The Benefits of Having Your Fixed Seating Made to Order

If you need to source fixed seating for an establishment with an auditorium, there is a wide range of styles and designs on the market and it can be difficult to know where to start. As fixed seating is a long-term investment, it’s important to ensure you find a reputable supplier who will provide you with quality products that will stand the test of time.

By their nature, auditoria are venues with high footfall where seating is in daily use and subject to rigorous wear and tear. It therefore needs to be robust and hard-wearing and designed to withstand frequent usage.

Don’t take pricing at face value

The price of fixed seating can vary greatly but generally you can ensure you get the best price if you go direct to a manufacturer rather than through a re-seller. If your budget is limited you may be tempted to look at an off-the-shelf option as this can be significantly cheaper but you do need to consider the wider cost implications of this which may not initially be apparent.

Whilst buying off the shelf may appear cost-effective, there is often no pre-sales advice and no after sales service. Whereas by buying made to order from a manufacturer, you will be able to get help with choosing the right type of fixed seating, planning the layout and having the seats fitted. There will often be a longer warranty period, specialist fitters who can ensure your seats are installed efficiently and correctly and long term after sales service.

Fixed seating can be tailored to fit your venue

Most manufacturers will be able to tailor their seats to fit your auditorium. If you don’t already have a seating plan drawn up then they will be able to do this for you, taking into account the capacity you would like to have within your venue and all the relevant fire and safety regulations.

Seat widths can usually be adjusted in line with the length of rows to maximise the available space whilst providing as generous a seat as possible. There will often be a range of options when it comes to various elements of the seats, such as back height, thickness of cushioning and depth of seat. If your seats are made to order then you will be able to specify all of these things as well as choose whatever fabric or vinyl upholstery you would like.

When you buy off the shelf, your choices are often limited and seats come in one size fits all in a limited range of fabrics and colours.

Installation service

The majority of seating manufacturers will have specialist fitters who can fit fixed seating for you and often it’s actually included in the price. It’s preferable to use the manufacturer’s own fitters as they will be experts in fitting fixed seating in all types of venues and will be able to deal with any problems that arise on site.

Of course, it’s not essential to use the manufacturer’s fitters and you could commission your own people to do the job or do it yourself if you are confident with this type of work.

How to Revive the Fixed Seating in your Theatre

The seats in theatres and cinemas are subject to rigorous wear and tear and will eventually reach the stage of needing an upgrade. Whether you’re responsible for an operational venue, or you’ve taken over an old building with an auditorium that’s been out of use for a while, it’s not always necessary to rip out the old seating and replace it with new. It’s often possible to successfully refurbish even the most worn looking seats and return them to their former glory.

The chairs in this large theatre were in a very sorry state with threadbare arms and ripped seats but refurbishment made them beautiful again.

Even if you want to create a completely different look and feel in your auditorium you can still do this with your existing seats by choosing a different colour upholstery fabric. The traditional theatre auditorium pictured below was given a striking new look when the original seating was reupholstered in a completely different fabric colour. The original wooden arms were replaced with fully upholstered ones which were padded to improve comfort. New flooring and redecorating of the walls also helped freshen the look whilst retaining the original character of the room.

Why Refurbish?

There are many reasons why you might choose to refurbish your fixed seating rather than replace it. Budget is often a key factor in this decision as it can take years to fundraise for new seats or successfully apply for grants whilst refurbishment is usually a much cheaper option. 

Long established theatres may still have the original seats which are in keeping with the heritage of the building. In such cases you may not want to lose the traditional character and style of the auditorium by installing seats with a modern design. If your building is listed, you may not even be permitted to do this and refurbishment may be your only option. 

Or it may just simply be that you like the design of your existing seats and don’t want to change them.

Evertaut refurbished the fixed seating in the world-famous Crucible Theatre which is a grade II listed building. We sourced new yellow fabric, colour matched to the original.

How is Fixed Seating Refurbished? 

There are various options when it comes to refurbishment from basic reupholstery to replacement foams, shot-blasting metalwork, and the making of new castings to match the originals where ornate seat frames have been damaged. 

It’s important to find a supplier who is experienced in refurbishing fixed seating in your type of venue, and in the case of listed buildings you need someone who understands the complexities of this process and is sensitive to retaining an authentic look.

Reupholstery 

The quickest way to transform your theatre seats is with reupholstery. If your seat foams are still in good condition a change of fabric may be all that’s needed. Following an assessment of the seats your re-upholsterer will determine whether they can be refurbished on site or if it’s best to take them away. It’s not usually necessary to remove the entire seat, often it’s easier to remove the seats, backs and arms, leaving the metalwork in situ. It will be a quicker process to refurbish all the individual components off site and then return to refit them. This method may also be preferable if you want to do the refurbishment in several stages, if you’re a theatre without any dark time.

With such a wide choice of upholstery fabrics on the market you can transform the look of your fixed seating with a new colour choice or different type of fabric. Your supplier will be able to show you swatch cards of what’s available and you can request larger size samples of any fabrics you like to help you make a decision.

Seat Foams & Arms 

If your seats are really old, then it’s likely the foams will have started to sag and covering them with new upholstery will not disguise this. It’s easy to replace the foams as part of the reupholstery process and this will not only enhance the comfort for your audience but ensure your refurbished seats will give many more years of service before they need further attention. 

Old theatre seats often have solid wooden arms which whilst robust, are not the most comfortable solution. These can easily be replaced with fully upholstered arms with integral foam pads. If you want to retain the originals then these can be sanded and varnished or painted.

Seat & Back Boards 

If your existing seats have exposed wooden boards on backs and under seats these can either be sanded and repainted or varnished, replaced with new, or covered to give the seat a fully upholstered finish. Pictured below left, the seats in this small cinema have exposed wooden panels under the seat and on backs whilst the hotel cinema room on the right features fully upholstered seats.

Metalwork 

Often a light sand and repaint is all that’s needed to refresh the metalwork as seat frames are generally very robust. For seats with original ornate castings which have been damaged or deteriorated over time, closer attention is required and it’s usually possible to make new castings to replace them. 

Consider Refurbishment as an Option 

So, whatever the state of your existing seats, if you’re thinking about replacing them, consider refurbishment as an option. If you can’t decide whether it’s the right solution for your venue then talk to your supplier and find out what level of work they would recommend is required. You can also ask them to quote for both new fixed seating and refurbishment so you can compare the costs.

This old theatre had been out of use for many years; the traditional style seats were not only worn but covered in a thick layer of dust. When the building was taken over by another operator, they chose to refurbish rather than replace the seats. Thicker foams improved comfort, metalwork was cleaned and re-painted, reupholstery was done in a similar colour fabric to the original whilst new under-seat boards finished off the smart new look.

A Buyer’s Guide to Fixed Seating

If you are responsible for specifying or purchasing fixed seating for an auditorium there are several factors you need to consider before making a purchase decision. Whilst you may have a particular style of seat in mind and can search for different seats and suppliers online, it’s always preferable if you can test the comfort and quality of the seating yourself. 

Fixed seating is a high value purchase and most reputable suppliers will be happy to visit you on site and bring a sample chair for you to assess. Whatever type of venue you are responsible for – whether it’s a lecture theatre in a university, a sports arena, theatre or cinema – when patrons are in your auditorium they will spend the majority of their time sitting down. It’s also likely that they will be sat for several hours at a time so it’s important that they are comfortable. If they find your seats uncomfortable this will reflect negatively on your venue as a whole and could prevent them from choosing to return.

Upholstered seats with exposed wooden backs help maintain the original character in a theatre

Space Planning & Layout of Fixed Seating

Whether you’re furnishing a new build venue or replacing fixed seating in an existing building, before choosing a particular seat you need to determine how many seats you need to fit into the space. You need to ensure you offer sufficient leg room and adequate spacing, and that you incorporate the appropriate number of walkways and exits to comply with current regulations. You also need to consider disabled access and provision of space for wheelchair users. Many fixed seating suppliers will offer a space planning service and can produce layout drawings for you if required.

Tiered Flooring

Most larger auditoriums will have a tiered floor to maximise capacity and ensure the audience has the best sightlines. If you also need to replace the flooring in your venue it can often make sense to look for a supplier who can manufacture both the seating and the flooring as this can be the most cost effective option and also ensures the installation process runs smoothly.

Fixed Seating Specification

For maximum comfort in a cinema you may want to offer seats with higher backs so patrons can rest their heads, however in a lecture theatre where the audience needs to remain alert, the opposite may be preferable.Most UK manufacturers of fixed seating will be able to adapt their seats to your specifications so whether you want your seats fixed or flip up, if you require arms, writing tablets, fixed desks or cup holders, ensure you discuss your exact requirements so they can price accordingly.

Lecture theatre seating with beech effect writing desks and co-ordinating seat bases

Refurbishment of Fixed Seating

Sometimes it can make more sense to simply have your seats refurbished rather than replace them – this will usually be a cheaper option and can often revive your seats to look like new again. If you have a listed building it may be your only option so seek out a manufacturer who has experience in this capacity and understands the complexities of the regulations.

Original seating restored and refurbished in a traditional theatre

About Evertaut

Evertaut is a leading UK manufacturer and supplier of fixed seating and tiered flooring for auditoriums. The company’s seats can be found in theatres, cinemas, lecture theatres, stadiums, conference centres and sporting venues across the country. Evertaut also specialises in fixed seating refurbishment and can reupholster and renovate old seats to give many more years of usage.