Furniture, Furnishings & Tableware
Two chairs entered by N Burgess - the Vario and the Siena-Allday - both had qualities that impressed the judges. Vario has a flex-back and lumbar support, which was thought to be unique in the world of banqueting. Other key features include its ability to be stacked 10-high and a lightweight aluminium welded underframe. The Siena-Allday incorporates a lumbar support pad, which allows the user to sit in various positions. It can also be stacked 10-high and comes in a wide range of finishings and fabrics.
Modern collection
The Voyager Collection of dishes from Churchill Dining Out was seen as being in tune with the needs of modern caterers who are keen to present world cuisine at its best. Called "a variable solution" by judges, the collection features six items available in black or white, including the boat-shaped Eclipse dish, and the Solar dish (quarter-shaped with middle section). These can be used on their own or weaved together for theatre presentation.
Another highly commended crockery line is the 2000 collection of dishes from the Dudson Paintbox Range. Each plate features the number ‘2' followed by three indentations representing noughts. These will hold any of three sizes of dishes and are recommended for soups, desserts, sushi and tapas.
The sandblasted handle and fashionable but practical design of the Mystere cutlery range, part of the Airstream series from Elia International, really impressed judges. They commented that the cutlery was "sturdy, yet fitted comfortably in your hand". The 10-piece stainless steel selection is the work of British designer Nick Holland.
Considered to be of great benefit to the hospitality trade were two products from Hendon International - the Mini-Garment Dryer Mark 2, and the Towel Warmer/Dryer. The former, which will be launched at the show, has a small front-loading drum with a transparent door. It is powered by any hose-style or hand-held dryer and is capable of being operated on an external power source, thanks to an integral motor and heating source in this latest model. The Towel Warmer/Dryer was noted for its money-saving benefits, as well as a safe design, which enabled guests to use it without danger of burning themselves on overheated rails. It has four 53cm rails and works by using a stream of warm air as the heating medium. Even if left on continuously the 90kW element will cost only 10p over a 24-hour period.
It was the ‘gun-grip' handle, and the compact size of the e441 bathroom hair dryer with built-in integral shaver-socket from International Hotel Accessories that impressed the judges. "It's very well put together," said one. The product is wall-mounted, with adjustable airflow speeds and three heat settings.
The rising importance of the children's market in the hospitality industry made the judges take note of KeeBee Play‘s Truck Load of Fun - a free-standing, solid wood interlocking modular play system. "It has a lot of potential for everyone from cafés to large family pubs," they concluded. The truck is based around a series of interchangeable or self-contained areas, and can entertain up to five children at a time.
Seating to order
"This type of seating would work well in modern hotels, especially if you wanted to seat a lot of people and at the same time fill room corners," said judges of the Profile Ten Banqueting Seating from Primo Furniture. It is manufactured to virtually any length or shape for individual contract requirements and also has a "no sag" sprung seat interior.
The Magnificent Menu Holder from Wings Catering Equipment was especially liked for its ability to attract the attention of contract catering customers and make them aware of food offers and menu themes. Magnetic cutlery, which can be set at unusual angles, is used to hold menus in place and allows quick, uncomplicated access for menu changes, too.
