Looking for a New Menu Cover?

The 7 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid—Insights from Expert Menu Maker Tim. Let Your Menu Cover Make You Money, Not Become a Money Pit!

Are You Representing Your Menu the Right Way?

So, you’re opening a new restaurant or realising that your current menu doesn’t reflect the style of your business? Or maybe you’re just fed up with printing countless menus, only to see them used as napkins rather than for ordering food.

We get it—there are a ton of options out there, and looking at their google ads pictures they all look great.

But let me help you save some money..

Most menus will end up looking scruffy and worn out after just 6 months – shock!

That’s where we come in—not just to sell you our menus, you be the judge of that, but to give you an honest, well-informed opinion on what to look for. Here we go!

Do You Even Need a Menu Cover?

Can’t you just print paper menus and skip the cover? It’s easier and cheaper, right?

Well, ask yourself: Is it really cheaper to print menus every day on thick, high-quality paper? We’ve seen restaurants spend thousands of pounds a year just on printing menus—it’s an unnecessary money pit.

If you want to save money, definitely go for a menu cover. The most cost-effective option is a ebay cover with plastic inserts where you can slide your menus in, brilliant!

But then again, can you look yourself in the mirror—or even worse, in the eyes of your customers—when handing them a bulky plastic menu that feels like it belongs in a late-night kebab shop? You’re better than that.

Here’s a real-life insight from our customers: Restaurants that upgraded to an appealing menu cover saw a 23% increase in sales. Why? Because the menu is the first thing your customers see. If they were going to order their usual, an eye-catching menu might tempt them to explore your specials. That’s not a sales trick—it’s just facts.

Read the Fine Print

If you’re looking for a leather menu cover, beware—most products marketed as “leather” aren’t actually leather.

Many are just thick, heavy paper with a leather print wrapped around cardboard. They look great at first, but give it a few months, and you’ll see the cracks—literally. The worst part? These fake leather menus aren’t even cheap. Most range from £10 to £25 per cover

Key takeaway: Avoid paper-lookalike menus. You’re basically paying premium prices for fancy cardboard.

Want to know what the real deal feels like? Try it for free.

Choose the Right Paper Fitting

It sounds obvious, but this step is crucial. You are probably padding yourself on the back for creating such an amazing menu in Canva, but when selecting the right menu cover, start with a blank slate.

Consider a layout that makes sense:

Left page:
A rotating specials or weekly menu.
Right page:
Your main food and drinks list, held in place by something elegant—like our signature gold bar fitting.

For a clean, practical approach, print your menus in landscape format (A3 paper for A4 menus, A4 paper for A5 menus) and slide them behind an elastic strap. No fuss, just a neat and stylish setup.

One thing I will say—ditch the screw fittings. They’re a nightmare. Pages stick up awkwardly, and changing them is a hassle. Unless you’re planning to use plastic inserts (which, let’s be honest, belong in chain pubs from the 90s), stay far away.

What Kind of Leather Are You Actually Buying?

So, you found some “snazzy leather” menu covers on Etsy—great! They’re made from recycled leather and cost between £10 and £20 per cover.

Sounds good, right? But do you know what recycled leather actually is?

It’s not your grandma’s old handbag or your grandpa’s worn-out belt that neighbour Sue collected for recycling, take your pink glasses off! It’s waste leather dust and fibers, mixed with a heap of glue to hold it together. Don’t get me wrong, recycling is great. But when real leather is available—and actually better for the environment—why settle for a marketing gimmick that charges premium prices for what’s essentially pressed leather fluff?

What Leather Should You Choose?

Picking the right leather isn’t just about looks—it’s about durability, texture, and whether it belongs in a premium venue.

At Stalwart Crafts, we use full-grain leather—the best you can get. No fake coatings, no mystery blends—just natural, durable leather that ages beautifully instead of cracking or peeling after a few months.

And here’s the kicker—our leather is LWG Gold Standard certified, meaning it’s ethically sourced, fully traceable, and produced with minimal environmental impact. Less waste, no dodgy chemicals, and a supply chain that actually makes a difference.

If you want menu covers that last years instead of months, don’t fall for cheap imitations. Go for the real deal – we’re happy to provide you with examples.

Pay for Value, Not Just Price

So, we’ve talked about cheaper menus in the £10-20 price range. And while some options might look good at first, they won’t last long or be the most ethical choice.

So, how much more do you need to spend for a quality menu cover?

The answer is about the price of a glass of Chardonnay…

Yes, prices of a glass of white gold to paintstripper may vary, but let’s say £30 gets you the holy grail of leather menus—so even if your food is terrible, at least you had a good first impression.

But even just £5 more than the £20 mark gets you a decent leather menu cover—one that won’t fall apart after a few months,

And all joking aside will probably outlive your business (sad face).

Not only will they outlast your business, they will have been a constant—a menu cover that won’t let you down, looks pristine every single day, and—unlike your staff—actually gets better with age.

Elevate Your Menu – Elevate Your Business

Your menu isn’t just a list of dishes—it’s the first impression, the silent upsell, and the reflection of your restaurant’s quality. A well-crafted
menu cover does more than just hold paper; it enhances your brand, boosts sales, and saves you money in the long run.

At Stalwart Crafts, we’ve helped countless restaurants transform their menus into powerful sales tools that stand the test of time. Want expert guidance on choosing the perfect menu solution for your business? Book your exclusive 1-to-1 consultation now and let’s craft a menu that works as hard as you do.

We’re a London-based leather crafts business, pushing boundaries to take businesses from ordinary to extraordinary. It’s not for nothing that we’ve won the UK Innovation and Sustainability Award—let us help you.