Choosing table tops for hospitality: material, shape and size
How to choose between solid wood, veneer, laminate and cultured marble, and the table sizes we suggest for two to eight covers.
At a glance
- Four materials: solid wood, veneer, laminate and cultured marble.
- Laminate is the easy choice for busy venues: it shrugs off hot plates, spills and constant wiping.
- Square and rectangular tops make the most of the floor; round tops suit conversation and smaller rooms.
- For four covers, a 900 or 1,000 mm top, or a 1,200 x 700 mm rectangle for casual dining.
Four materials
- Solid wood: timeless and premium. Real timber wears in rather than out, and can be sanded and refinished years later. Our standard is 25 mm solid ash, with oak, walnut and other timbers on request.
- Veneer: real wood, for less. A real ash surface on a stable MDF core, so it moves less in warm, busy rooms. It comes 25 mm thick, or 40 mm for a chunkier edge.
- Laminate: practical and flexible. It shrugs off hot plates, spills and constant wiping, which makes it the easy choice for busy cafés, pubs and family dining. Decors range from woodgrains to stone effects and plain colours.
- Cultured marble: a statement piece. True-to-life marble finishes in a stone resin that is waterproof and stain-resistant, without the upkeep of porous real marble.
Solid Ash Table Top
A 25 mm solid ash top, stained in your choice of colour, with square edges as standard and other edge profiles to order.
- Round 600 to 1,500 mm
- Square 600 to 1,500 mm
- Rectangle 1,050 x 600 to 1,800 x 900 mm
Ash Veneer Table Top
A 25 mm ash veneer top: real ash at less cost than solid timber, stained in your choice of colour, with straight or chamfered edges.
- Round 600 to 1,500 mm
- Square 600 to 1,500 mm
- Rectangle 1,050 x 600 to 1,800 x 900 mm
Laminated Table Top
A 25 mm pressure-laminated MDF top, PVC edged for busy areas, in a wide choice of laminate finishes.
- Round 600 to 1,500 mm
- Square 600 to 1,500 mm
- Rectangle 1,050 x 600 to 1,800 x 900 mm
Every top is made to order, in standard sizes or bespoke ones. More on each material, with the finishes, is on our table tops page.
Which shape?
Square and rectangular tops make the most of the floor and can be pushed together for larger groups. Round tops are friendlier for conversation and easier to move around, and suit corners and smaller rooms. Many venues mix the two.
Sizes for each number of covers
As a starting point:
| Covers | Square or round | Rectangle |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 600, 700 or 750 mm | |
| 3 | 800 mm round | |
| 4 | 900 or 1,000 mm | 1,200 x 700 mm for casual dining, 1,200 x 750 mm for formal |
| 5 | 1,000 mm round | |
| 6 | 1,200 mm round | 1,600 x 750 or 1,800 x 750 mm |
| 8 | 2,400 x 800 mm |
Allow more room for fine dining, and less at the bar. Your account manager will match a base to each top's size and height.
