Tipping is a great British tradition and a valuable extra source of income for millions of people working in hospitality - so how can your choice of restaurant furniture influence people's decision to tip?
Well, a voluntary tip or discretionary service charge does not incur VAT or National Insurance, although it should be declared as income.
This makes it more favourable in tax terms than a required service charge which is added to the customer's bill - so if you can, it's better to encourage your diners to tip, rather than forcing them to pay a fee for service.
Jackie Grech, legal and policy director at the British Hospitality Association, says: "Dining is all about customer experience and we leave the choice of tipping to the customer.
"No customer should feel obligated or pressured to provide a tip or accept an optional service charge."
She adds that tipping "fosters a service culture" and helps to encourage people to enter the industry - and with three million people already working in hospitality, "anything we do to support and encourage ... good work is beneficial".
To maximise the tips you receive, you must simply maximise customer satisfaction - and your restaurant furniture can have a huge impact on that, making it important to choose carefully when fitting out a new venue.
As we always say, the positioning of your tables and chairs is one important factor, so that diners do not feel too cramped, or too isolated from the rest of their party.
Leaving space between tables allows waiters to move freely around the restaurant, reducing the risk of diners being jostled or, even worse, having food or drinks spilt on them by accident.
And of course it means diners can move around more easily too, whether simply sliding their chair back a little to give themselves more room at the table, or walking over to talk to a friend at a different table, or to use the facilities.
Put yourself in the mind of the customer when furnishing your eatery, and you can make sure to choose restaurant furniture that delivers an enjoyable experience, maximises customer satisfaction, and so helps to maximise the tips your staff receive too.