To ask about your dining bench

[Rio5555]

Love the clean lined look of a dining table with a couple of benches instead of individual chairs. But how do they work in reality, worried they might just be a bit of a PITA, having to let people out and all being able to get a comfortable distance from the table etc? Also have a 1year old so not sure how it will work when they are ready to sit at the table?

Looking at the Neptune Arundel and can't afford to buy and regret!

A horrible trend, reminiscent of school cafeterias and "stylish city centre bars".

Give me a comfortable chair (with a back!) any day!

We have one with upholstered seats and backrests. It works great with children.

You need a back on a dining chair. It's a bit awkward when a child needs to be nearer the table than an adult.

So uncomfortable. I hate going round my friends house for dinner if they have a Bench. I get a bad back after 15 minutes and actively look for an excuse to leave/move as soon as the meal is done. Ruins the evening completely.

It’s a great space saver! Not the best for your back but I only sit at it for meals so I’m not there for hours at a time. If you have a bench each side, put the children on one bench so they can sit closer to the table if required.

They are fine for kids and teenagers but not so good for older family members who need a bit of comfort and back support!

My back is aching at the thought of a dining bench. I won’t use them in pubs or restaurants either.

Be prepared for very slouchy children if you buy one!

Can to do a trial run using any stools you have with your current table? Or turn your chairs sideways so you can experience no back?

I find them really uncomfortable - and I’m not that old! But the lack of back support is really painful within ten minutes. I would politely decline an invite for dinner if I knew it would be a bench. Also yes for anybody other than children the clambering over, having to get up to allow other people out is difficult.

I agree - I can't sit on a bench for more than about 10 mins and I'm only in my mid thirties. Love the look, hate it in practice.

I like them as an extra for when you need more chairs, but not for everyday use. Ours doubles as a window seat at the moment, which is nice.

Not a fan. I need back support and I need to be able to pull my chair right under the table, which my fellow bench people often don't find comfortable. Even with a back there is reduced support. And then I end up being a pain asking to sit in a particular seat because. Sometimes the ones with backs aren't as bad as you can lean back when not eating, but it's very much a 'can deal with' rather than 'would have in my own home'.

Awful if they have no back, can be awkward to get in and out, difficult to move closer (or further) from the table if you are sat on it - even worse if there is someone else sitting on it too. Encourages people to lean on the table with their elbows.

On the plus side... I will have come back to this if I can think of something positive.

We had them in our old house - never again. Soooooo uncomfortable. We actually used our dining table less because we didn’t have proper dining chairs!

Our new house had a built-in corner dining bench that the owner had made themselves. It sat flush with the walls. It looked shit and we ripped it out straight away.

I’m not keen on the look of them either but I know some people like the ‘clean’ aesthetic!