Quartz or granite or composite...all the way!!

Avoid fake wood. Even if you're taken by the look initially, areas of heavy wear or scratches give the lie to the deception.

There will be a difference in price between Quartz and laminate worktops so I guess it's down to budget. What I would say is don't buy your worktops from Howdens. They are cheap and don't have a balancer fitted underneath them causing them to possibly warp in time.

Look at some of the better well known brands for laminate worktops such as Axiom, Prima, Egger (Bushboard and Formica products). If you look after them they'll look after you. They can last years.

I had a new kitchen fitted last year from diy kitchens, who are marvellous .
I know I’m not to be trusted with real wood, I spill everything! So for my breakfast bar I used (shock horror!) B&Q Arlington oak laminate breakfast bar. I even bought a real oak worktop to compare, and preferred the B&q one.