Delivering a premium flooring and flooring accessories finish at The Bell on Mulnestrete, a historic pub located in Congleton.
Project Overview
Gradus, in collaboration with Gerflor, delivered a premium flooring and flooring accessories finish at The Bell on Mulnestrete, a historic pub located in Congleton, Cheshire. The project required a careful balance between preserving the character of a heritage hospitality venue and meeting modern performance, safety and durability standards.
With high customer footfall, variable lighting conditions and a need for long-term performance, the solution focused on delivering a cohesive interior design with the practicality of durability, safety and enhanced wayfinding. By integrating illuminated and standard stair edgings, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring and entrance matting, the project demonstrates how a coordinated approach can elevate both safety and aesthetics in busy hospitality environments.
In this blog, we explore:
- What Safety Challenges Did the Project Address?
- Integrated Flooring and Safety Solution
- What Is An Illuminated Stair Edging (BLXT20R)?
- Benefits of Illuminated Stair Edging
- Entrance Matting Solution: Boulevard 6000
- Why is Entrance Matting Essential in Hospitality?
- Design Consistency and Material Integration
- Results: Safer, Durable and Cohesive Interior
- FAQ’s
What Safety Challenges Did the Project Address?
Hospitality venues, particularly older or listed buildings, often present a range of safety challenges. At The Bell on Mulnestrete, these included:
- Varying floor levels typical of heritage structures
- Low or ambient lighting conditions
- High foot traffic throughout the day and evening
- Moisture and debris being tracked in from external areas
These factors can significantly increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls - a common cause of accidents in pubs, bars, and restaurants. Addressing these issues required a fully integrated flooring and stair safety solution that would perform reliably under constant use.
Integrated Flooring and Safety Solution
To respond to these challenges, Gradus and Gerflor implemented a coordinated system combining:
- Gradus BLXT20R illuminated stair edgings for improved step-edge visibility
- Boulevard 6000 entrance matting for effective dirt and moisture ingress control
- Gerflor Creation 55 LVT to enhance durability and visual appeal
- Tarasafe Ultra +36 PTV safety flooring to deliver enhance slip resistance to areas at risk of becoming wet
This integrated approach ensured that each element worked together to reduce risk, improve user experience and maintain a consistent design language throughout the venue.
What Is An Illuminated Stair Edging (BLXT20R)?
An illuminated stair edging is a specialist stair safety solution that incorporates a traditional stair edging profile with LED lighting to improve visibility and reduce the risk of trips and falls, particularly in low-light environments.
The Gradus BLXT20R XT LED Bronze illuminated stair edging installed at The Bell on Mulnestrete features:
- A premium satin bronze aluminium channel
- A co-ordinating slip-resistant metal insert achieving +36 PTV
- Integrated warm white Gradus Impression LED tape
- A durable construction suitable for heavy commercial use
The integrated LED provides a subtle wash of light onto the riser, clearly defining each step edge without overwhelming the space. This is especially valuable in hospitality settings where lighting is intentionally subdued to create ambience.
Benefits of Illuminated Stair Edging
Illuminated stair edgings offer a range of practical and design benefits for hospitality venues:
Improved Safety
- Enhances step visibility in low-light environments
- Reduces the risk of trips and falls
- Supports safe navigation for all users, including those with visual impairments
Enhanced Wayfinding
- Clearly highlights changes in level
- Guides movement through the space intuitively
Aesthetic Integration
- Discreet illumination complements ambient lighting schemes
- Available in finishes that coordinate with premium interior design
Durability and Performance
- Designed for high-traffic commercial use
- Provides long-term slip resistance and structural protection
Entrance Matting Solution: Boulevard 6000
To complement the stair safety measures, Boulevard 6000 secondary barrier matting was installed at entrances.
This high-performance entrance matting system is specifically designed for busy commercial environments and offers:
- A cut-pile construction with integrated scraper fibres
- Effective removal of dirt and moisture at the point of entry
- Strong moisture retention to prevent spread across internal floors
- Durability under heavy footfall
By capturing contaminants early, the matting plays a critical role in overall floor safety and cleanliness.
Why is Entrance Matting Essential in Hospitality?
Entrance matting is a vital but often overlooked component of a safe hospitality environment. Without effective matting:
- Dirt and moisture are easily tracked inside
- Floors become slippery and hazardous
- Cleaning requirements increase significantly
- Flooring materials wear more quickly
By managing dirt and moisture effectively, entrance matting:
- Reduces slip risk across internal areas
- Extends the lifespan of surrounding floor finishes
- Lowers maintenance and operational costs
- Enhances the overall customer experience
In venues like pubs and restaurants, where customers frequently enter from outdoor environments, this is particularly important.
Design Consistency and Material Integration
A key objective of the project was to ensure the solution remained sympathetic to the building’s heritage while delivering a modern, premium finish.
This was achieved through:
- Satin Bronze stair edging that complements traditional interiors
- Warm white LED lighting to create a cosy and welcoming ambience
- Gerflor Creation 55 LVT in a Versailles wood design, reinforcing the classic modern aesthetic
- Gerflor Creation MegaClic in Oxyd Pure, providing a design statement in keeping with the venues design scheme
The careful selection of materials and finishes allows for seamless transitions between zones, creating a unified and professional look throughout the space.
Results: Safer, Durable and Cohesive Interior
The completed project at The Bell on Mulnestrete delivers measurable improvements across several key areas:
- Enhanced safety through improved step visibility and slip resistance
- Reduced maintenance due to effective dirt and moisture control
- Increased durability with robust, commercial-grade materials
- Improved customer experience via clear wayfinding and cohesive impactful design
Overall, the solution demonstrates how integrated flooring and stair safety systems can transform heritage hospitality environments without compromising their character.
FAQs
What is stair edging and why is it important?
A stair edging is a profile that is installed on the leading edge of a step to provide additional grip and clearly define the step edge. It helps prevent slips, trips and wear on stairs, particularly in high-traffic areas.
Where should illuminated stair edging be used?
They are ideal for locations with low lighting or where subtle lighting for design ambiance is required, such as pubs, theatres, cinemas, and hotels where step visibility needs to be enhanced without increasing overall brightness.
How does entrance matting improve safety?
Entrance matting removes dirt and moisture from footwear, reducing the likelihood of slippery floors inside a building.
What is LVT flooring and why is it suitable for hospitality?
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is a durable, low-maintenance flooring option that replicates natural materials like wood or stone, making it ideal for high-traffic hospitality environments. LVT can create a real design statement in hospitality settings.
Can safety solutions still be visually appealing?
Yes. Modern solutions like illuminated stair edgings and entrance matting are specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with interior aesthetics while enhancing safety.