Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we have a well stocked London showroom in Greenwich (SE8 3FN), with a wide selection of our best selling models, some examples of bespoke seating, and an adjoining fabric and tables finishes library. The opening hours are from 9am to 5pm, although given the amount of time most of our customer seem to like spending here (it must be our company, because it's not our coffee) we'd advise aiming to get to us no later than 4pm. An appointment is necessary to avoid disappointment. We look forward to seeing you (map and directions are via our contact page).

As we are strictly a business to business operation, we don't sell directly to the public or for residential use.

The term Contract furniture refers to furniture designed specifically for commercial purposes. This can be anything from beds designed for use in Hotels to sofas and tub chairs for office Receptions and Waiting rooms. Any furnishing that a commercial business may require on business premises. Office furniture (also referred to as Task furniture) is strictly speaking a form of Contract furniture, although is usually referred to specifically (as office furniture) due to it's own specific requirements.

Contract furniture is a legal necessity for all businesses to use. This is due to the fire regulation Crib 5 (BS7177) which is a set of regulations specific to furniture used in a commercial environment. This includes organizations such as University accommodation, Hotels, Offices, Pubs and Restaurants. Contract furniture is less likely to be used in a domestic environment as generally Contract furniture prioritises durability and consistency over comfort so in some cases may not be as comfortable as the domestic equivalent. The dominant reason for the specification of contract furniture is obviously to do with legal compliance. Failure to comply with this last point will have ramifications with any insurance claims a business may make relating to the furniture. Typically Contract furniture is used over publicly available (aka retail) furniture due to the quality standards expected from the furniture. In most cases Contract furniture is used far more frequently in its lifetime, which means it needs to be of a much higher quality.

The style and design of Contract Furniture is usually much bolder and progressive than retail furniture as well. Due to the professional interior designers, architects and indeed talented and creative individuals in general specifying furniture, a lot of Contract furniture designed for commercial spaces is cutting edge and unique. The range of colours and designs used are also a lot more adventurous. Contract furniture is often where the trends which eventually become evident on the high street have their inception. Professional furniture designers will usually design for the contract market in the first instance, with specific models than adapted for the retail market in time. This is true of virtually all famous designers from Ludwig Mies Vand Der Rohe in the 1930's through to Jasper Morrison in the present day.

Our hospitality furniture collections include restaurant furniture, bar furniture, café furniture and hotel furniture. We provide our clients with durable and contemporary designed contract furniture for the hospitality sector. Our motivated team will help you to find the perfect furniture for your hospitality project.

Banquette seating refers to a style of bespoke seating typically arranged in a series of booths, either along a wall, or alternatively arranged in a 'back to back' arrangement for use in a dining environment.

Also referred to (amongst other things) as Booth Seating, Diner style seating, Built-in seating, Bench seating, or simply Bespoke Seating.

Contract furniture may look like residential furniture and it may look like the inexpensive furniture available at large retail furniture outlets. However, there is a crucial difference in contract furniture in that it's specifically made for a different purpose.

Contract furniture is specifically made to withstand the heavy use associated with the contract environment (restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, hotels, educational facilities, leisure environments and all other contract environments). It is the strength and durability of contract furniture that sets it apart from furniture for a commercial setting, and makes it ideal for a the contract industry.

Contract furniture may appear to be the same quality, but the materials used are a shade better - a shade more consistent - a shade more expensive, and the manufacturing process more precise and careful.

If you are really interested, the manufacturer will send you product specifications. Don't be afraid to ask and don't buy anything you're not comfortable with. These days, with OSHA and EPA requirements, full disclosure is the norm.

Yes we do, have a look at the bespoke section of our website here. Inside Out benefits from a UK based workshop and in-house design team who together design and build an extensive range of bespoke items to meet specific design briefs and budgets.

Inside Out Contracts Ltd are a member of BCFA, The British Contract Furniture Association and The Guild of Master Craftsmen. It's members are governed by strict codes of conduct which inspire confidence, and represent a seal of approval from the industry they represent.

Our highly trained sales team have a wealth of industry knowledge and can assist you in all aspects of your furniture requirements. Call us on 020 8305 3130 and we’ll do all that we can to help you.

Years of experience within the contract furniture industry mean we can offer you meaningful advice, and prevent costly errors. Our friendly Sales Team are always on hand to discuss your requirements and those of your clients. We are able to offer expert advice on all our products and fabrics to ensure that you are completely satisfied with the end result.

As soon as possible. Selecting the right style of restaurant furniture is critical for setting the mood, maximising the number of covers in your restaurant, and communicating the high standards you may wish to portray to your customers. It is important to purchase restaurant furniture that is contract quality to ensure durability, and the restaurant furniture supplied by Inside Out Contracts is the highest quality and the highest durability. We will happily visit site, take accurate measurements and discuss models and upholstery options as well as how to make best use of your space.

At Inside Out Contracts, our aim is to be the most competitive and reliable UK supplier of contract furniture for the health, leisure and hospitality sectors in the UK. Companies who are currently not buying from Inside Out Contracts are almost certainly paying more than is necessary. Thanks to our streamline business practice, and our long term relationships with our factories, we are able to pass on better prices to you; and if you obtain a more competitive quote in writing for a similar product, we will aim to beat it. Prices are generally based on quantity, as higher order numbers allow us to reduce the cost per unit, and pass on these reductions in cost to you.

No we don’t have a price list, although we can provide you with a quote for anything you want straight away if you call us. The reason for this is because the price is dependent upon so many factors due to the wide range of fabrics or finishes we provide, our numerous delivery options, the lead times involved, and the quantities you may require.

No, there is no standard price for bespoke seating because every piece we create is different, and we take all factors into consideration when pricing a bespoke unit including the fabric, finish, dimensions and style, making it impossible to give a standard price. Each piece of bespoke furniture we hand make is tailor made for your environment; Inside Out create these pieces for those looking for something different and unique specifically created for their venue.

Placing an order couldn’t be easier. If you know what you require phone, email or fax your order through to us. If your order is more complex, or if you would like to view samples first then you are welcome to visit our London showroom where you can test out the very latest designs; or alternatively, we can arrange to visit you, or send out a sample.

We accept payment by BACS, cheque, bankers draft all the major credit cards.

Yes, Inside Out have partnered with a specialist leasing company who can offer competitive packages allowing you to lease the furniture for a fixed period (typically 3 or 5 years) and pay a weekly or monthly charge.

This enables you to spread the cost of the furniture over a longer period for easier budgeting. We can offer further information upon request, and will help collate the necessary quotation and information for you to then apply for this. Inside Out Contracts Ltd do not offer credit as a company and all of our orders are placed on a proforma basis, whereby full payment is required prior to delivery. The option of leasing the furniture therefore presents an alternative which is an attractive proposition for some of our customers.

All of our items are supplied by trusted, quality suppliers that we have been using for many years. They are designed for intensive contract use and with our in-house manufacturing, can be adapted and strengthened when required. All our products are guaranteed for use in a contract environment, and we would not have been able to survive as long as we have as a dedicated contract furniture company, without only supplying durable products which fulfil these criteria.

Level 1 – Kerbside Only Delivery Kerbside delivery is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Delivery of products are dropped off at kerbside only. The client however is responsible for bringing the item into the premises and assembling the packaging. All the packaging material from the site will be recycled at our warehouse.

Level 2 – Two Man Delivery Two person delivery is Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Delivery of products are carried into the premises where specified. The client however is responsible for assembling and removal of packaging. Our transport company require access to goods/loading bay. Please advise if this is not possible.

Level 3 – Premium Delivery Premium Delivery is Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Two person delivery of products are carried into the premises, unpacked, assembled/set up where required with all packaging removed from site. Our transport company require access to goods/loading bay. Please advise if this is not possible.

Level 4 – Premium Delivery and Installation Premium Delivery is Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Two person delivery of products as per standard premium delivery service along with the following:

• We’ll call you to confirm your selected date and at a time slot to suit you – (times slots based within a 3 hour timeframe between 7.00 – 5pm Mon - Fri)
• Goods delivered on a dedicated furniture vehicle (not mixed with other non-furniture goods)
• Full install for all items in your chosen location.
• We also offer an optional photography service to photograph your furniture in site for your own use and to be featured in our portfolio.

**All prices are based on ground floor delivery only, please advise if stairs or goods lift access are required at the time of quoting.

We hold many products in stock for a 2-3 day delivery time. However, we also manufacture many items to order, when it usually takes 4 – 6 weeks for us to complete your order. We are aware that you may have urgent furniture requirements and we are often able to deliver within a very short time-frame – do please ask and if we can possibly help we always will.

Yes we can, and do on a regular basis. We work with many external delivery service providers from Europe and the Americas.