Yewdale has a hugely diverse range of blinds which sees them installed in all kinds of locations and environments. One such key area our customers fit Yewdale blinds is in restaurants.
Naturally, the type of restaurant the blinds are going into dictates the type of blind they require. Generally, however, we see that they wish to follow their branding. Having a window blind in the correct colours of a restaurant’s branding is important as it feeds into the aesthetic, atmosphere and first impressions of the premises. Luckily, the new YewdaleDefiant® Eden fabric range gives our customers the ability to find a fabric colour that will suit the branding down to a T – there are 50 daylight fabric colours to choose from!
So, finding a colour that matches is important, but also the type of fabric is also vital. How the blind shades the restaurant can play a big role in the way people feel when they’re in it.
Most often we see dimout, daylight or screen fabric in use. This is because it reduces the levels of glare and direct sunlight without casting the entire space into darkness. Those inside don’t want to feel like they’re part of a display; eating in front of an audience, or being dazzled by bright sunlight.
Likewise, the restaurant wants people to see inside as much as the customers want to see outside. It could be reasons similar to the purpose of sitting customers at the front of the premises, near the window, even if the restaurant is almost empty. The sight of people within tells those passing that the restaurant is worth stopping by: ‘look, the food is good because I’m here and I’m enjoying myself’ says the message. A large blackout blind would not be appropriate in this instance.
Instead, look for dimout or daylight fabric to shade these windows. The colours will match the branding, light will be able to enter the room and no one will be dazzled by the sun.
In terms of the types of blinds we see being used in restaurant settings, roller blinds seem to be the most requested. Of this, we find that the blinds are usually supplied with a headbox and are electrically operated, most often the C25 low voltage electric cassette blind. This allows the blind to be controlled from a convenient location (which is useful if the restauranteur has tables near windows and doesn’t fancy clambering over guests and furniture to lower a blind).
It also means that the blinds cannot be used by anyone else in the restaurant. Sometimes blinds with a chain or spring can be operated by customers to suit their wishes, which may have a detrimental impact on other customers. An example of this would be raising a blind to see out of the window better, but casting bright sunlight into the eyes of another customer elsewhere in the room. By being able to operate the blind from a location only accessible by staff, the blind can be kept looking neat and uniformed and undisturbed by customers.
This is also a similar reason for the headbox cassette. It helps to keep the blinds across a window looking conspicuous and discreet. When the roller blind is up and tucked away in the headbox, these blinds blend seamlessly into the upper part of windows and walls, hidden neatly away.
Another popular blind for restaurants is the printed blind. Printed blinds are a great way for a business to project the branding beyond simple colour guidelines. By being able to print on a blind, we’ve seen businesses advertise their dishes, opening times, key messages and slogans, turning their windows into prime advertising space. You can find out more about printed blinds here.
By being a Yewdale customer, you are also privy to products that can help you specify even more systems. In premises that serve food, it is the law for them to have fly screens over the windows in kitchens and food preparation spaces. Our fly screen range is a high-quality solution when it comes to helping a business meet its legal obligations. Take a look here.
Obviously, each location, environment, restaurant and owner have different needs, but we hope you found the above article an interesting discussion on the subject. Please let us know if you have any specifications you would add to the list in the comments below.
To see our systems in action, read this case study on an installation in a restaurant.
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