Shipping Taproom Tables and Beer Hall Furniture to the US, UK and Australia: Lead Time, Crating and Timber Rules

Short answer: Taproom and beer hall furniture from our Foshan factory is typically produced in 30-45 days for standard designs and 45-60 days for custom work after drawing and sample approval, then shipped by sea; your quote confirms the dates. Long solid-timber tops travel separately from their steel bases, wrapped and crated, and because they are solid wood the packing and paperwork matter most when the destination is Australia, where timber biosecurity rules are strict.

Ale Bench (a line by EASEN Commercial Furniture) builds communal tables, bar stools, benches and booths for breweries, beer halls and gastropubs in our own production base in Lecong, Foshan, China. We ship direct and quote FOB, CIF or DDP on request. Below is the practical route from your tap list sketch to tables on the floor. Customs rules change; your broker or customs agent is the final authority.

How long until the tables are on the taproom floor?

Think of it as brewing: most of the time goes into steps before and after the boil.

If your opening date is fixed around a release or a festival, approve drawings and finish samples first and argue about the stool cushion color later; upholstery can sometimes follow in a second shipment, but table tops cannot.

How are long timber tops and steel bases packed?

A 10 ft (3 m) communal top is heavy, long and easy to ding at the corners. A powder-coated steel base is tough but scratches on contact with another base. We pack them so neither touches the other:

• Tops. Sealed and fully cured before packing, wrapped in film and foam, with full-length edge guards and corner caps, then crated or framed in heat-treated timber. Tops travel flat on bearers so they do not bow.
• Bases. A-frames, trestles and post bases like those on our Brewhouse A-Frame Communal Table are cartoned individually with foam at every contact point. Fixings are bagged and labelled to the table number.
• Stools and chairs. Cartoned, nested where the design allows, with foot rings protected.
• Benches and booths. Wrapped and cartoned; upholstered backs packed so seams are not crushed.

Shipping tops and bases separately also means each crate can be carried through a normal brewery door, and the table is assembled where it will stand.

LCL or a full container for a brewery?

We send a packing list with crate sizes before booking, so you can see whether everything fits in one container or whether a beer garden order should ride with the indoor furniture.

What changes by country?

United States

• Incoterms. FOB if you have a forwarder; CIF to a US port; DDP for one delivered price to the brewery.
• ISF. Your broker files the ISF with US Customs ahead of loading at the Chinese port.
• Duties. Seating sits under HTS heading 9401 and tables under 9403. Chinese-origin goods carry additional Section 301 duties on top of the normal rate, and the list and rates have moved over time; ask your broker for the current position.
• Solid wood packaging. US rules also require wood packaging material to be ISPM-15 treated and marked.

United Kingdom

Since Brexit, the UK runs its own import regime. Your business needs a GB EORI number, and a customs agent or freight forwarder lodges the import declaration. Import VAT and any customs duty are assessed on entry; VAT-registered businesses can usually account for import VAT through postponed VAT accounting. Timber packaging must be ISPM-15 compliant. Upholstered pieces for UK pubs and taprooms should be specified to the UK furniture fire rules, typically BS 7176 medium hazard for contract seating; we specify foams and fabrics to meet this on request.

Australia

Australia's biosecurity system looks closely at timber, so plan this first:

1. Packaging. Crates, pallets and bearers must be ISPM-15 treated and marked, or we pack timber-free. The packing materials and their treatment are stated on the packing list.
2. Packing declaration. Sea cargo needs one; for full containers it includes a container cleanliness statement. We supply the details your broker needs.
3. The furniture itself. Solid timber tops and benches may have their own import conditions, such as being free of bark and insects, and some products or timbers may need treatment or inspection. Your broker checks the current conditions for the exact product before shipping. Kiln-dried, sealed, bark-free timber is the starting point, and we can arrange fumigation or other treatment before export where the conditions require it.
4. Customs. A licensed customs broker lodges the import declaration and handles GST and any duty or preferential tariff paperwork.

How does payment and inspection work?

We start production on a deposit. Once tables, bases and stools are finished, we send photos and video: tops checked for flatness and finish, welds and powder coat inspected, dimensions measured on camera, and crates shown being packed. The balance is due before shipment once you are satisfied. You are welcome to book a third-party inspector such as SGS, QIMA or Bureau Veritas through your own account. Exact terms are confirmed in each quote.

Pre-delivery steps for the brewery

1. Measure the route from the truck to the floor: door widths, turns, steps.
2. Confirm whether the truck has a liftgate or a forklift is available.
3. Keep the drawings and packing list on site so tops are matched to the right bases.
4. Inspect crates on arrival and note any damage on the delivery receipt with photos.
5. Assemble bases to tops on the floor, then level with the adjustable glides.
6. Check stool heights against the bar or high-top: bar stools such as the Rail Bar Stool suit a bar-height counter.
7. Keep the finish care sheet behind the bar for staff.

Ways breweries trip over shipping

• Fixing tops to bases for transit. Joints loosen and tops crack; ship them apart.
• Untreated pallets to Australia. Expect delays, treatment fees or worse.
• No UK EORI number. Goods sit at the port while you apply.
• Measuring the floor but not the door. Long crates need a straight run in.
• Ordering the beer garden furniture last and paying for a second container.

Explore the full range of communal and high tables for taprooms and beer halls.

FAQ

How long does custom brewery furniture take?

As a rule, 30-45 days for standard designs and 45-60 days for custom work once drawings and samples are signed off, with transit and clearance on top. The quote confirms the schedule.

Do solid wood tables need fumigation for Australia?

It depends on the product and the current import conditions. Packaging must be ISPM-15 treated or timber-free, and your broker checks whether the timber furniture itself needs treatment or inspection. We can arrange treatment before export where required.

What do I need to import into the UK after Brexit?

A GB EORI number, a customs agent or forwarder to lodge the declaration, and a plan for import VAT and any duty. Wood packaging must be ISPM-15 compliant.

Are tables shipped assembled?

No. Tops and bases ship separately and bolt together on site, which protects both and gets them through your door.