The right pub furniture can have a huge impact on the way customers of different genders perceive an establishment.
Men may prefer traditional leather armchairs, but women may opt instead for less formal pub furniture - and young groups are likely to need stalls or booths, or stools that can easily be moved from table to table.
With the in-pub beer market currently facing a gender divide, finding the right pub furniture for the job is more important than ever.
According to market research specialist Mintel, drinking beer by the pint in pubs has historically been seen as a male pursuit.
However, new beverages are changing that - and furnishing a pub to suit more female pint-drinkers could be a key way forward for landlords.
"The beer market has been trying to appeal to a broader audience, more recently to females with products such as lite beers," says Mintel's senior drinks analyst Jonny Forsyth in a review of the UK beer market for 2011.
He adds that, despite this trend, beer remains "a core drink for young men" - words that could spur many landlords to furnish their pubs to suit a younger, male customer base.