Walk into almost any traditional public house - whether in a town or city, or in a rural setting - and you're likely to see benches among its pub furniture.
They might be built into an alcove, or along a wall; they might disguise a radiator or have air conditioning vents behind them; or they might be placed opposite one another to create a booth, especially in pubs that serve food.
Benches are by definition bigger than individual seats, so you need to make sure you have the space for them - so what are the compelling benefits to opt for them over lightweight chairs and stools?
1. Big Bench, Small Space
You might expect a bench to take up more room than other types of pub furniture, but that's not necessarily the case - position it along a wall and, fixed into position, it can be a very space-efficient form of seating.
2. Budge Up!
Benches are flexible in terms of how many people they can seat, too - so even though the bench itself might not move, the same table might comfortably seat anywhere from 3-4 people right up to a group of between six and eight, just by sitting closer to one another on the benches.
3. Fix It
The great thing about one bench seating different numbers of people is that you don't need to be able to move it around, so fix it in place and, even if customers move the chairs and stools away, you'll never be left with a table that's totally devoid of seating.
4. Built to Last
All good pub furniture is built with durability and longevity in mind, but a good solid wooden bench is probably among the hardest-wearing pub seating you can buy - it should last for a considerable time, with very little maintenance or repair work.
5. Best Fit
Finally, as mentioned up top, you'll often find benches in locations where they fit snugly - in an alcove or other recess, backed up against a wall, or in a booth - and even if they are not made to measure, they will still often fill the space pretty much perfectly, allowing you to make the most of the room you have available.
Shop for the pictured Killarney Settle with upholstered seat.