Outdoor Cushions
Pub and Beer Garden Seat Cushions: A Practical Guide for Landlords
How pub landlords and operators can choose, measure and look after made-to-measure cushions for beer gardens, settles and window seats.
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Quick answer: For beer gardens, choose solution-dyed outdoor fabric over quick-drain foam, tied on so it stays put, with a plan for bringing cushions in at close. Inside the pub, settles and window seats need firm foam, a fabric that handles spilt drinks, and fire test data your fire officer is happy with. Made-to-measure means every bench and nook fits properly.
Cushions make pub furniture far more comfortable, and comfortable customers stay for another round. But a pub is hard on soft furnishings: rain, spilt pints, dogs, muddy boots and long busy weekends. This guide is for landlords, operators and pub group managers who want cushions that last. Our pub and restaurant cushions service covers everything here, from one window seat to a whole estate.
Where cushions make the biggest difference
- Picnic benches and garden benches. Bare timber is cold and hard. A simple seat pad turns a quick half into a long afternoon.
- Settles and fixed benches. The traditional high-backed settle is often the best seat in the house, if the cushion is right.
- Window seats. Usually odd sizes, often with sloping walls or deep sills. Made to measure is the only way to fit them neatly.
- Covered terraces and smoking shelters. Half in, half out, so they need outdoor fabric with indoor comfort.
Beer garden furniture and British weather
Outdoor cushions in a UK beer garden will get wet. The aim is not to stop that completely but to make sure they dry fast, do not go mouldy and do not fade after one summer.
- Fabric. Sunbrella is solution-dyed, so colour runs right through the fibre. It resists fading and mould. Most Sunbrella fabrics are water-repellent rather than waterproof: rain beads off, but a downpour will soak through eventually.
- Waterproof options. If cushions will stay out in all weathers, look at the Sunbrella waterproof range or Sunbrella Horizon marine vinyl, which wipes clean.
- Foam. Our Quick Dry reticulated foam is open-cell, so water drains straight through instead of sitting inside. It also self-extinguished in independent ignition tests.
Our article on waterproof garden cushions explains the difference between water-repellent and waterproof in more detail. You can see outdoor options in our custom outdoor cushions collection.
Picnic bench cushions: sizing and fixing
Picnic benches vary more than you might think. Measure each style you own:
- Length of the bench seat, end to end.
- Width of the seat plank or planks.
- Any cut-outs where the frame or table legs cross the seat.
- Where ties could go: around a leg, a cross-brace or between planks.
Thinner pads of around 3 cm to 5 cm suit picnic benches. They are easy to carry in, stack well and do not raise customers too high for the table. Ties in matching fabric are standard, and Velcro is available on request. We do not add non-slip backing, so ties are your best defence against wind and wandering cushions. For straight benches, our bench cushions collection is a good starting point.
Indoor settles and window seats
Inside, comfort and durability matter more than rain. A settle cushion usually works well at 5 cm to 8 cm of firm foam. Window seats can be deeper, as people tend to lounge.
For UK orders our foam is made and cut in the UK by GB Foam in High Wycombe and meets the UK fire safety regulations for upholstered furniture. Inside a pub, your fire risk assessment may ask for fabrics with Crib 5 test data. Tell us what your fire officer needs and we will match fabrics to it and send the maker's test reports. We do not certify the finished installation. See our fire safety fabrics guide for UK venues for more.
Dealing with spills
- Wipe-clean fabrics such as Horizon marine vinyl or Ultraleather are the easiest choice near the bar or in family dining areas.
- Woven outdoor fabrics: blot beer or wine straight away, rinse with clean water and let air dry.
- Removable covers: all our cushions have zipped covers, and Sunbrella covers are machine washable, so a bad night does not mean a new cushion.
- Spare covers: a few spares for the busiest seats let you swap and wash without gaps.
Storage at close and over winter
The longest-lasting beer garden cushions are the ones that come inside. Build it into the closing routine:
- Keep a dry storage box or cupboard near the garden door.
- Stand wet cushions on their edge to drain before stacking.
- Over winter, store clean and fully dry, ideally off the floor.
- Label cushions by bench so the right pad goes back on the right seat.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying thick, soft garden cushions that hold water for days.
- Assuming all outdoor fabric is waterproof.
- Measuring one picnic bench and ordering for all of them.
- Skipping ties on an exposed garden.
- Moving garden cushions indoors for winter trade without checking the fire requirement for inside.
Ordering for a business
Whether it is one pub or a group, the process is the same. Send a list of seats, measurements and photos through our bulk cushion enquiry form or email operation@fabricakraft.com. We will suggest fabrics and quote. Swatches carry a small charge, credited back on your order.
You approve a spec sheet with drawings before anything is cut. Standard shapes take 2 to 3 weeks, custom shapes from your template 5 to 6 weeks, and rush production is available at extra cost if you are racing the first sunny weekend. Every cushion is made to within 6 mm (maximum ±2.5 cm) of the ordered size, or we remake it free. UK delivery is free and shipped DDP, with no duty or VAT to pay on arrival. There is no minimum order.
Pub groups, designers and fit-out firms ordering regularly can join our trade programme for 10%, 15% or 20% off, based on rolling 12-month spend. Start with our pub and restaurant cushions page and send us your seating list.
Frequently asked questions
Can beer garden cushions stay out in the rain?
Most Sunbrella fabric is water-repellent, not waterproof, so it is best brought in. For cushions that stay out, choose the Sunbrella waterproof range or Horizon marine vinyl with quick-drain foam.
How do I stop cushions blowing away?
Use ties in matching fabric around a leg or brace. Velcro is available on request. We do not offer non-slip backing.
Can I order covers only for my existing foam?
Yes. Covers can be ordered without foam, and foam can be ordered alone.
How long do beer garden cushions take to make?
Standard shapes take 2 to 3 weeks and custom shapes 5 to 6 weeks from approval of the spec sheet. Order in early spring to be ready for the first warm weekends, or ask about rush production.
What warranty do you offer?
Fabric carries 5 years from the fabric partner and workmanship 2 years. Foam warranty depends on the grade.
