Commercial Interior Supplier Profile: Telegraph Contract Furniture

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kim Pinnington, Managing Director of Telegraph Contract Furniture, a third-generation family business with a rich heritage in the contract furniture industry. Since its beginnings in the 1960s in Sweden, Telegraph Contract Furniture has evolved from selling rattan furniture throughout Europe to becoming a prominent supplier in the restaurant and hotel sectors, with a dedicated team based in Manchester.

In our conversation, we explored how Telegraph Contract Furniture sets itself apart through personalized service, expert craftsmanship, and a commitment to high-quality, bespoke solutions. With a focus on sustainability, innovation, and maintaining industry-leading quality standards, Telegraph Contract Furniture continues to thrive, delivering exceptional furniture solutions for some of the most prestigious projects in the UK and beyond.

Kim Pinnington & together with his sister Alex

Please could you introduce yourself and your role at Telegraph Contract Furniture?

My name is Kim Pinnington & together with my sister Alex, we are the proud owners of Telegraph Contract Furniture. I am the Managing Director and Alex is the Operations Director.

Could you tell me about the heritage of Telegraph Contract Furniture?

We are a third generation family business. The business started back in the 1960’s in Sweden where our grandfather explored the Far East to explore new business opportunities. One of the things he discovered was Rattan furniture, which he brought back to Sweden and sold throughout Europe. Our Dad then moved us all over to England in the 80’s where we sold the rattan furniture to the domestic market, wine bars (very in trend back then!) and restaurants. The business then moved away from rattan and into the contract furniture market in the 90’s. Since 2015 Alex and I have taken the business forward by focusing on the restaurant and hotel industry where we now have a great team of 10 based in Manchester.

The Telegraph Contract Furniture Team

What sets Telegraph Contract Furniture apart in the commercial sector?

We take real pride in what we do. Being a family run business, we work closely together to ensure the client receives a personal & dedicated service from start to finish.

Thanks to our knowledgeable and experienced team, we supply premium products & provide an exceptional customer experience throughout our design, manufacturing & install service.  We work closely with all our suppliers in Europe but also specialise in providing a full bespoke furniture service too.

Could you talk me through 3 key projects you’ve supplied?

Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon

Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon: This was a great project for us, we were approached to salvage a project where the client had been let down. It was a fully bespoke project where we had to produce a full hotel fit out within 10 weeks. We got it across the line on time and snag free.

Warner Brothers Harry Potter World, Tokyo: We were approached to manufacture 300 meters of bespoke fixed seating which we then shipped out to Tokyo for it to be installed by the contractor. An unbelievable amount of time went into this to get it right. 

Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Aughton

Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Aughton: This was another proud moment for us! We were approached by the owners to produce a full furniture fit out of the hotel and its two restaurants. Style and quality were key factors to this project to help create a 5* experience. The hotel is now consistently in the top 3 places to eat in the UK with both restaurants now having 3 Michelin Stars between them.

How do you develop your products? Could you introduce us to some of your best-selling designs?

We are constantly being challenged by new design schemes from the best designers in the industry,  & although we don’t have our own ranges, we do create a lot of bespoke products for our clients in order to meet these requirements.  So with that we offer a full turn key solution, from CAD drawings – samples – quality controlling processes, through to installation. We take a close hold on each product from start to finish.

How do you address sustainability and what are your sustainability targets?

Such a big subject quite rightly, but luckily our suppliers make it a lot easier for us. The factories today are a lot more focused on this. They use FSC timber only. All parts of the wood brought in are used in some capacity. Factories are generally run on renewable energy. On top of this all our fabric suppliers are pushing the boundaries with new sustainable ranges which we promote to the designers and end clients. We aim to provide products that are recyclable/sustainable in a low carbon carbon emission way.

Mrs Blodgets, Liverpool

Quality is at the heart of your company; can you tell me more about how you plan and deliver industry leading quality levels in your product and service?

It starts with our small team of 10. Collectively we have over 100 years of experience in the industry which counts for a lot! With that we listen to what people want and produce furniture solutions that suit the brief and budget. So from the moment we qualify a project to taking the last bit of packaging away from an installation, we are there to make it as straight forward and as efficient as we can for the client.

You recently invested in the physical and digital future of Telegraph Contract Furniture, can you explain how your new office and website will secure your future?

We recently moved to a larger office with an extra showroom floor where clients can come & try out samples which we think is so important in the decision making process.

We’ve been growing and evolving & we needed an update to make our brand more contemporary and more relevant to the industry with a design-forward and recognisable aesthetic. Having taken a shift from just being a contract furniture supplier to also focusing on innovation and technology over the last few years, one of our key objectives has become to make specifying hospitality furniture easy for our customers. Our brand needed to reflect exactly that & also be in line with the aesthetics of technology and interior design industries. We’ve introduced a new brand colour for a fresher, more contemporary look, but kept the logo the same to retain a sense of confidence and consistency. Alongside the brand refresh,  we’ve been working hard to redesign and redevelop our website with user experience in mind. Our new brand identity & website mark an important shift in our development & showcasing what services we offer, so we are excited about the future!

What does the future hold for Telegraph Contract Furniture?

We will continue to work hard and improve by listening to our clients. Alex and I want to go as far as we can with Telegraph. We want to be a leading furniture company for all 4/5* projects. And maybe there will be a chat between our four children one day about a 4th generation to take this business further…. Let’s see!