Safeguard your dining space

Customers of a UK furniture company are bucking the trend of abandoning the dining table in favour of TV dinners.

Research conducted by Halo reveals that 90 per cent of its customers regularly eat at the dining table.

This contrasts with a Mintel report finding in 2005, which revealed an eight per cent decline in the UK market for dining tables in the five years since 2000.

Halo's Kate Hardcastle said the dining table was the backbone for daily life for the company's customers.

"Undoubtedly eating habits are changing in the UK, with less than a third of people eating with their family more than once a week. However, our customers are reversing this trend with a continued desire to incorporate beautiful dining into everyday life.

"Like Desperate Housewives, The Simpsons, The Sopranos and Big Brother contestants, Halo customers spend time engaging in ‘table-talk’ at meal times.

"Despite other interests such as TV, work and sport, the dining table forms the backbone of daily life as they gather together at breakfast time and in the evening."

She maintained that rising rates of obesity among the young were partly due to declining family meals.

"However, even though needs are changing and dedicated dining space is being pushed out of the home, beautiful dining is still possible and should be safeguarded at all costs," she added.

For information on Halo's range of dining furniture, go to: www.haloliving.co.uk XXX