The Old Flower Shop’s Stylish Expansion with Contract Furniture Group

Since the late 1990s, Contract Furniture Group has grown into a trusted name in hospitality design, delivering high-quality, trend-driven furnishings and bespoke interiors for venues across the UK. With a global supply network, in-house manufacturing, and expert craftsmanship, the Group blends scale with creativity to meet the needs of every client.

This expertise recently came to life in the transformation and expansion of The Old Flower Shop in Mapperley. What began as a simple refurbishment became a bold redesign, as the venue evolved from a local pub into a vibrant café-bar. This article explores how Contract Furniture Group helped bring that vision to life.

The Old Flower Shop Reimagined Itself from Sports Pub to Stylish Café Bar

The Old Flower Shop in Mapperley has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Having been purchased by new owners in 2022, an initial refurbishment project in the same year turned an ageing sports pub into a modern café bar. Contract Furniture Group delivered bespoke fixed seating and loose furniture for this first update, helping redefine the venue’s identity and ensuring guests could enjoy afternoon tea or a spot of lunch during the day, and sip on sophisticated cocktails in the evening.

The result of the venue’s reinvention was an increase in customer numbers, which grew to a point in 2024 where it became clear further expansion was needed to keep up with demand. An adjacent property was acquired, and work began to make The Old Flower Shop even bigger and better.

The Design Challenge to Meet Growing Demand with Seamless Integration

With only 70 seats and a growing reputation for high quality fayre, The Old Flower Shop began to regularly reach capacity. To meet demand and accommodate a growing customer base, the business acquired a neighbouring shop and initiated a large-scale expansion project. With a tight five-day timescale for building and installation work and a £200,000 budget, Contract Furniture Group was once again brought on board to fit-out the new area and seamlessly integrate it with the original space.

The brief was to add 36 more seats, create additional social space for evening guests, and open up the bar area. Our team was also tasked with repurposing existing furniture that had previously been installed along a back wall that had been removed during the expansion, so these pieces needed to be adapted and integrated elsewhere. At the same time, we upholstered new loose furniture to complement the venue’s evolving theme of relaxed, boho-luxe charm.

Crafting Bespoke Interiors to Elevate Atmosphere and Accommodate Growth

One of the standout features of the expanded Old Flower Shop is a bespoke radial corner booth, designed to maximise comfort while adding a bold focal point to the interior. Existing fixed seating was reupholstered and, in some cases, raised to poseur height to better suit the new layout. We also updated Charlotte High Chairs from the original fit-out, replacing the blossom coloured faux leather with a neutral-toned leather and highly durable and water/stain resistant boucle, offering not only a more refined aesthetic but also improved practicality for a busy café-bar environment.

A wide selection of new loose furniture was introduced, including Monica side chairs upholstered in Yarwood Tan leather with a walnut frame finish. Ambrosia side chairs and Semifreddo High Chairs in the same leather and boucle combination as the Charlotte High Chair. We also supplied Sophie High Stools upholstered in matching tones, as well as square and rectangular rustic reclaimed pine table tops finished with Rugger Wax paired with Estelle table bases. To complete the space, poseur-height tables and stools were added near the bar area, alongside two in-house designed waiter stations to support service efficiency.

The end result is a beautifully expanded venue that now comfortably accommodates more guests without compromising on atmosphere. The more spacious layout provides a relaxed, enjoyable experience for diners and social visitors alike. By reusing and refreshing much of the existing furniture through our Refresh, Rejuvenate, Refurbish service, the venue was able to manage costs effectively while maintaining design consistency throughout.

With Mapperley fast becoming a hotspot for new bars and cafés, The Old Flower Shop stands out as a key player in the area’s growing hospitality scene. And the journey isn’t over, with plans already underway to develop the rear of the venue into an alfresco dining space for the summer season.

Looking to enhance or expand your venue? Our expert team at Contract Furniture Group is ready to bring your vision to life. From bespoke furniture to end-to-end service, we’ve got you covered.

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