For many event planners, pub benches – also known as picnic benches – are an integral part of their furniture hire requirements, especially for summer outdoor events. The vast majority of outdoor events, large or small, will involve some form of catering, and wooden pub benches are robust enough to provide temporary seating solutions for large numbers of guests and visitors.
Simple in design, and effective in use. Traditionally, pub benches are made in solid wood and are simple units in that they don’t fold down. They are usually suitable for seating up to 4 or 6 people, and will often come with a circular hole in the middle of the table-top which will house a parasol.
Of course, the popularity of pub bench hire peaks in the summer months, when the sun is (hopefully) shining and the majority of outdoor events take place. Add to this the fact that event organisers need to provide seating for their catering zones at their country fayre, trade show or carnival, to name just a few, and you have the perfect scenario of picnic bench popularity.
For outdoor furniture rental companies such as Event Hire UK, this popularity of pub benches for hire brings its own challenges.
Firstly, because these wooden pub benches are solid, pre-made units and don’t fold, they take up a lot of storage space. Even the largest furniture rental companies in the land don’t have unlimited space, especially if they are hiring out other furniture as well. This is why you will find that even the largest pub bench hire companies will have a stock of up to 50-70 or so…and you’ll be lucky to secure the whole company stock unless you are ordering WAY in advance!
These wooden picnic benches for hire also represent a challenge for transportation. Not only are they bulky for storage, they are then naturally bulky to transport. Therefore, for large orders of pub benches, it might be that you are charged for multiple deliveries or multiple trucks to be sent to site before your event and then to collect afterwards. This is well worth considering and factoring into your calculations, therefore, when you are comparing prices between outside furniture hire companies.
So, whether it’s a country fayre, outdoor hospitality terrace or corporate family fun day that you are organising, pub benches are certainly a great seating option but always make sure you place your order as far in advance as possible – after all, it’s always easier to tweak an existing order nearer the event date rather than leaving everything until the last minute and placing an order at short notice. You’re pretty much guaranteed of non-availability!
All the above is true and is well worth paying heed to. However, let’s get our creative thinking caps on and consider that whilst picnic benches are naturally in demand during the summer, they are definitely not so in demand in the winter. However, there’s nothing to stop indoor event planners hiring pub benches for occasions such as large trade shows and exhibitions, for instance.
As an example, if you are an exhibition organiser holding a show at the NEC in Birmingham or ExCeL in London, for instance, you’ll need to create an indoor catering zone for your exhibitors and visitors where they can relax and enjoy a drink and a sandwich, and escape from the hustle and bustle of the exhibition floor for a moment. By hiring pub benches, you can create an informal dining space for short-term consumption of food and drink, at an affordable price…and the chances are that the picnic benches will be in stock!
One final word on pub benches is that, typically, these have been the solid wooden type. That’s not to say, however, that there’s nothing else. Recently, Event Hire UK added a folding picnic bench to our range which, as its name would suggest, folds to flat, providing a modern and contemporary design, and a folding pub bench that is easy to store and also transport.
Whatever your furniture hire requirements, for both indoor events and outdoor events, we’d like to think that our team here at Event Hire UK is able to provide you with a seamless hire experience from start to finish. With over 650 product lines on offer in large quantities, we operate nationwide, working with clients to help them create unforgettable events and occasions. Don’t hesitate to browse and place your secure order 24/7 for event furniture hire from the comfort of your own home or office and put your faith in the hands of the experts – you won’t be disappointed!
