Traditional Banquette Seating for The Coach

Hill Cross Furniture have crafted traditional chesterfield style banquette seating for The Coach, the second venture of Tom Kerridge, TV-chef personality, author and chef-proprietor of the two Michelin-starred pub the Hand & Flowers in Marlow opened in November

A flexible, accessible & relaxed venue

Kerridge said in a recent interview; “When we opened the Hand and Flowers, it was meant to be a space which was accessible to everyone. As it’s grown we’ve grown, we’ve become a destination.” It could be seen that the pub has become a victim of its own success and instead of being easily accessible, the two year waiting list can be a major cause of frustration to customers as well as being “massively embarrassing” for Kerridge.

The aim of The Coach, which is in the same street as the Hand and Flowers is to offer a flexible, relaxed and accessible pub where everybody is welcome. With no booking and a strictly no reservation policy and with the benefit of being open seven days a week, the pub is available for all to enjoy.

To complement the accessibility of the venue it was important the pubs setting was designed to be welcoming and relaxed. The traditional pub environment is very important to Kerridge; “Pubs are where I’m most happy and comfortable. The setting we’re in, the area – so much of it is about tradition.” For The Coach which can do 40 covers at one time, it was important to make the most of the space available and provide a traditional and comfortable pub look.

The kitchen is open and fully integrated into the venue which allows the chefs to be a part of your experience. There are no ego’s hidden away in the kitchen and no special diner areas, instead you will find comfortable bar stools and specially made chesterfield-style banquette seating manufactured and fitted by Hill Cross Furniture.

The chesterfield style of the banquette seating gives the venue that desired traditional pub feel. The deep buttons and upholstery offer a reassuring level of sumptuous comfort. The rich colour of the vintage antique ‘tudor ox blood’ real leather in which the seating is finished ensures that it is a major focal point of the venue by offering attractive and comfortable seats, suitable for all. The leather is designed to allow the natural ‘grain’ to show through and each hide is unique, creating a highly resilient seat which will last for decades to come.