Thirsk Tables

06/05/2026

15/12/2025

Christmas shutdown and a fond farewell.

We're working hard until close of business on Tuesday 23rd December. We'll then be closed for the Christmas period and back at work on Friday 2nd January.

This Christmas we bid farewell to a colleague we're all very fond of, Banny, pictured below on Yorkshire Day. Paul Banthorpe has worked here since 1994 and before that with other recently retired colleagues at A.B. Rose. We'll miss you Banny but we know you need to spend more time improving your golf handicap and betting on some fast horses. Thank you for all your hard work and we wish you a blissful retirement.

From everyone here at Thirsk Tables have a fantastic Christmas and New Year and we look forward to working with you in 2026.

01/08/2025

Happy Yorkshire Day!

17/04/2025

Even the chocolate ones breed like the proverbial here in Yorkshire! Happy Easter to our fantastic team and to all our loyal customers.

10/04/2025

A fond farewell to Stephen.

Following the retirement of Dave Burnham in September last year, we're sorry to bid farewell to another of our ex-directors Stephen Barr.

Stephen has manufactured tables his entire career, starting in 1975 at the tender age of 16 at A.B. Rose in Thirsk. He chose a career in woodworking as that was his strongest subject at school and after a month in the army he'd decided soldiering wasn't for him.

In 1994 A.B. Rose closed down so Stephen and 3 colleagues (including Dave) bought some of the machines and established Thirsk Furniture, now called Thirsk Tables. By today's standards, working for only 2 companies in a 50 year career is truly impressive!

Stephen's an incredibly skilled joiner and in the last few years has been our dedicated table frame maker. We didn't want to try to work out how many hours he's stood at the dowelling machine you can see in this photo!

In his final few months before retiring, as well as training our new frame maker Aiden, he has also become our 'Lean Machine' - making lots of bespoke french cleat tool walls and other efficiency improvements.

Stephen - we thank you, wish you a blissful retirement and ask that you please don't become a stranger.

P.S. Below you can see his retirement purchase!...

05/12/2024

A fascinating morning for four of Team Thirsk Tables.. a tour of the huge Nissan factory at Sunderland.
It was great to hear its history since opening in 1984, but also to learn how they manage to run at 97% productivity.
We at Thirsk are on our own Kaizen journey so we thought we’d go and see how the Japanese do it first hand.

07/11/2024

We're very proud to have been a carbon neutral company for the last 6 years, but we're always looking to do more.
The majority of our carbon footprint comes from the 200,000 Kwh (units) of electricity we use each year. Big woodworking machines use big electric motors.
We've recently invested £100k to cover our 5 unit roofs with 258 solar panels, which should generate 104,000 Kwh of clean energy every year. We won't use all of it ourselves because in the evenings and weekends the power generated will go into the national grid, but it will provide us with about one third of the electricity we use when we're working.
With a lifespan of over 20 years, the panels will also reduce the impact of energy inflation and help keep us competitive.
A big thank you to our electrician of many years, Alex Ward (G. W & J. Ward Electrical Contractors), and his team for doing such a fantastic job of the install.

31/10/2024

Nice to get a mention is this month's Professional Woodworking Today.

03/10/2024

We're delighted to welcome Aidan and Kyle to our team of talented craftsmen!

Aidan has broad joinery experience making windows, doors, kitchens and van fit-outs and will be joining our solid hardwood department making timber tops before learning how to make our many varied and bespoke table frames and pedestal bases.

Kyle comes fresh from York College where he's successfully completed his City & Guilds Level 1 in Carpentry and Joinery. Now he's started with us he'll continue with a formal apprenticeship which includes one day a week at college working towards his Carpentry and Joinery Level 2. Kyle will start in our Laminate department.

03/09/2024

A Fond Farewell to Dave.
Dave Burnham is an ex director of Thirsk Furniture, established in 1994. Prior to then, he first started work at furniture maker A. B. Rose in 1984 with some colleagues who still work with us today. He knows a thing or two about making tables!
Dave initially retired some years ago before returning to work for us part-time. Now 78 years young, Dave has decided to hang up his tools again (though this time he assures us it's for good!). Dave is an inspiration to us all - his energy and enthusiasm belie his age. He's the only person I've seen jigging on the spot whilst waiting for table tops to come off the edgebanding machine.
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication over so many years Dave and please keep in touch.