What The Marchmont Workshop does

The Marchmont Workshop is a privately-held UK handmade furniture maker founded in 2020 by Sam Cooper and Richard Platt, operating from the Marchmont House estate in the Scottish Borders. The workshop produces rush-seated furniture — chairs, stools, sofas, and loungers — using traditional techniques acquired through a six-generation lineage and a formal apprenticeship with master craftsman Lawrence Neal. It is one of a very small number of remaining manufacturers of authentic rush-seated chairs in the United Kingdom, a craft listed by the Heritage Crafts Association as endangered. The business has been recognized with the Heritage Crafts Association Trainees of the Year (2020) and the Scottish Borders Community Impact Award (2024).

The commercial model combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce, made-to-order bespoke commissions, and structured training courses. Standard products are priced from approximately £90 for smaller accessories up to £7,750 for the larger Canopy Sofa, with typical lead times of 8–12 weeks reflecting the handmade production process. Courses are priced at £300 per participant and capped at four students per cohort. Customer segments include individual consumers purchasing through the workshop's website and a growing trade book of named interior designers — Ben Pentreath, Lisette Voute Designs, Child Stewart Design, Anna Hewitson Designs, and Luckin Kitchens — supported by a formal trade program established to broaden the specifier base.

Distribution runs through three principal channels: the workshop's own DTC website, an exclusive wholesale partnership with The New Craftmaker marketplace (for the Canopy Collection), and a trade program for interior designers supplemented by trade show participation and Open Studios events held in partnership with the Hugo Burge Foundation. International shipping is available, and the business has secured editorial placements in publications including the Financial Times, House & Garden, World of Interiors, and T Magazine, which underwrite premium positioning. The operation is described as a two-founder micro-business with no disclosed revenue, headcount growth, or external funding.

Name

The Marchmont Workshop

Legal name

The Marchmont Workshop Ltd

Website

https://themarchmontworkshop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Marchmont Workshop is a UK handmade rush-seated furniture maker founded in 2020, producing traditionally crafted chairs, sofas, and stools from the Marchmont House estate in the Scottish Borders for individual consumers and interior design trade clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handmade Heritage Furniture

NAICS

Nonupholstered Wood Household Furniture Manufacturing (337122)

SIC

Household Furniture (2510), Wood Household Furniture, (No Upholstered) (2511)

akta.pro primary industry

DIY & Home Skills Workshops (Woodworking, Carpentry, Home Repair, Gardening) (THAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Traditional & Indigenous Crafts Lessons (Heritage Skills, Folk Arts) (THAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Handmade rush seating
• Heritage furniture
• Bespoke chairmaking
• Green woodworking
• Craft workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottish Borders

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Furniture Sales: Direct sales of handmade furniture including chairs, tables, barstools, settees, and accessories. Products are made-to-order with standard sizes and bespoke customization available. Price points range from £90 for coat racks to £7,750+ for tables.
2. Rush Seating Courses: Two-day rush seating workshops teaching participants the craft of weaving rush seats. Limited to 4 students per course for bespoke learning experience. Priced at £300 with optional add-ons for stool or chair frames.
3. Gift Cards: Gift vouchers for courses or purchases, starting from £10, providing additional revenue stream and customer acquisition opportunity.
4. Donations: Accepts donations to support craft preservation and training the next generation of makers, with funds going toward the endangered craft of rush seating.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Marchmont Workshop designs and handcrafts rush-seated furniture (chairs, tables, settees, accessories) from locally sourced Scottish hardwoods and hand-harvested river rushes, using traditional green woodworking techniques passed down through six generations. The workshop also runs two-day rush seating training courses limited to four students, and offers bespoke furniture commissions for residential and trade clients.

Product overview

The Marchmont Workshop is a craftsman workshop specialising in handmade rush-seated furniture. Founded in 2020 by Sam Cooper and Richard Platt, it is one of the last manufacturers of rush chairs in the UK. The product portfolio consists of chairs (Kefi barstool, Ledbury, Gimson, Canopy Chair, Clissett, Rush Settee, Rocking Chair, Abbott, Bedales, LCC, Canopy Barstool, Canopy Lounge), tables (Wishbone Table, Evelix, Gimson Round, Maynard Side Table, Avon Coffee Table), and accessories (Brace Coat Rack, Draper Mirror). The company also offers a Rush Seating Course teaching traditional techniques, bespoke furniture commissions, and gift vouchers. Products are crafted from locally sourced hardwoods (primarily Scottish Ash and Oak) with hand-woven rush seats using traditional techniques passed down through six generations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kefi Barstool Ladderback barstool with hand-woven rush seat, available in ash finish from £641. Suited to residential kitchens and commercial hospitality venues.
• Ledbury Chair Armchair and side chair design with hand-woven rush seat, available in vibrant red, plum, ebonised oak, and natural ash/oak finishes from £625.
• Gimson Chair Ernest Gimson-inspired side chair and armchair with hand-woven rush seat in ash finish from £614.
• Clissett Chair Traditional rush-seated chair continuing the legacy of Phillip Clissett, available in armchair and side chair variants from £596, including vibrant red finish option.
• Bedales Chair Originally known as the 'Mission' chair, designed by Ernest Gimson in 1906 and later renamed after Bedales School. Available in armchair and side chair variants from £596.
• LCC Chair Designed by Ernest Gimson in 1906 for London County Council, available as armchair (5 slat) or side chair (4 slat) from £605.
• Abbott Chair Side chair design in oak with clean traditional styling from £692.
• Canopy Chair Contemporary chair design inspired by woodlands affected by ash dieback. Features turned rear legs flowing into hand-carved winding branches emulating ash trees with sweeping split crest representing canopy 'shyness'. Hand-woven rush seat. Sold exclusively through The New Craftmaker.
• Canopy Barstool Barstool version of the Canopy collection, dimensions 45.5cm W x 43cm D x 92cm H with 65cm seat height. Features hand-carved winding branches representing canopy 'shyness'. Sold exclusively through The New Craftmaker.
• Canopy Lounge Low lounge version of the Canopy Chair with wide comfortable seat and supportive crest that wraps round to act as arms. Dimensions: 70cm W x 61cm D x 71cm H, seat 39cm H. Sold exclusively through The New Craftmaker.
• Rush Settee Multi-seat settee design with hand-woven rush seats, available in 2-person, 3-person, and 4-person variants in Ledbury and Bedales styles from £2,328.
• Rocking Chair Traditional rocking chair with hand-woven rush seat, available in Bedales style from £928.
• Wishbone Table Classic Ernest Gimson design revived and updated with 40mm thick removable top for ease of transport. Available in 6-8 person (2m x 0.8m), 8-10 person (2.6m x 1m), and 10-12 person (3.2m x 1.2m) sizes, all 75cm tall. Scottish Ash or Oak with Rubio Monocoat finish from £6,750.
• Evelix Table Versatile table design available in side table, end table, bedside table, and fireside table configurations from £1,215.
• Gimson Round Table Round dining table design by Ernest Gimson, handmade from UK grown timber from £7,750.
• Maynard Side Table Compact side table with wedge-style construction at £295.
• Avon Coffee Table Glass-top coffee table with rush-woven shelf detail at £1,990.
• Brace Coat Rack Hallway coat rack made from offcuts of table and chair stock, featuring three turned pegs and narrow shelf. Available in 3, 6, or 10 hook versions from £90, made in Scottish Oak or Ash.
• Draper Mirror Mirror with turned frame designed in collaboration with Ben Pentreath, inspired by Ledbury chair details. Available in ash and oak with various finishes. Dimensions: 55cm W x 78cm H x 4cm D at £720.
• Rush Seating Course (2 Days) Two-day workshop teaching traditional rush seating techniques from selecting and preparing rushes to trimming and finishing. Limited to 4 students for a bespoke learning experience. Priced at £300 with optional stool frame (£120) or Bedales chair frame (£450) add-ons.
• Gift Cards Gift vouchers for rush seating courses or purchases of furniture designs, valid for single use from £10.
• Bespoke Furniture Commissions Custom furniture commissions including modifications to existing designs, bespoke settees, tables, and one-off pieces designed to specification using sustainably sourced local materials. For residential and trade clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rush seats last decades with daily use and can be repaired by replacing the seat, extending furniture life by generations.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Scottish Furniture Makers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Participating member in Ash Rise exhibition project celebrating Scottish ash timber affected by ash dieback. Creating bespoke furniture piece using sustainably sourced ash.
• Lawrence NealcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Master craftsman and mentor who trained both Sam Cooper and Richard Platt in rush seating in 2018, preserving the endangered craft and enabling the founding of the workshop.
• Hugo Burge FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership hosting Open Studios events twice yearly at Marchmont House. The foundation supports the creative spaces where The Marchmont Workshop operates and helped support Sam and Rich through their apprenticeship.
• The New CraftmakercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive retail partner for Canopy collection (Canopy Chair, Canopy Barstool, Canopy Lounge). Products available through The New Craftmaker's online marketplace.
• Ben Pentreath LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign collaboration resulting in the Draper Mirror, featuring a turned frame inspired by details on the Ledbury design. Available in Ash and Oak with a range of finishes.
• The Plough Inn, LeitholmminorOthersRecommended accommodation partner for course participants, located near the workshop.
• Lisette Voute DesignsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInterior designer trade customer for bespoke furniture.
• Child Stewart DesignminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInterior designer trade customer for bespoke furniture.
• Anna Hewitson DesignsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInterior designer trade customer for bespoke furniture.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Jason Hope: UK-based chairmaker featured alongside Marchmont in Homes & Antiques' 'Best Seat in the House' (2021). Comparable hand-made chairmaking practice with similar high-end positioning.
• Lawrence Neal: Master chairmaker and the mentor who trained both Marchmont founders in rush seating. Direct peer in the UK rush-seated chair-making craft, with overlapping product lines and customer base.
• Gareth Neal: UK chairmaker previously featured alongside Marchmont in Homes & Antiques. Direct peer in hand-made chairmaking with similar heritage craft positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Cox London: UK-based maker of hand-crafted furniture and lighting with strong design credentials. Comparable in British craftsmanship and premium positioning, broader product range.
• Benchmark Furniture: Established UK furniture maker with strong heritage-craft credentials and contract/hospitality work. Comparable in craftsmanship positioning but at larger scale and broader category.
• Titchmarsh & Goodwin: Established British maker of fine furniture and architectural joinery. Comparable on traditional craftsmanship and bespoke commissions but operates at much larger scale.
• Another Country: UK-based designer and maker of sustainable contemporary furniture. Overlaps on sustainability narrative and premium DTC positioning, though broader product portfolio.

Regional players

• Sitting Spiritually: UK-based maker of handcrafted swings and outdoor seating. Similar small-batch, bespoke British craftmaking model, though specializing in outdoor furniture.

Others

• The New Craftmaker: Online marketplace dedicated to British craft furniture and homewares. Channel partner and exclusive retailer for Marchmont's Canopy collection, providing distribution to a curated audience of craft buyers.

Emerging players

• Pinch Design: UK furniture and lighting designer offering high-end, design-led pieces to a similar interior-designer customer base. Comparable on DTC premium positioning and British-made narrative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Marchmont Workshop