You probably never even think about beds or bed frames…until you realize you need to purchase one. So here you are! You’re shopping around for a new bed, and you want to support the British economy when you buy. Or maybe you’re just interested in where things are made like I am! Read on, because in this article I’m going to tell you all about beds and bed frames made in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. I’ve done all of the research, so you don’t have to!
Which Companies Sell Beds and Bed Frames Made in the United Kingdom (The Short Answer)
After several hours and some thoroughly exhaustive research, I have found 4 different companies that manufacture beds and bed frames in the UK. Those companies are Airsprung Beds, Alstons, Ercol, and Harrison Spinks. Even though there are only four companies, I am sure you’ll be able to find something to your taste.
British Made Beds and Bed Frames (4 Brands to Choose From)
I was surprised to find out that there are only four companies that manufacture beds and bed frames in the United Kingdom! I actually started out with a list of eleven businesses, but as I dug through information online, I found that many of those businesses didn’t actually make beds (for example, only producing couches or other living room furniture).
Fortunately for you, the list didn’t get whittled down to zero—there are some companies that can be of service here.
Airsprung Beds
Airsprung Beds is an extremely old and decently sized company. It traces its history well over a century and a half back, having been founded way back in 1870 by Hedley Chapman. Today, the company claims to be “one of the largest bed manufacturers in the UK.”
Airsprung Beds employs around 500 people and maintains operations in Chorley, Bristol, and Trowbridge, all cities that are located in England. All of the company’s beds are produced at these sites.
ECO DEEP QUILT COMFORT DIVAN SET
Alstons
William Alston and Ambrose Alston established a furniture shop on North Street in Sudbury, England. Just like with Airsprung Beds, this business was founded over a century and a half ago, although Alstons was founded ten years earlier, in 1860. The company moved shop locations multiple times over the following decades.
Nowadays, Alstons maintains a primary base of operations in Colchester, England, as well as an unspecified number of additional factories in the country. Alstons has a stated commitment to environmentalism which includes monitoring its CO2 output and sourcing power from solar panels.
Alstons is a great choice if you are looking for a sofa bed—perfect for those of us who don’t have quite the square footage we’d like in our homes, or just for those who would like to squeeze just one more bed into their home. I’ve linked to two of their sofabeds. I’m sure you agree they look incredibly comfy! I can just imagine sitting down with a mug of hot chocolate, a good book, and a nice warm blanket on a winter’s eve.
Ercol
Lucian Ercolani was an Italian immigrant to the United Kingdom who arrived in the country at a young age and established a new furniture company in 1920 in the township of High Wycombe, UK—not that far outside of London, if you take a look at the map!
In 2002, the company relocated its manufacturing operations to a new factory in Buckinghamshire. Its design studio is located in the same city. Ercol was originally named Furniture Industries. It has a lot of information in its company timeline and it’s definitely worth a look if you have the time to read through it.
One of the things I found particularly interesting was the section regarding Dutch Elm Disease. Elm trees used to be quite common in Europe, and the timber is excellent for furniture, but ever since the disease began spreading, Elm trees have become increasingly rare.
It is predicted that Dutch Elm Disease will eventually wipe out all European elm trees. It was due to this plague that, in 1989, Ercol entered into a partnership with Bagely and Renneberg Hardwoods—an American company—to secure a steady supply of elm wood.
Ercol continues to source its elm wood from the United States today.
Ercol’s beds are very plain, in my opinion. Here are links to two options.
Harrison Spinks
Get ready for one of the most expensive companies you’ve ever heard of. Harrison Spinks is expensive. No, really. I don’t think I’d ever even heard of beds this expensive until I happened upon Harrison Spinks.
Harrison Spinks was founded in 1840. It is a family-owned and operated business that has been passed down through five generations, and today employs over 500 people. These employees include farmers, craftsmen, and expert seamstresses. You won’t find any mechanization here!
Even the mattresses produced by Harrison Spinks are meticulously sewn, stitched, and tufted by hand. All of the fabric for the mattresses is woven in-house. The staff use no glue, no foam, and no flame retardant chemical treatment. All fibers used are 100% natural. Harrison Spinks is also notable for having won two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.
Strictly speaking, Harrison Spinks does not sell bed frames, per se. It sells mattresses and then gifts you a bedframe and headboard to go with that mattress once you’ve purchased one. You cannot buy a bed frame from Harrison Spinks without also buying a mattress—they are not sold separately.
So, how much is a mattress from Harrison Spinks going to cost you?
Well, if you are on a budget, the cheapest option they have available costs £7,000. That’s the Adstrum. On the other hand, the most expensive model is the Luxuriosa, coming in at a whopping £48,000. Is it worth it? I’ll let you know after I win the lottery and buy one.
