PORTOBELLO
A highly versatile stacking chair with all the qualities and comfort as one of our luxury fixed chairs.
Remove. Stack. Store.
a Multi-functional chair fit for any venue
The chairs are designed for multi-use auditoria and allow the seating layouts to be changed quickly and efficiently.
Portobello can be stacked up to 10-high and has a specially designed ‘barrow’ for one-to-two persons to safely move them to the storage area. There are several linking bracket variants that allow the chairs to be set out in multiple layouts and to multiple fixing locations.
There are many options for paint finishes and fabrics, along with various back and upholstery styles. This chair is built for maximum comfort and style to fit in any auditoria style. The backs are constructed of 2 parts – a ply outer back and an upholstered inner.
Portobello can also be adapted to replicate any existing venue seating to keep in the same aesthetic-family.
Robust design
A Lightweight Design Specially Made with the Most Robust, Hard-Wearing Fabrics and Finishes.
Stacking chair
Specifically Made to Stack up to 10-high with Custom-Made Trolley.
freestanding
Portobello can be Used as a Freestanding Chair or Joined Together in Rows by Secure 3-way Linking Brackets.
built-in comfort
Much Like our Fixed Auditoria Seats, this Chair Benefits from ProBax Comfort Foam.
What makes a portobello
Key features
- Stackable with custom trolley
- 3-way brackets to link chairs together
- Choice of hard-wearing fabrics and finishes
- Magnetic numbering for labelling seating positions
- Optional unique folding arm which still allows it to stack
- Advanced ProBax® Comfort Technology
- Freestanding and can be used as 'loose' chairs
best suited for
- Arts Centres
- Versatile Venues
- Conference Venues
- Rehearsal Spaces
- Banquet Halls
case example: st. ann's warehouse
removable chairs reimagined
Our brief was to design a stacking chair that has the same level of comfort and similar design as a chair we had made for The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. When scouting for seating inspiration, the head of the project flew out from the USA to tour UK theatres. When they visited the Courtyard Theatre, they fell in love with our chairs and were adamant they were the ones they wanted – So we set about making a stackable version.
Firstly, we had to concentrate on the design and functionality of the frame. The key design features the chairs had to incorporate are: stably stacked during storage, easily transportable from the auditorium to storage space by one person, and, lastly, the chairs needed connect to the riser and each other by a simple release system. Both aspects had to be quick and easy so the chair layout could be adjusted as efficiently as possible. At their core, Portobello are freestanding and can be used as ‘loose’ chairs. St. Ann’s wanted a very natural-meets-raw industrial look and feel to the chair. They opted for a clear lacquer on the frame to emphasise the welding and manufacturing marks. The formed ply back was clear lacquered again to show the quality of the wood and continue the natural meets industrial theme.We also built recesses in the rear and front faces of the ply back for sponsor plaques and seat numbers. The plaques and numbers had to be interchangeable for when different auditorium layouts are used. A magnetic system and miniature plunger mean the numbers can be easily and quickly changed.
Portobello became our most functional chair multiple auditorium formats, as St Ann’s Warehouse regularly changes the seating layout to give more of an intimate experience between the actors and the audience. After a year of design and development, we had produced an extremely comfortable, fully-functional stacking chair.
