A carefully considered combination of flooring, entrance matting, stair edgings and LED step lighting from Gerflor UK and Gradus has helped bring new life to The Bell on Mulnestrete, a newly refurbished hospitality venue in Congleton.
Steeped in local history, the building has previously served as a coach house, mortuary and public house before being sympathetically transformed into a modern food and drinks venue complete with live music events and future plans for boutique hotel accommodation.
The refurbishment carefully balances the character of the original building with a warm, contemporary hospitality interior. Exposed brickwork, open timber beams, Victorian green metro tiles and brass detailing all contribute towards the venue’s distinctive atmosphere, creating a space that feels both authentic and refined.
To complement the wider design scheme, a range of Gerflor flooring solutions were selected throughout the venue, including Creation 55 Dry Back LVT, Creation 70 MegaClic LVT and Tarasafe Ultra safety vinyl flooring. Gradus Boulevard entrance matting, GR91 stair edging and new BLXT20R Satin Bronze LED step lighting were also installed to provide practical performance benefits while enhancing the premium aesthetic of the refurbishment.
Within the restaurant area, Gerflor Creation 55 Dry Back LVT in the Versailles Honey design was chosen to create a warm and welcoming dining environment. Its modern interpretation of classic timber works alongside the interior palette introducing texture and character without overpowering the original architectural features.
Different flooring finishes were used throughout the venue to help subtly define individual hospitality spaces while maintaining visual consistency across the wider interior scheme. Gerflor Creation 70 MegaClic in Oxyd Pure was installed within a connecting corridor area between the bar and restaurant to support the venue’s contemporary industrial-inspired styling.
Tarasafe Ultra safety vinyl flooring in Obsidian was selected for the kitchen, behind the bar and in toilet areas where durability, slip safety and ease of maintenance were essential requirements within a busy hospitality environment.
Discussing the refurbishment, pub owners Stuart and Phil Humphrey explained that retaining the character of the building while creating a high-quality hospitality destination was central to the project vision.
“We wanted to create somewhere that respected the history and character of the building whilst still feeling modern, welcoming and practical for customers,” they said. “The combination of finishes throughout the venue has really helped achieve that balance. The flooring works naturally with the exposed brickwork, beams and brass detailing and gives each area its own identity whilst still feeling connected as one venue.”
The specification of the Gradus products also played an important role within the overall customer experience. Boulevard 6000 entrance matting in Nightfall was installed at the main entrance to help manage dirt and moisture ingress while maintaining a clean and professional appearance from the moment guests arrive.
Throughout various stair areas, Gradus BLXT20R Satin Bronze LED step lighting was installed to introduce subtle feature lighting alongside improved visibility and safety. The warm bronze finish complements the wider brass detailing used throughout the venue, helping to reinforce the premium hospitality aesthetic.
In addition, Gradus GR91 stair edging was installed on the main staircase connecting the bar with the pub’s office space, staff facilities and planned future accommodation. Featuring a standard PVC insert in a Canvas finish, the nosing was selected to coordinate with the dark green carpet used on the stairs, helping to maintain a cohesive and considered interior scheme whilst also enhancing safety for building users.
Nick Ferguson from Gerflor and Gradus commented: “Hospitality projects increasingly require products that combine design flexibility with long-term performance and practicality. At The Bell on Mulnestrete, the selected Gerflor and Gradus solutions work together to support the overall interior concept whilst also delivering the durability, safety and maintenance benefits required within a busy food and drink environment. The finished result is a venue that successfully blends heritage character with a modern hospitality experience.”
The project was completed in May 2026 as part of the wider refurbishment and reopening of The Bell on Mulnestrete.
Supporting Information
Gerflor Company Overview
Gerflor UK is a manufacturer of comprehensive contract interior flooring solutions, including vinyl, linoleum, carpets and rubber. Gerflor innovations help to create attractive and functional hospitality environments, whilst supporting the durability, safety and long-term performance required within busy food, drink and leisure settings.
Working closely with the hospitality sector, Gerflor provides design-led flooring solutions for bars, restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues, helping specifiers and operators create welcoming interiors that balance aesthetics, comfort and practicality. Gerflor flooring collections are developed to enhance guest experience whilst also reducing maintenance requirements and supporting the longevity of commercial interiors.
Gerflor Products Overview Specified for The Bell on Mulnestrete
Creation 55 Dry Back Luxury Vinyl Tile
Creation 55 Dry Back is a high-performance luxury vinyl tile collection developed for demanding commercial interiors where durability and design flexibility are essential. Available in a wide range of realistic wood and mineral finishes, the collection enables designers and specifiers to create warm, contemporary hospitality environments whilst benefiting from excellent wear resistance and easy maintenance.
Featuring a hardwearing surface treatment, Creation 55 Dry Back is suitable for medium to heavy traffic areas including restaurants, bars, hotel interiors and leisure environments. The collection combines authentic aesthetics with practical performance, making it ideal for hospitality projects where atmosphere, comfort and long-term durability are equally important.
Creation 70 MegaClic Luxury Vinyl Tile
Creation 70 MegaClic is a durable interlocking luxury vinyl flooring solution developed for medium to heavy traffic commercial interiors. The collection offers realistic wood and mineral finishes with enhanced durability and ease of maintenance, making it particularly suitable for busy hospitality environments.
The hardwearing surface treatment supports long-term performance whilst maintaining the visual quality of the floor finish in areas subjected to continual footfall. Creation 70 collections provide specifiers with extensive design flexibility, enabling coordinated interior schemes across restaurants, bars, circulation spaces and wider hospitality settings.
Tarasafe Ultra Safety Flooring
Tarasafe Ultra is a specialist slip-resistant vinyl safety flooring designed for heavy traffic commercial environments where safety, hygiene and durability are critical. The collection features deeply inlaid mineral crystal particles and a reinforced construction to provide long-lasting slip resistance that meets HSE guidelines.
Developed for areas where spillages and moisture may occur, Tarasafe Ultra benefits from Gerflor’s SparClean® surface treatment for easy cleaning and maintenance. The flooring also offers excellent durability and hygiene performance, making it suitable for hospitality kitchens, WC’s and back-of-house areas where both safety and visual appearance are important considerations.
Learn more about Gerflor hospitality solutions, request a free sample or speak to a specialist by calling 01625 428 922, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com or visiting www.gerflor.co.uk
Gradus Company Overview
Gradus is a manufacturer of comprehensive contract interior solutions including stair edgings, entrance matting, floor trims, wall protection and LED lighting systems. Gradus products are designed to enhance safety, durability and aesthetics across a wide range of hospitality interiors including hotels, bars, restaurants and leisure venues.
Working in partnership with the hospitality sector, Gradus develops solutions that help create welcoming and visually cohesive environments whilst supporting the practical demands of busy commercial interiors. Combining premium finishes with proven performance, Gradus products help specifiers achieve coordinated designs that balance ambience, accessibility and long-term durability.
Gradus Products Overview Specified for The Bell on Mulnestrete
Boulevard 6000 Entrance Matting
Gradus Boulevard 6000 is a premium entrance matting system designed to absorb dirt and moisture in medium to heavy traffic commercial environments. Available in a range of contemporary finishes and anodised aluminium bases, the system helps maintain cleaner internal floor finishes whilst contributing positively to the overall entrance aesthetic.
Developed for demanding hospitality settings, Boulevard 6000 combines functionality with visual appeal, helping venues create a strong first impression whilst reducing maintenance requirements and improving safety within entrance areas.
BLXT20R Stair Lighting with Satin Bronze Metal Castellated Insert
The BLXT20R stair lighting system combines the performance of Gradus XT stair edgings with integrated LED lighting to improve stair visibility whilst creating a premium architectural feature. The satin bronze finish and castellated insert detail provide a refined appearance that complements contemporary hospitality interiors and feature staircases.
Designed to enhance both ambience and safety, the integrated LED lighting creates a subtle wash of light across the stair tread and riser, helping reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls whilst contributing to the wider interior atmosphere. Suitable for bars, restaurants and hotel interiors, the system combines durability, performance and visual impact within a single coordinated solution.
GR91 Stair Edging
The Gradus GR91 stair edging profile helps support safe accessibility within commercial interiors by providing clear visual definition to stair edges whilst also delivering a neat and durable finish.
For The Bell on Mulnestrete project, the specification achieved the recommended visual contrast between the stair edging and surrounding floorcovering, exceeding a 30-point Light Reflectance Value (LRV) difference in line with The Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document M and BS 8300-2:2018 guidance. This helps improve step edge visibility and supports safer navigation for building users within busy hospitality environments.
Learn more about Gradus solutions, request a free sample or speak to a specialist by calling 01625 428 922, emailing imail@gradus.com or visiting www.gradus.com.