Charlie Hockin, Commercial Director of Craftwood UK Interiors, writes:
This work covered two London restaurants: Hawksmoor Borough Market in June 2026 and Hawksmoor Guildhall in September 2026.
Our relationship with Hawksmoor began long before this refurbishment. We produced the drawings for, manufactured and installed the seating in every Hawksmoor restaurant from new, and we return for refurbishment programmes. That continuity gives us a detailed understanding of the furniture and how to extend its working life.
The brief here was to renew worn upholstered elements while keeping the existing furniture and the restaurant's character, without interrupting service or losing covers.
We focused on leather seating in high-traffic areas, replacing seat and back upholstery where required while retaining the banquette bases and chair frames.
We already held the original drawings from when we made and installed the seating for the restaurant's opening. A fresh site survey and detailed measurements let us check its current condition and establish what needed attention. Replacement leather was then cut and sewn at our Ringwood factory, ready for fitting on site overnight.
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One particularly satisfying element was restoring 80 chair seats. Years of use had compressed the cushioning, leaving the seats less full and supportive. We reinforced and rebuilt the seat interiors from the bottom upwards, using several layers of foam to restore their shape and comfort. Building up the layers gradually lets us control the profile and support beneath the leather, giving the existing chairs a renewed lease of life.
The banquettes received the same attention to fit and finish, preserving their distinctive upholstered detailing while refreshing the leather surfaces.
Our installation team worked overnight in ten-hour shifts so the seating was ready for the next service. Careful preparation in the factory made those working windows achievable.
The project is part of our nationwide Hawksmoor refurbishment programme: furniture understood from its first drawing, maintained with care and refurbished with no loss of covers.
Charlie Hockin, Commercial Director, Craftwood UK Interiors.
Written by Craftwood UK Interiors, edited for house style and approved by them. Editorial; nothing was paid for this piece.
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