Behind the brand: Alstons Upholstery

Sofas for living

Alstons may not be the first name that springs to mind when you think of British-made sofa brands, but it deserves a top ranking alongside the better-known names. With decades of experience, a commitment to quality, and a talent for blending timeless design with modern comfort, Alstons has quietly become one of the UK’s most respected furniture makers and one of our favourites here at Potburys. Here’s why.

Quality heritage

The Alstons family began manufacturing sofas in 1950, building on their success in cabinet-making since 1860. Over the next three decades, the business expanded and established itself as a major producer of well-engineered upholstery. Throughout their history, their values have remained: excellent quality, British-made products, and impeccable service.

British craftsmanship

All Alstons’ sofas are made-to-order at their Colchester factory by a team of highly skilled craftsmen. Most have trained and worked together at Alstons for years, so they know their trade inside out. When you buy an Alstons sofa, you know you’re supporting British skills and manufacturing while also investing in a crafted piece of furniture. 

Designed for living

With a continual focus on creating “Sofas for Living”, all Alstons’ sofas are designed to be beautiful, comfortable, affordable and well-suited to everyday life. While that might imply boring, Alstons’ sofas are far from it. As well as classic and traditional designs, the collections include minimalist, retro and Scandinavian styles, along with contemporary features such as hand-finished ‘see-through’ feet and a rich fabric swatch featuring vibrant patterns, rich hues and luxurious textiles.

Our favourites

While we love all of the Alstons’ collections, here are a few of our favourites.

Poppy

The Poppy is a great choice where space is at a premium. Designed with cosy spaces in mind, it features slightly smaller proportions while still delivering the same level of comfort. The collection also includes a 2- and 3-seater sofabed, which is perfect for maximising space.

Darwin

One of the newer collections, the Darwin is a classic sofa inspired by Darwin’s theory of evolution. It features an elegant silhouette and timeless design. We particularly love the fabric options, which showcase Tree of Life motifs in woven velvets, paisley patchworks in deep greens, henna, and ochre, and oversized botanical patterns in sculpted velvets. Choose from a classic standard back or a more sumptuous pillow back.

Fairmont

If clean, minimal design is your style, you’ll love the Fairmont. The Fairmont fuses Scandinavian style with a modern urban twist, featuring a rustic, weathered oak or satin aluminium front plinth. The collection includes beautiful, textured plain chenille fabrics, which you can pair with geometric or bold velvet scatter cushions.

Whether you’re looking for a sumptuous corner sofa, a compact sofabed or a minimalist accent chair, Alstons has everything you need. Pop into our Sidmouth showroom or explore the collections online to find your next favourite British-made sofa.