Australia
Cushions for Clubs, RSLs and Pubs: A Venue Manager's Guide
A practical guide for Australian clubs, RSLs and pubs on choosing, measuring, cleaning and ordering made-to-measure cushions for every area of the venue.
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Quick answer: Cushions for clubs, RSLs and pubs need dense commercial foam that keeps its shape through long sessions, fabric that handles spilled drinks and food, and fire test data your certifier will accept. Measure every booth, banquette and stool individually, phase the work around trading, and keep spare covers for the busiest seats.
Club and pub furniture takes a beating. Bistro booths fill for every meal, members sit at the gaming room bar for hours, function rooms flip from a wake to a wedding in a weekend, and the beer garden copes with sun, rain and sauce. Worn, split seating is one of the first things members and guests notice. Our club and pub cushions are made to measure for booths, banquettes, bar stools, lounges and outdoor seating, with no minimum order.
This guide is for venue managers, club boards, operations staff and designers planning a refresh or a full fit-out. It covers where cushions go in a typical venue, foam and fabric choices, fire testing, cleaning, budgeting and how a commercial order works.
Where cushions go in a club or pub
- Bistro and dining room: booths, banquettes and dining chair seat pads.
- Front bar and gaming room: bar stool tops and lounge seating used for long stretches.
- Lounges and members' areas: sofas, window seats and armchairs.
- Function rooms: bench seating and chair pads that need to suit many kinds of event.
- Beer garden and alfresco: bench cushions, lounge cushions and daybeds exposed to weather.
Foam for long sessions
Seats in a club or pub are used for hours at a time, often by the same regulars every week. Soft foam flattens and leaves a dip that looks tired quickly. Our foam is Australian-made by Premier Group in Sydney, with commercial high-resilience grades that recover after each sitter. Fire-retardant grades are available for projects that need them, and outdoor reticulated foam drains and dries fast for beer gardens.
Fabric for club furniture
| Area | Fabric suggestion | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bistro booths | Sunbrella Horizon marine vinyl or Warwick upholstery | Wipe-clean or hardwearing, wide colour choice |
| Gaming room and bar | Marine vinyl or Ultraleather | Quick to wipe down, looks smart |
| Lounges | Warwick upholstery or velvet | Warmer, residential feel |
| Beer garden | Sunbrella | Solution-dyed, fade and mould resistant |
Warwick, an Australian fabric house, has a large range of indoor and outdoor upholstery suited to clubs. Fabric protection treatments are another option to consider; our guide to Warguard and Onguard fabric protection explains how they work. Swatches are paid, and the cost is credited back via a one-time code on your order.
Fire testing
Clubs and pubs are public venues, and certifiers often ask about the fire performance of upholstery. Warwick fabrics are tested to AS/NZS 1530.3, and ranges like Ronan, Dion, Beachcomber and Lustrell Charisma score 0 out of 10 for spread of flame. Ultraleather and Sunbrella fabrics have their own maker's test results. We attach the maker's report to your quote or spec sheet and match fabric and foam to the requirement you give us. Your certifier or fire authority has the final say on the installation. See our fire safety fabrics page.
Measuring a whole venue
- Draw a simple floor plan of each area and number every seat, booth and bench.
- Measure booths and banquettes run by run: length, depth and back height, in millimetres.
- Measure bar stool tops for diameter or width and depth.
- Make cardboard templates for curved booths and odd corners.
- Photograph each seating type from the front and side.
We make within ±13 mm of the ordered size, and remake free if we miss. For fixed seating, our banquette cushions collection shows the shapes we make most often.
Function rooms
Function rooms host everything from trivia nights to christenings, so the seating needs to look neutral and hold up to a lot of different crowds. A mid-tone fabric hides marks better than very light or very dark colours, and a single fabric across bench seating and chair pads makes it easy to rearrange the room without anything looking mismatched. Chair pads with ties stay put when chairs are stacked, moved and set out again, and spare covers let staff swap a marked cover before the next booking.
Beer gardens and alfresco areas
Outdoor cushions should use Sunbrella or a Warwick outdoor fabric over quick-dry reticulated foam, with ties so they don't blow off. Most Sunbrella is water-repellent rather than waterproof, so stand cushions on edge after rain to drain, and store them under cover at closing if you can. Our outdoor cushions page covers outdoor options in more detail.
Cleaning between sessions
- Wipe vinyl and Ultraleather with a damp cloth and mild soap after each session.
- Blot spilled drinks on upholstery straight away, then spot clean.
- Vacuum seams and booth joins weekly.
- Unzip covers for deeper cleaning in line with the fabric's care guide.
- Keep spare covers for the busiest booths and stools.
Budgeting and phasing around trading
Most clubs can't close the whole venue for a refresh. Ask for pricing by area so the board can approve work in stages, for example the bistro first, then the gaming room, then the lounges. Ordering covers alone where foam is still sound can stretch the budget. Check whether figures are ex or inc GST before comparing quotes, and plan installation for a quiet weekday morning.
Mistakes to avoid
- Measuring one booth and assuming the rest match.
- Choosing soft foam for seats used for hours at a time.
- Picking fabric without checking fire test data.
- Using indoor foam in the beer garden.
- Not leaving time in the program for board approval and production.
How a commercial order works
Send your floor plan, measurements, photos and fire requirements through our bulk cushion enquiry form or to operation@fabricakraft.com. We help shortlist fabric, send swatches and prepare a spec sheet with drawings. That sheet is ideal for a board meeting, and nothing is cut until it's approved.
Standard shapes take 2 to 3 weeks; custom shapes from your template take 5 to 6 weeks. Rush production and express shipping are available at extra cost, and shipping within Australia is free. Designers working with clubs and hotel groups can join our designer trade program, with 10%, 15% and 20% tiers based on rolling 12-month spend. To get a quote, visit our club and pub cushion page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you match our club colours?
Usually, yes. With more than 5,000 colours across our fabric partners, we can suggest close matches. Approve a swatch in the venue before ordering.
Can you re-cover existing booths without new foam?
Yes. Covers can be ordered without foam, and foam can be ordered on its own.
Is there a minimum order?
No. You can replace one split stool top or fit out an entire venue.
What warranty applies?
Fabric carries a 5-year warranty from the fabric partner, workmanship is covered for 2 years, and foam warranty depends on the grade.
