It is that time of year when the evenings are getting longer and with Christmas not too far away people’s thoughts turn to dinner parties and having guests round. But whether you are simply sitting down to tea or entertaining a room full of guests, having a set of placemats is important to protect your dining table.

There are various types of place mats on the market so here is our quick guide to placemats and coasters:

Not only are they durable and hard wearing, leather placemats add a touch of elegance to any table. Simple in design they are a classic for any table in any home.

Available as the real thing in bonded leather or go for the black faux leather placemats which are extremely good imitation but much more practical as they are very easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth and heat resistant up to 80 degrees.