Propping up your home

When a West End play comes to the end of its run, or a TV show or movie has finished filming, the props, including everyday items, such as sofas, bookcases, chairs and tables, are often sold to the cast and crew at half price. It is a good way for actors to furnish their homes on a budget. But can the non-thespian public get their hands on such bargains? The answer is yes - if they know where to go.

A few of the hire companies regularly sell off props that are no longer renting well, or which are not in the pristine condition demanded by their pickiest clients.

Martin Cressey, of The Hire Business, set up his own retail outlet called Docklands City Office Furniture (DCOF), after realising the demand for inexpensive ex-hire furniture and finding himself with a huge amount of nearly-new on his hands. The firm also stocks plenty of pieces for the dining room, patio and breakfast room in its "bistro" range.

Cressey hires furniture to the BBC and LWT, and also to events and exhibitions. All of it must be in perfect condition, so the items that filter into the shops in Cornhill and Hackney Road are still in great nick.

Round aluminium café-style tables that seat three or four, which would be more than £100 new, are priced at about £35. Matching aluminium-backed chairs go from £15 and bar stools from £35. Coat stands are from £25.

Its speciality is good-quality desks at prices starting from under £50, and the odd design icon for the study/sitting room, such as a Charles Eames chair in polished aluminium and padded leather, which goes for between £200 and £300, as opposed to more than £1,000 new.

A Herman Miller Aeron chair, with mesh seat and back, usually about £800, can be sourced for £250 at DCOF.

Thorns Group is known for supplying props for several major TV shows, including Coronation Street, Casualty, GMTV and Blue Peter. When Cold Feet's Adam and Rachel (James Nesbitt and Helen Baxendale) married, their wedding was outfitted by Thorns Group, right down to the cake stand and knife.

The company has a massive turnover of furnishings, and disposes of several thousand items a year by auction. These sales throw up some real bargains: garden tables with four or six chairs and a parasol go from £40 for a plastic set, and up to £100 for an attractive wooden suite. Three-seater sofas with a couple of chairs in cane go for about £100.

Monster props hire company Theme Traders supplies to film and TV companies (the lifesize fibreglass cow on Channel 4's So Graham Norton is one of the firm's), but also specialises in fantasy parties. It recreated an entire Soho street indoors for an Iron Maiden party and decked out a venue as a car wash, complete with giant roller brushes.