Suppliers are reporting a significant upturn in business as publicans are being swayed by the fact they can save money by buying second-hand.

Sally Huband, director of supplier Pub Stuff, has been witness to the increasing demand. She said: "Many traditional pubs don't want shiny furniture. With second-hand stuff you can create an atmosphere instantly by putting in period pieces.

"The other element is cost - you can now get top-quality furniture that is only two or three years old at a decent price."

Pub Stuff obtains much of its stock from big managed houses, which it often repairs or upholsters ready for resale. Since entering the marketplace four-and-a-half years ago Sally has seen demand rise steadily for second-hand furniture.

"Before we came into the market people had a really haphazard way of buying, but now we can guarantee they are getting quality," she said.

Terri Dandy, director of suppliers Richard and Company, said many of her customers are licensees looking for second-hand furniture.

"Everybody always wants a bargain, although sometimes it's people wanting new stuff at second-hand prices," she said.

Brian Hedley, licensee at the Old Crown in Fleckney, Leicestershire, has used second-hand furniture to deck out his pub. "Obviously the price is a major factor, but the quality is there as well," he said. "You lose a lot of the initial impact of new stuff, but then a week later you can't tell the difference."

But Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Vicutallers' Associations, said that licensees should be careful.

"If it's soft furnishings then you must make sure they are covered by fire regulations," he said. "And with tables and chairs they must be up to a certain standard so they don't fall apart. They might look good, but what glitters isn't always gold."