How to improve canteen facilities

What makes a great school or workplace canteen is based on more than just delicious food and quick service. You need to provide a comfortable and inviting space that encourages people to eat there during breaks. 

If you’re wondering how to improve canteen facilities, you firstly need to determine your goals and what you hope to achieve from your new canteen facilities. Consider your budget, what timescales you need to work to, and what the long-term benefits will be. The most important thing you need to think about is who the canteen is going to be used by, as this will help you to determine which canteen furniture will be appropriate for them. 

Now, here are some ways you can improve your canteen facilities with the right canteen furniture and equipment:

1. Use notice boards to provide information

Notice boards are ideal for displaying important information such as upcoming events and school rules. They can also be used in canteens to highlight any specials on the menu, prices, and reminders to keep the canteen a clean environment. 

1. Have comfortable seating 

Canteens are where your students or employees will take their breaks and socialise, so, it’s important to make sure that the facilities are comfortable and fit in with the institution’s style. Here at Manutan, we have a wide range of canteen chairs available, including dining benches. For an even more comfortable seating solution, you could consider canteen chairs with shapely backrests and waterfall front edges (such as our stacking chairs or bistro chairs). 

1. Ensure the canteen table and chairs are easy to clean

Having a canteen table and chairs which are easy to clean will help save a lot of time for cleaning staff and will keep surfaces maintained to a high standard. A great option for schools and workplaces is canteen furniture with a laminate finish. 

1. Think about the traffic flow and room layout

Planning out how many canteen chairs and tables are required and how they will fit in the space you have is crucial. The last thing you want is to have students or staff wandering around your canteen in desperate search of an available space. Try to make sure your canteen table and chairs are easily accessible – this will mean considering whether you need one or two-way access to a canteen table. Moreover, you could consider exterior space and whether outdoor furniture would be appropriate.  

1. Ensure you have enough food trays and tableware

Polypropylene trays are great for helping students and staff carry their canteen meals safely around the room, minimising any spillages which could cause accidents. It’s also important to ensure that you have enough tableware supplies to meet the demand of canteen goers. Not having enough cutlery or trays could disrupt the traffic flow, leading to negative experiences and less time to enjoy what should be a relaxing break from the working day.  

How to decide which canteen furniture is right for you

If you’re not sure which canteen furniture is best for your school or commercial break room, here’s a few things you can ask yourself:

• How much available space do you have? 

If your canteen is short on space, you could consider stackable canteen chairs which can be stored away when not in use or benches that can be tucked neatly under the canteen table. 

If you don’t have much room inside, why not look at outdoor seating options which are perfect for allowing students and staff to enjoy their food during the warmer months. 

• What is your budget?

Financial considerations will play a big part in which canteen chairs you choose!

• Is the canteen furniture easy to wipe clean? 

It’s particularly important to find easy-to-clean canteen furniture for canteens that see high levels of traffic each day. Here at Manutan, we have a range of canteen table products for sale which have laminate finishes – perfect for easy wiping! 

• What colours are available?

Having colourful canteen furniture is particularly beneficial for schools as a dull canteen may put students off wanting to spend their free time there. Here at Manutan, we have coloured plastic chairs available which are ideal for educational environments.

How to improve canteen cleanliness

Having a clean canteen isn’t just important for maintaining a welcoming environment, it also reflects the standards of your school or workplace and reduces the spread of bacteria. Here’s a few tips for improving canteen cleanliness:

1. Install hand sanitising stations

Having hand sanitising stations in multiple locations of the canteen can encourage people to maintain good hygiene. Positioning them near entrances will help to remind students and staff to clean their hands and help to reduce the spread of bacteria or illness. 

1. Ensure cleaning staff are monitoring and cleaning the area regularly 

School or office canteens need to be well maintained to ensure the area is a hygienic and safe place to enjoy food. By cleaning the area regularly, you can keep each canteen table and chairs sanitised and ready to be used by others.

1. Encourage students and staff to tidy their area and wash their hands

Canteens that see high levels of traffic can easily become messy quickly. By encouraging students and staff to throw away any of their rubbish or wipe up any spills they’ve accidentally left will help to keep the area clean and hygienic. 

You could promote this by prompting canteen users to keep the area clean and wash their hands regularly through posters on notice boards or by having paper hand towels available. 

Looking to improve your canteen facilities? 

From comfortable canteen chairs to canteen tables, we can fulfill all of your canteen furniture needs here at Manutan – no matter what your budget or needs are. If you’re not sure which canteen table and chairs are right for your school or workplace, please feel free to contact our sales team who will be more than happy to offer their advice and find the best products for your needs.