I agree with builder that the surfaces scrub clean, but I am personally completely freaked out at the gunge that will inevitably accumulate between basin and worktop.
As food was not being prepared in old science labs this did not matter, but every 'working' kitchen I have seen with wooden tops / belfast sinks has always had a serious and growing grot problem.
If it's a show kitchen or if you only have two tidy people to cater for I expect it will be OK, but in most busy kitchens the sink area is iin constant splashy use with greasy dishes, draining water off food, washing spuds etc and on top of all of that, you will need to spend the end of the evening scouring the b thing with bleach to prevent an outbreak of god know's what. Now THAT's really being chained to a kitchen sink!