Case Study: Failsworth Social Club

Can you talk me through the social club project? What was the concept behind it?

Warm Front Upholstery recently had the privilege of working on the restoration of a long-closed social club in Greater Manchester, a once-vibrant building overlooking the waterside that had sat empty for a few years. Its 1970s red velvet upholstery had faded into disrepair.

When a local businessman purchased the property with the vision of creating a welcoming hub for the community, we were tasked with the complete upholstery transformation. Our team refurbished and repaired 160 chairs and approximately 32 metres of fixed seating, carefully balancing craftsmanship with a tight three-week turnaround alongside wider building works.

What did you require for the job?

Each of the club’s three main spaces were given their own distinct character through fabric choice: the function room chairs were reimagined with Agua Sark Taupe tops and Taurus Sand bases. The bar’s fixed seating meanwhile was upholstered in Agua Paint Pot Grey with deep buttoning, while the games and pool room seating combined Furnisoft Graphite with Sark Charcoal and dark grey sprayed frames for a contemporary edge.

What was your experience working with Agua?

Our close working relationship with Agua was central to this project’s success. As a local supplier, they consistently deliver on time, offer friendly and knowledgeable support, and always go above and beyond to help us meet the needs of our clients. Their reliability and quality gave us confidence throughout, ensuring the project could be completed to the highest standard.

It sounds like a satisfying project to complete…

The result is a revived social space that not only honours the building’s heritage but also provides a new lease of life for the local community. Now named in memory of the owner’s son, the venue has quickly become a hub for the community where people can gather for coffee, play bingo, or enjoy a cocktail overlooking the water.

This project was about more than just upholstery; it was about giving a community its meeting place back, and we’re proud that our craftsmanship, paired with Agua’s beautiful fabrics, helped bring that vision to life.

For more on Warm Front Upholstery, click here.