That Long Table Again!

1/4/2018

It's pretty simple really. Any more than six people and this will be a terrible table to sit at. Seating along either side of the long table may look "neat" in a life-style magazine but that's just it. It's style over life.

I assert that the ends need to be stoppered. How? With some-one sitting at the ends. Simple. Although it's a long table, the guests need to make a circle, with people at each end, giving everyone someone to talk to on either side. If not, the goodwill will flow right out of the table, at both ends, like wine from a bottomless carafe. Sounds "new-age" and it's possibly the only "new-age" thing I'll ever say.

Restaurants do it. If you book, ask for it not to happen. If it's at someone's house, hope you're not at the ends, be pleased at least that you've been invited, grin and bear it and send them this blog.
Check out the table below...

Buckingham Palace State Banquet - Photo courtesy The Telegraph
You can expect Buckingham Palace to know how to set a table. An oval table is very convivial but even at a long table, simply put someone at the end. Happiness all round.

Comment or add below...

5 Comments

John Baxter link

1/4/2018 06:39:02 pm

We have a long table. It seats eight comfortably but has accommodated as many as twelve. The circular equivalent would take up too much room. Also, round tables force one to talk only to one's immediate neighbours, and not to those across the table. Easier for serving, however. At a long table, the salt or the sauce are always at the wrong end. At court in the 18th century, when tables were invariably round or oval, this became a signifier of status. Dishes of salt, then precious, were placed near the king and his cronies. Everyone else was "below the salt", and therefore inferior.

Cath link

1/4/2018 09:08:09 pm

Thank you for commenting John but it shows me that I have not explained myself well. I am not suggesting a round table - takes up too much room and also should never go beyond 8. I am suggesting a SENSE of a circle with chairs down both sides AND someone at each end. I actually need to show an example. What do you think? At your long table, do have someone at each end?

John link

5/4/2018 05:26:42 pm

Cath,
I see what you mean about the squared circle. And yes, we do generally seat people at the ends - though in my experience those people tend to get marginalised, the dishes, not to mention the conversation, gravitating to the centre of the table. Watching THE CROWN, I was interested to see that, at formal banquets, HMQ sat in the middle, not at the head of the table. Some habits obviously die hard.
John

Kym

1/4/2018 07:21:09 pm

I too would not like to sit at that restaurant’s table. I
If I was unfortunate enough to be sitting on the bench seat, it is not easy to adjust my sitting distance from the table. Also, if I was sitting in the middle of the bench seat, guests either side would need to slide out and stand up if I had to go to the little boy’s room and then repeat the exercise upon my return.

Roger

1/4/2018 09:07:47 pm

So right. Sitting at the last place with no one at the end is irritating to the extent that you really don’t want to participate.

That Long Table Again!

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