Landlords regularly face the challenge of finding the funds needed for pub furniture purchases, whether to replace broken or worn-out tables and chairs, or simply to refresh the look and feel of the bar area.
But new research suggests that venues which serve food may be throwing away several thousands of pounds' worth of ingredients - making food waste one area from which the capital needed for pub furniture purchases might be found.
The statistics were compiled by WRAP, the Waste & Resources Action Programme, which researches and campaigns on issues relating to packaging and other waste, and its impact on the environment.
Each year, the equivalent of more than 1.3 billion meals go to waste in hospitality and food businesses across the UK, the British Beer & Pub Association states, costing the industry £2.5 billion in total.
Cutting out food waste completely would save pubs an average of £8,000 each, the BBPA says - and while that might be an unrealistic ambition, even reducing waste by a substantial percentage could add thousands to annual earnings in real terms.
Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of BBPA, says: "This work we have done with WRAP shows that there are big potential savings to be made when it comes to managing food waste - an average of £8,000 per pub.
"If pubs identify where food waste occurs and put together an action plan, it could help their bottom line as well as the environment."
Freeing up funds in this way could then support investment of any kind into the pub's infrastructure, from pub furniture purchases through to installing televisions or other electronics, or even paying the cost of hosting events or hanging seasonal decorations.
And while it might not seem easy to make efficiency improvements, it is also worth remembering that cutting waste costs by thousands can be a sustainable addition to your bottom line, which will continue to reward you in years to come.
In this sense, it is as much of an investment in the future of your business as redecorating your premises or putting new pub furniture in place can be.