This comes up constantly. Here is the short way to decide; the full comparison — hardness, movement, finishing, cost — is on our materials page.
Does anyone have to move it?
Oak is heavier in the same section. For dining tables and benches that should feel planted, that is the point. For stacking chairs and stools that staff move forty times a shift, ash makes the room easier to run.
Is the room warm or pale?
Oak runs honey through biscuit and ambers with age. Ash stays pale and takes white, soap and light tints without going muddy. Dark and moody interiors carry oak; bright Nordic rooms usually land on ash.
Does the budget decide?
Ash runs roughly 10 to 20% less than oak for a comparable piece. Both are genuinely good choices for hospitality furniture — this isn't a quality tradeoff, just a price and character one. Oak is heavier, ambers with age, and costs more; ash is lighter, stays pale, and costs less.
And if it is neither?
Oak and ash are our specialisation, but we do occasionally work in walnut, pine and veneer for specific requests. If a project calls for something outside those two species, talk to us and we will tell you honestly whether it is a good fit.