Tourism is an industry worth some £106 billion to the UK each year, and maximising the nation's potential to attract visitors from overseas means putting out a warm welcome - something the right choice of pub furniture can help to do in traditional bars and alehouses up and down the country.
The British Beer & Pub Association has called England's public houses "a beacon" for international visitors, adding: "They offer something uniquely English, and are often identified as a major attraction for an English holiday. This desirability is highlighted by some 13 million foreign visitors every year."
But to keep attracting these visitors, England's pubs need to send out the right message, and that means combining a traditional look and feel with the kind of comfort levels people expect of a 21st century establishment.
Modern pub furniture is able to do just that, and whether you want a classic public house design scheme or something a little more contemporary, there should be no need to compromise on comfort.
Perhaps the most obvious type of pub furniture is wooden furniture, including bentwood chairs and solid wood tables with decorative ironwork lending strength to the legs.
Despite the solid wood construction, ergonomic design helps to make sure bentwood chairs are comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time, and there is of course the option to add cushions if you wish, which can easily be tethered in place by attaching them to the chair back.
The elegance of dark wood is as relevant now as it has ever been, and helps to provide the 'quaint' interiors many foreign visitors will be hoping to see - but there are alternatives if you want to send out the message that England is a forward-thinking tourist destination.
For instance, it is not unusual to see leather chairs and sofas in a pub setting, even if the exterior of the venue is very much a traditional public house, and not a recently built or converted bar.
Even a small lounge area with leather sofas and chairs offers some added luxury and comfort for visitors who are not keen on traditional wooden pub furniture - as well as introducing variety to keep your interiors interesting for customers whether they live thousands of miles away, or just around the corner.