David P wrote:
I hate to say it, but MDF could be the thing here....


Aye, was thinking that, but unsure how to finish the MDF surface?, it's
got to be presentable. At least with blockboard you have a grained
surface that'd take a stain / varnish (or am I thinking of something else?)

Also, edges would look shoddy after any short time, and planing /
routing a corner would feather the finish.

Would need to be veneered, but unsure how I'd even start with that.

Thanks anyway