WITH comedian Rory Bremner on top form, the CFJ Awards held on Friday 11 September at the National Conference Centre (NCC) in Birmingham was another showcase for the flooring industry and a dazzling success.
Winners were announced for the installation categories as well as in the individual awards. The overall installation winner was Flooring Matters SW which worked with Tarkett; Invictus; Altro; Bostik; Gradus; and Calderdale Carpets at The Yacht in Torquay Harbourside, and won the Flooring in Cafes, Restaurants & Hospitality Dining award.
Flooring Matters SW completed a striking 900sq m flooring installation at The Yacht, a luxury restaurant and bar on Torquay Harbour inspired by high-end yacht design. Working alongside designer Gutxi and East Street Pub Company, the team transformed a stripped-back shell with severely compromised subfloors into what it describes as a visually impressive hospitality venue.
The project featured bespoke checkerboard LVT, Parisienne Weave flooring, waterproof systems, integrated LED stair lighting, recessed mat wells, and a handcrafted bar island. Extensive subfloor remediation and complex detailing were required throughout. Delivered over three months by four operatives, the installation combined technical precision, creative problem-solving and durable hospitality-grade performance with standout design impact.
The winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award was William Armour of RJ Flooring, who is retiring in April 2027, while Sam Shetliffe of Capital Flooring and Blinds, Ilkeston, Derby, was awarded as CFA Apprentice of the Year winner.
