Happy to be considered ‘old fashioned’ they are the firm to contact for a personal service in all matters Upholstery

The Smith family have been linked to Eastbourne for many generations with Artilleryman George Smith first coming to Eastbourne as a soldier in 1860 and being stationed in both the Redoubt Fortress and the Wish Tower when they still held a garrison of troops. Ten of George’s eleven  children were born either in the Redoubt or the Wish Tower and most remained in Eastbourne.

JE Smith and Son The Upholsterers was established in 1918 in Eastbourne by one of his sons, James Ernest Smith, and his Son Albert (Bert) who quickly gained a reputation for high class work. As well as undertaking work for private customers a large percentage of their work was for high class furniture stores and contract work for all the large hotels, shop-fitters and retail shops in Eastbourne. The great grandsons of James Smith now run the business, the fourth generation of the Smith family to do so.They are without doubt the specialists in antique re-upholstery still able to restore upholstered pieces as they would have been originally.

Using traditional methods of hand springing, horsehair stuffing and stitching to restore antiques, the same care is used to reupholster, recover, repair and improve more modern items. Suites, Chairs, Couches, Headboards, Footstools and more. Some of their work recently that has been popular is altering furniture that is now the wrong size for their customers needs, for example a three seater settee transformed into a two seater or a favourite armchair altered into a settee. Also popular is the upgrading of modern cushion interiors to a type that holds its shape better and is more comfortable.  Whether it is foam, feather or fibre.

Bert Smith was one of the first members of the Association of Master Upholsterers and the Smith Family are still members of many years standing.

The firm has recently been reassessed by the association and granted continued membership.

They were also one of the first local companies to be assessed by Trading Standards and granted membership of the “Buy with Confidence” scheme

They are proud of their long association with the town, the 91 years they have been in business and the many thousands of customers served over the years.

‘All work is carried out up to a standard not down to a price’