Leather chairs for restaurants and hotels: types, care and whether it pays

Does leather stand up to restaurant use?

Yes, if it is natural leather with the right finish. It is one of the most forgiving seats in hospitality: it wipes clean with a damp cloth, does not gather crumbs and lint like fabric, does not fray at the edge and, over the years, gains a patina many people look for. What it does not forgive is direct sun, heat from a radiator and sharp objects, such as jeans rivets or keys in a pocket.

So rather than asking whether leather lasts, ask which leather it is and how it is finished.

What types of leather are there, and which suits hospitality?

The European standard EN 15987 sets the terms of the leather trade. Under it, full-grain leather keeps its whole grain, the outer layer of the hide, without sanding or correction; and a material whose grain has been removed entirely cannot simply be called leather, but split. On top of the grain, the finish decides how it behaves day to day.

According to PIB's guide to leather types, aniline is the most sensitive to liquids, grease, UV and rubbing, and pigmented the most resistant, at the cost of a less natural feel and less patina. For a dining room in daily use, semi-aniline or a good pigmented leather are the safe choices.

Upholstered leather or leather strips?

They are two ways of working leather, and they behave differently.

• Upholstered seat: the leather covers foam or padding. It is the most comfortable over long meals; because it has a filling, it needs fire tests on the whole assembly.
• Taut or sling leather: a single piece of thick leather works under tension between the rails, with no foam. It is light and cool, and with use it gives a little and moulds to the sitter.
• Wide or braided strips: bands of leather woven over the frame. They add texture and breathe; ask whether strips can be replaced without taking the chair apart.

Kadek's collection has all three: padded seats such as Pelita and Mentari, taut leather as on the Sepi lounge chair, sling leather or wide strips on Larasati and Awan, and braided strips on the Tirta stool.

Natural leather or faux leather?

Natural leather if the chair has to last; faux leather only if the budget decides and you accept replacing it sooner. Faux leather is fabric with a plastic coating: at first it looks even and cleans easily, but with use and cleaning products the coating cracks and peels, and it cannot be repaired. Natural leather marks, but it can be cleaned, nourished and re-covered.

Watch the wording: if a supplier talks about synthetic leather, eco-leather or bonded leather, it is not selling leather in the sense of EN 15987.

How do you look after leather in a restaurant or hotel?

Little, but often.

1. Daily: a soft cloth, barely damp with water and, if needed, a mild soap. Dry straight away.
2. Spills: blot with a cloth, without rubbing, from the outside in.
3. Avoid alcohol, solvents, bleach and alcohol hand gels, which dry out and attack the finish.
4. A few times a year, a leather conditioner, the one the maker recommends.
5. Keep seats out of direct sun and away from radiators or heating vents.

Can leather go on the terrace?

Not on an open terrace. Rain, sun and swings in humidity dry it out, fade it and crack it. On a covered terrace closed in winter it can work, but outdoors teak with synthetic fibre or outdoor fabrics is the better choice, as the guide to terrace and pool furniture explains.

Does leather need a fire test?

If the seat has a filling, yes: the EN 1021-1 and 1021-2 ignition tests are made on the leather and filling together, and that is what a hotel usually asks for. Ask the maker for the report on the whole assembly, not just the leather. The guide to fire-retardant upholstery explains which standard applies in each country.

How do you choose a leather chair for hospitality?

1. Ask which leather it is: full or corrected grain, and with what finish.
2. Ask for a leather sample in the final colour and look at it under the room's light.
3. If it has a filling, ask for the ignition report on the assembly.
4. Ask whether the seat can be re-covered or the strips replaced.
5. Check the frame: solid wood with jointed construction, as the guide to restaurant chairs explains.

Kadek's leather dining chairs, in teak or sungkai, can be seen and touched at the Madrid showroom, by appointment on weekdays.