I was careful to buy a table that doesn't have deep side rails, so one could fit legs underneath. I was going to make a wooden table top like seen in the pics, but after deeper consideration I was concerned about spillage seeping through the seams. Would need special grooved hinges that are as long as the table is wide where the pieces join, which still might not catch all spillage should it happen...
And since I don't anticipate using it as a banquet table very often, we went a different route. I bought table insert that is 50" x 100" to flatten the table surface, then put fitted, thick fake leather cover over the whole thing. It's spill proof and it all folds up and fits nicely under the table. Total investment for the insert (used, local craigslist) and cover (new, ebay) came to $150. The cover is thick enough to where the pockets don't cause dips or holes in the cover. It's a very portable and easy solution. The base of my table is black, and the cover is black. Doesn't look "elegant" without a table cloth, but it does not look cheap or ugly, either.
We had 16 people sitting around the table for Thanksgiving this year and not a single complaint.
One neat side of using the pool table for family festivities like this... I had lots of help clearing the table and cleaning up so we could start playing pool.
Smoothest, quickest Thanksgiving cleanup, ever!
LOL!