Pocket doors in hospitality design

The practical benefits of pocket doors lend themselves to both residential and commercial situations, particularly because every building or business looks to save space in some capacity. In a commercial sense, pocket doors are used widely in the healthcare and education sectors and also in office environments, but another commercial area where pocket doors are very popular is in the hospitality sector. And in this sense, pocket doors bring benefits for both practical and aesthetic reasons.

In recent years the hospitality sector has been under huge financial pressures. The COVID pandemic hit hospitality perhaps worse than any other commercial sector in the UK and many businesses never recovered. But hospitality is also struggling against the cost of living crisis and the inflation-busting rise in utilities costs and commercial leasing. To address these economic concerns many hospitality businesses have had to be creative in developing the business at the same time as cutting costs. And the pocket door is one neat, 21^st century solution, which helps a hospitality business make contemporary visual improvements while also being efficient and smart with available space to streamline operations.

Sleek and elegant pocket doors for hospitality businesses

The renaissance of the pocket door in recent years has been built on its dual aesthetic qualities and these lend themselves well to the hospitality sector. So some people see pocket doors as a quirky retro design feature which adds personality to a hotel, bar or restaurant setting, while other people see it as a chic, unfussy and minimalist interior feature which is ideal for a clean, sleek and elegant hotel lobby and reception area, or a classy fine dining restaurant in the middle of town. This is particularly the case if you opt for the Syntesis style of pocket door, which has no architrave and literally couldn’t be less ornate or elaborate.

So in a visual sense, the pocket door is ideal for a traditional and homely restaurant or an independent hotel that has character and a more established feel, or it can be suitable for a super glitzy city centre restaurant with the wow factor and a large hotel chain that wants a boutique feel.

How hospitality can find practical benefits in the pocket door

Behind the scenes in a hospitality business can be a hectic and largely unglamorous place, but it’s where the magic happens. And like any other type of business, you need space and convenience, particularly where cooking and preparation takes place. But anywhere that has a requirement for organisation and the general operations of a successful business can benefit from the space-saving qualities of the pocket door.

Front-of-house in a hospitality business is very different to behind the scenes, so the pocket door often comes into play in making the best use of space and being creative with whatever space is available, but pocket doors are not just for the areas you don’t see, they are very much for showing off a hospitality business at its best also. Here are the most common uses for pocket doors in hospitality:

Storage – Ideal for creating small spaces for storage of food, drink, tableware, glassware, bed linen, towels or any type of storage. Like any business, hospitality needs things to hand quickly and conveniently, but you need to be organised and the pocket door allows you to create these critical small spaces.      

Kitchens – Hospitality work can be exhausting so pocket doors are great for creating small breakout rooms or canteen kitchen areas where staff can have a break, sit down and relax, make a cuppa and enjoy something from the fridge.

Offices – A business is a business, and managers and key staff need a small office to carry out their important background work, to hold meetings and to manage the hotel, bar or restaurant operation.

Dining rooms – Looking at the front-of-house, many restaurants and hotels are now creating private dining areas which guests can book for more exclusivity and for special occasions. Double pocket doors make these a larger and more lavish space.

Meeting rooms – Hotels are increasingly catering for business meetings and hiring out ground floor spaces for presentations, conferences and other corporate events. Double glass pocket doors are ideal for making a statement and an impact, but also making these rooms welcoming and comfortable. Glass pocket doors can be personalised with logos and branding etched into the glass, while they can also be made in a satin opaque finish which is clean and bright and lets light shine in, but also provides privacy to keep business functions exclusive.  

So check out our range of pocket door systems at the Pocket Door Shop and see how well suited pocket doors are to the hospitality sector. Our range of double doors and glass pocket doors are great for front-of-house elegance and impact, while standard pocket doors are practical and functional for storage and everyday operations. So order online and boost your hospitality business today.