Treating an untreated pine table

Have just acquired an untreated pine table and 6 chairs.
I want to be able to use the table without having to bother
with a table cloth the whole time.
As the surface is quite large, (able to seat 6 people very
comfortably) would it be best to stain and then
polish or use a lacquer/varnish?
Would also have to treat the chairs in the same manner (chairs
have padded material seat and backrest) so that it all matches.

Anybody have any recommendations?

i like natural wood, so i just used a lacquer. this is a bitch though cause you have to lacquer it @ least twice cause the wood sucks it up & then sand it down to get rid o the bubbles. i did this twice for my table (okay, i am not a handy-person) & i have not done the sanding part. have to wait for summer. the chairs were a bitch. better to do this when everything is in pieces.

Clean it, sand it, stain it and then varnish or lacquer it.

I personally like the natural wood colour... just sand it and varnish it.

I am looking forward to the day, I am back in Canada with my pine table and chairs its such a nice wood, and the light colour ... may be sooner than I planned!

I did a spray lacquer for some of my stuff. Very easy and not much sanding.

I thought varnish came in colo(u)rs too these days, sort of like a varnish/stain combo?

definitely do more than just stain and polish or you'll have unwanted stains and discoloration almost as soon as you start using it (unless you are very careful, and who wants to be that?)

Take 'em to the pictures and a swift drink after.. Thats a nice way to treat them!

get someone to do it for you
I would
sounds like a right fart-arse around, dunnit?

but then I am the laziest person I know, by quite a long way

Thanks to you all...
I think I'll go with the 'Topsy Solution'

@carm
you're not deserting TT are you???

oooo goodie - do I get an invite to dine off the finished product as a reward for coming up with the winning suggestion?

Big world out there, and I am looking at my options. Doing some soul searching and such, trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up!
But it will be one hell of a going away party when and if I decide.

@topsy
let's wait and see if i can even be bothered with a party

@carm
take your time and pls pls stay at 18 for a little longer