Buying Guides
How to set a table
Everything from the type of table linen you need to which glasses go with what drink, our guide will help you choose what’s best for you.
Choosing your table linen
Discover your options to protect your table and add colour to your setting
Cotton and linen
Cotton is durable and can be washed at high temperatures, while linen needs a gentler wash. You need to iron both
Coated vinyl and acrylic
Both are practical and easy to wipe clean. Acrylic looks just like fabric
Table protectors
These sit under your tablecloth and are heat-resistant
Choosing your plates, bowls and dishes
Different materials or substrates make a difference to the look and feel of your tableware.
If you're looking to mix and match tableware, there's a colour, style and material for every budget and taste
Bone China
White bone china is the strongest and most translucent ceramic. Though it looks delicate, it’s tough enough for daily use and is dishwasher safe
Fine China
Fine china is delicate yet tough, creamier in colour compared to bone china and more affordable
Porcelain
Affordable yet luxurious, porcelain is renowned for its translucency. Fired at high temperatures, porcelain has an extremely tough glazed surface, making it more durable.
Stoneware
Fired at high temperatures, stoneware is very tough and heat-resistant, and comes in a number of different glaze finishes
Earthenware
Strong, practical and affordable, earthenware is often a little thicker, and is perfect for everyday use
Why choose white bone china?
Apart from its classic versatility, discover other benefits of keeping things simple
Beautiful and tough
High-quality white bone china is the strongest and most translucent ceramic there is. Though it looks delicate, it’s tough enough for daily use and is dishwasher safe
Everything for your table
We offer every item you could need in four designs, whether you like a formal or relaxed table setting
Create your own look
Every piece in each range has the same weight, quality, translucency and finish, so you can mix and match between designs, to create a look just right for you
New ideas
Our Contour side plates sit perfectly with the Cornet dinner plates. Or why not try the Cupola pasta bowl set on top of a Concave dinner plate? The possibilities are endless
Choosing your glassware
The right shape of glass will make a difference to the taste and aroma of drinks
White wine
A narrow mouth retains the aroma of white wine and keeps it cool
Red wine
Larger, rounded glasses amplify red wine’s rich flavours and are concentrated towards your mouth by a gently tapered rim
Champagne
Tall flutes retain the fizz in sparkling wines and keep them chilled. Coupe glasses suit sweeter champagnes
Tumblers & highballs
Ideal for short and long mixed drinks, these also double up as water glasses
Beer
Slender glasses enhance the flavours of lager, while fizzier Belgian beers are best paired with stemmed glasses. Conical pint glasses are ideal for stouts and bitter
Cocktails
A classic conical glass will keep cocktails cool, while the wide mouth boosts complex flavours
Types of glass
The type of glass used makes a difference to price, weight and durability
Soda glass
Affordable and extremely versatile, soda glass is perfect for everyday use
Crystal
This is a good value alternative to lead crystal and ideal for any occasion. It’s also more transparent than soda glass
Lead Crystal
Very high quality, perfect for special occasions, lead crystal has a beautiful transparency, reassuring weight and bell-like tone
SON.hyx
An exceptionally strong crystal that’s more resistant to knocks than ordinary glass
Sparkx
Ultra-clear and durable, Sparkx glass is lead-free and particularly resistant to cloudiness
Handmade
Every piece is unique, with natural quirks that add character
We are no longer able to sell knives online. Please visit your local shop where our ranges are available for purchase.
Worth knowing: By law, we are not permitted to sell a knife or blade to any person under the age of 18. Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amended). Offensive Weapons Act 2019.
Choosing your Cutlery or Cutlery Sets
Our cutlery selection is available in a wide range of prices from affordable to premium. Here's what makes the difference
Handle types
- Metal - a classic choice, metal handles give cutlery a satisfying weight. Hollowed handles offer a lightweight option
- Plastic - lightweight and available in a variety of colours and design features
- Wood - a premium feel and natural look. Consider wood that has been sustainably sourced
Stainless steel grades
Stainless steel grades show the chrome and nickel content. 18/0 contains 18% chrome and no nickel. The highest quality, 18/10 contains 18% chrome and 10% nickel. The combination of metals used effects its strength, corrosion resistance and shine.
| Grade | Corrosion resistance | Shine |
| 18/10 | High | High |
| 18/8 | High | Good |
| 18/0 | Good | Good |
| 13/0 | Used specifically for knives which need more strength and longer-lasting sharpness but are more vulnerable to corrosion | |
Stamped and forged steel
Simple stamped cutlery is good value and ideal for everyday use. Durable forged steel is always handcrafted and is the highest quality choice.
Silver cutlery
Our sterling silver cutlery (available to order online only) is 92.5% pure silver, with every item hallmarked to guarantee quality for 25 years.
Sterling silver cutlery is corrosion-resistant, but can be tarnished by sulphides in the atmosphere and in certain foods, such as egg yolk or lemon.
You can wash silver cutlery by hand or in the dishwasher, but it mustn't be mixed with stainless steel in the basket. Avoid detergents containing lemon, and remove as soon as the cycle has finished and hand dry.
Knife serration and sales
In order to maintain their sharpness, knives aren’t plated with silver and need to be cared for slightly differently to other cutlery. See the Caring for Your Cutlery section of this guide.
Our steak knives are micro-serrated which means less force is required to cut through your favourite meat.
The sale of certain knives is subject to age-restricted sales by law. In support of the government initiative to tackle knife crime, we no longer sell kitchen knives and blades of a certain length online. You can still browse them online and buy them in our shops.
Caring for your Cutlery
Whatever type of cutlery you choose, with a little effort it’s easy to care for, so you can keep it gleaming and tarnish-free when it’s not in use
Cleaning Stainless Steal Cutlery
Stainless steel is stain-resistant but not stain-proof. Follow these tips to keep it looking its best.
- Wash stainless steel separately from sterling silver and silver-plated cutlery, as contact while wet can result in a chemical reaction that damages silver
- Cutlery with wooden, plastic or ceramic handles should be hand washed unless stated as dishwasher safe
- Rinse cutlery of any food remnants before placing in the dishwasher. Do not soak
- Take special care with knives, as the higher percentage of chrome makes them more prone to corrosion. Do not use rinse and hold dishwasher cycles when washing knives.
- All tap water contains mineral salts. To prevent this leaving a thin layer on your cutlery always wipe it dry thoroughly straight after washing or when the dishwasher cycle has finished
- Most stains can be removed with a soapy cloth but occasionally you may need to use a more vigorous treatment on your cutlery such as polishing with a stainless steel cleaner
Cleaning Silver Cutlery
Sterling silver and silver-plated cutlery is corrosion-resistant, though it can be tarnished by sulphides in the atmosphere and in certain foods, such as egg. Silver is a soft metal, which scratches easily, though with proper care over time it can develop a beautiful sheen.
- Always wash silver cutlery separately from other metals
- Rinse cutlery of any food remnants before placing in the dishwasher. Do not soak
- Use dip or polish on a silver cloth to clean tarnished silver, following the manufacturer's instructions
- Restore shine with a soft, dry cloth and use cutlery cleaner. Store in an anti-tarnish roll or a fabric-lined cutlery canteen for larger collections to protect the cutlery from scuffs and tarnishing
Tip
- Unless clearly marked, all our cutlery patterns are dishwasher-safe
- Always use liquid detergent, not powder
- Don’t use wire wool or abrasive cleaners
What should a table setting look like?
Here's an easy guide to the conventional way to set a table
We have lots of beautiful images of all our tableware ranges and collections to inspire you