From an old Methodist church to a modern food hall

When we took on the renovation of an old Methodist church in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, we knew we wanted to create something that respected the character of the original building while giving it a completely new purpose.

The result is Milton St. Market… a completely transformed former church, now home to four independent kitchens and a central bar.

As the owners of Traditional Beams, we were also able to bring our own manufacturing capabilities into the project.

Rather than filling the space with standard, off-the-shelf furniture and fittings, we looked at what we could design and manufacture ourselves.

From the impressive main bar and its substantial oak worktop, to the restaurant tables, benches and kitchen counter tops, we manufactured a huge amount of the timberwork in our own workshop.

The result is a space where the timber elements have been designed specifically around the building, rather than simply bought to fit it.

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Designing a bar inspired by the building itself

One of the parts of the Milton St. Market project we were most proud of was the main bar.

We didn't want to create a typical commercial bar, or simply take an existing design and adapt it to fit the space. We wanted the bar to feel as though it had been designed specifically for the building and to become a feature in its own right.

The starting point was the church itself.

As we developed the design, we looked at the architectural shapes and details already present throughout the building and took inspiration from them. The strong vertical forms and proportions of the church's pillars, along with the softer, rounded shapes found within the architecture, helped influence the detailing of the bar.

We incorporated these ideas into the design through the vertical timber panelling, shaped mouldings and rounded edges of the substantial bar top. Rather than being purely decorative, these details help connect the new bar with the character of the original building.

The result is a bar that feels much more architectural than a standard commercial installation. 

It was designed from the ground up around the space, with every element considered, from the overall proportions and timber panelling through to the moulded detailing and substantial solid timber bar top.

We then took that design into our own workshop and manufactured each component ourselves.

This is where we believe bespoke manufacturing really makes a difference. Because we were able to design and manufacture the bar ourselves, we weren't limited by standard profiles, sizes or ready-made components. We could develop the shapes we wanted, create the individual mouldings and bring the whole design together in solid timber.

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Built for a busy commercial environment

Manufacturing the bar ourselves also meant we could specify the finish with the environment it was going into firmly in mind.

This isn't a domestic kitchen or dining table that will see relatively light use. The bar at Milton St. Market is used every day in a busy hospitality environment, so the timber needs to cope with considerably more wear and tear.

We were therefore able to apply a heavy-duty commercial finish to the bar and tables, giving the timber the protection it needs for constant use.

It's an important consideration when choosing timber furniture for a commercial venue. A finish suitable for residential furniture may not be designed to withstand the level of use that a busy restaurant, bar or food hall experiences.

By manufacturing the pieces ourselves, we could make sure the timber, construction and finish were all appropriate for the environment, giving us confidence that the furniture will continue to look good and perform for years to come.

The finished bar is a significant feature within Milton St. Market, but it also feels like it belongs there.

And that's exactly what we wanted.

We didn't want to put a bar into the building. We wanted to design a bar that felt like it was part of the building.

It's a good example of what we mean when we talk about bespoke bar tops and commercial timberwork. For us, bespoke isn't simply about making something to a particular measurement, it's about creating something that is genuinely designed around the space, the architecture and the overall vision for the project.

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Bespoke restaurant tables, benches and booth seating

We also manufactured the tables and benches throughout the venue, making the most of the spaces available within the original building.

We were able to create comfortable booth areas in the spaces where they worked best, taking advantage of the natural layout and dimensions of the church.

Rather than working backwards from standard table sizes, we could use the spaces available to determine where the booths would work best and how much room we had for seating.

That meant we then needed some particularly large tables to work within the booths.

Because we were manufacturing the table tops ourselves, that wasn't a problem. We could make the tables specifically to the size and proportions of the booth areas, allowing us to make the most of the available space while still creating comfortable areas for customers to sit.

It's a great example of one of the biggest advantages of bespoke commercial furniture:

The furniture can be designed around the space, rather than the space being designed around the furniture.

The same heavy-duty approach was applied to the tables. We selected a finish suitable for the demands of a busy food hall, rather than a standard residential furniture finish.

Commercial furniture needs to withstand constant cleaning, spills, customers and everyday wear. Using an appropriate heavy-duty finish helps protect the solid timber and means the tables can continue to look good over years of use.

We also manufacture solid oak restaurant table tops for commercial customers including restaurants, bars, cafés and pubs, giving businesses the option to have table tops made to the dimensions and specifications their project requires. 

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Commercial oak worktops for the kitchen counters

The four kitchens at Milton St. Market each required their own customer-facing counter areas, so we manufactured the commercial oak worktops for these counters ourselves.

These weren't food preparation surfaces; the oak worktops were designed as the finished counter tops that customers see when ordering from each of the kitchens.

This gave us another opportunity to use solid timber to bring warmth and character into the food hall, while creating practical surfaces that were made specifically for each counter.

As with the bar, the dimensions couldn't simply be dictated by standard worktop sizes. The  kitchens had their own layout and requirements, so we manufactured the worktops to suit the individual spaces.

Our bespoke oak worktops are manufactured in our North Yorkshire workshop and can be made to individual measurements, making them particularly useful for commercial projects where standard dimensions aren't suitable.

For us, it's about making the timber work around the project.

Whether it's a long commercial counter, a large restaurant table or a statement bar top, being able to manufacture in-house means we can create the dimensions, profiles and details needed for the space rather than asking the design to compromise around a standard product.

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Giving the original church pews a new purpose

We also wanted to retain elements of the building's history wherever possible.

Some of the original church pews were brought through our workshop and repurposed to create the fronts for the new kitchen areas.

It was a great opportunity to retain some of the original timber within the building, while giving it a completely new function.

It's one of many details throughout Milton St. Market where the old building and its new purpose have been brought together.

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A project made in our own workshop

One of the things we're particularly proud of about Milton St. Market is just how much of the timberwork we were able to manufacture ourselves.

Rather than buying standard commercial furniture and fittings, we could look at each part of the project and ask:

Can we make this?

If we could, we did.

This included:

• A completely bespoke bar

• Large solid timber bar worktop

• Bespoke bar front panels

• Commercial oak counter worktops

• Restaurant table tops

• Bespoke large tables

• Timber benches

• Repurposed church pew kitchen fronts

• Bespoke mouldings and timber details

Having our own workshop gave us complete control over the manufacturing process, not just the dimensions and design, but also the construction and finishing of each piece.

That matters particularly in commercial environments, where furniture is subjected to far more use than it would be in a typical home.

We can make sure the finish is appropriate for the environment, helping protect the timber from the everyday wear and tear of a busy hospitality venue and giving our customers confidence that their furniture is made to last.

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Bespoke timberwork for commercial spaces

Milton St. Market is our own project, but it has also been a great opportunity to demonstrate what we can offer other commercial customers.

We manufacture bespoke timber products for restaurants, bars, cafés, pubs, hotels, food halls and other hospitality and commercial spaces.

If you're looking for:

Commercial oak worktops

Made-to-measure solid oak worktops for commercial counters, bars, serving areas and other customer-facing spaces.

Restaurant table tops

Solid oak restaurant table tops manufactured to your required dimensions, thickness and finish, with suitable finishing options for busy hospitality environments.

Bespoke bar tops

Statement bar tops designed specifically around your space, rather than a standard commercial design.

Bespoke commercial timberwork

Tables, benches, counters, shelving, bar fronts, kitchen fronts, mouldings and other timber elements designed and manufactured specifically for your project.

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Designed around your space. Made for commercial use.

Our approach to Milton St. Market was simple:

If we could make it better ourselves, we did.

That's the same approach we bring to commercial projects for our customers.

Whether you're an architect, interior designer, contractor, restaurant owner or hospitality business, we can work from your plans, drawings, measurements or ideas to create bespoke timberwork that fits your project.

From a substantial bespoke bar top to commercial oak worktops or a full set of restaurant table tops, we manufacture in our own North Yorkshire workshop and can create pieces that are genuinely made for your space.

And because we understand the difference between residential and commercial use, we can also ensure the construction and finish are appropriate for the environment, helping your timber furniture withstand the demands of a busy venue and look good for years to come.

For us, bespoke isn't just about making something to a different size.

It's about looking at the space, understanding what you're trying to achieve and creating something that wouldn't have existed without that particular project.

If you're working on a commercial project and need bespoke timberwork, talk to Traditional Beams about what we can make for you.

Find out more about working with us on your commercial project.