The English Sofa Company

Handmade British sofas from Manchester

The English Sofa Company designs and hand-makes upholstered furniture in the United Kingdom, with production rooted in Manchester and Lancashire. The company states that it has spent more than five decades — and elsewhere on its site, more than 55 years — building sofas, and that it keeps manufacturing local in purpose-built workshops staffed by upholsterers who work with traditional techniques. Keeping production in Britain, it argues, allows it to control quality and to source as many materials, fabrics and leathers from the UK as possible.

Every piece is described as made to order rather than mass-produced, and the range spans classic Chesterfields, contemporary designs and bespoke commissions. Customers can personalise a sofa through leathers and fabrics, cushion interiors and finishing details, and many models can be adapted to a particular size or comfort preference.

What the catalogue covers

The product range is organised by type, style, material, colour and width, and includes:

• Sofas in leather and fabric, including Chesterfield and contemporary lines, corner sofas and chaise sofas, plus storage chaise models.
• Sofa beds across the same leather, fabric, Chesterfield, contemporary, corner and chaise variants, including storage chaise sofa beds.
• Chairs: leather and fabric chairs, Chesterfield and contemporary chairs, armchairs, wing chairs, tub chairs and dining chairs.
• Footstools in leather and fabric, Chesterfield and contemporary styles, in large, small and storage versions.
• Accessories such as scatter cushions, throws, bean bags and cleaning kits.
• Beyond seating, the site also lists beds, headboards, mattresses, blanket boxes, dining and living room furniture, outdoor furniture and banquette seating.

Material choices advertised include leather — with scratch-resistant and soft-touch options — as well as velvet and linen, and the company says it offers over 150 fabric and leather options. Shoppers can filter by colour families (neutrals, cool tones, warm tones, earthy shades and dark shades) and by width bands from under 150 cm to over 250 cm.

Bespoke work and British sourcing

Bespoke design is presented as a core part of the offer: pieces can be tailored to size, comfort and material, and the company positions itself as guiding customers through that process. Its stated approach combines classic Chesterfield silhouettes with modern designs, and it emphasises that materials are sourced domestically wherever possible. The company also publishes a sofa care guide, information on cushion interiors and leather collections, and a furniture access guide.

Samples, showroom and delivery

Free fabric and leather swatches and a brochure can be ordered so customers can assess materials at home. The company invites visitors to its showroom, which it describes as open seven days a week, and offers UK-wide delivery. A stock outlet is advertised with reductions of up to 80%. Customer service pages cover FAQs, warranty, delivery and returns, and terms and conditions.

Seasonal ordering and other details

At the time of writing this profile, the site displayed a pre-Christmas delivery deadline asking customers to order by 19 October, presented with a countdown. The blog covers topics such as upholstery craftsmanship, choosing between corner and chaise sofas, styling a blue sofa, and English interiors, and the company also publishes behind-the-scenes video content and invites customers to share their interiors.