Buying cutlery

[sazzle27]

Hiya!

Weird post, I know, but I'm not sure who else to ask as a lot of my friends have yet to buy a house etc...

I am really struggling with finding the "correct" cutlery.
We had a look around Dunelm, found a dinner knife that looked nice and was well-weighted, however when we ordered the set the rest of the cutlery felt too light and just.. wrong.

Yes, I am aware how stupid this sounds, but i want something substantial to hold, not too heavy for kids (although happy to buy smaller cutlery for them to manage until they're older/bigger).

Does anyone have any shop recommendations for where we can actually look at and hold the cutlery rather than view in a large box?

[RamblinRosie]

John Lewis do a nice selection, I agree weight is important, and balance, you don’t want the handles too heavy.

[Pol16]

We have John Lewis ‘Stanton’. We’ve collected the whole set over the years and I still love it. Lots of choice in JL and you can purchase items individually if you don’t want to buy a whole set at once. Easy to replace missing items.

[Time40]

Weirdly enough, the last thing I did before I came on MN was buy some vintage dinner knives on Ebay. You're right OP - it's hard to find nice modern cutlery. A lot of it does seem light or badly weighted, or just not very attractive. I think vintage stuff is much nicer looking, and much better quality, too. (Mind you, the lovely vintage bone or faux bone-handled knives I always buy aren't dishwasher safe, so that's something to consider.)

[Lowlandlucky]

Best everyday cutlery i have was in ikea

[itsboiledeggsagain]

It took us ages to find cutlery we were happy with.

IKEA in the end. 365 but they don't make it now.

I am just agreeing it is important

[Loveislandaddict]

Another vote for John Lewis, or TK Maxx.

[user1474894224]

I was in to maxx yesterday and they had a good selection. I also think it's important to try it for weight. When I bought mine I got a Viners set. Unfortunately it's marked and I can't find it again to replace.

[PinkOboe]

If you go for something like Arthur Price it’s easy to replace bits that get lost over the years ss they keep making the same patterns

[BarbaraofSeville]

We got some similar to these from Argos about 20 years ago and the ones that we haven't lost(!) have served us well and are still in perfect condition. Obviously with Argos you have to buy the item but can then return them if you don't like them.

Due to dwindling supplies, I also bought some Amefa ones that are similar from an outlet store quite cheaply.

I don't think it's necessary to spend a lot for every day cutlery.

[Blueuggboots]

Robert Welch cutlery is lovely.

[MikeUniformMike]

IKEA. I think they are called Dragon.

[sazzle27]

Thank you for all replies!!

I am so glad I haven't returned this morning to a lot of messages!

Unfortunately on shift all this week but I am very much looking forward to going and finding some cutlery on my next day off!

[Zippetydoodahzippetyay]

I second Robert Welch. Love ours.

[Wildernesstips]

It's not just about balance but comfort. We had a cutlery set which became painful to use. I have just bought a second set of IKEA Dragon.

[MikeUniformMike]

I bought a second set too and got rid of the cutlery I didn't like. I find it offputting to eat with unpleasant cutlery.

[BikeRunSki]

Everyday - Ikea
Smart - WMF

[CaptainMyCaptain]

Living in Sheffield, we tried to find cutlery made in Sheffield. What little there we could find was horrendously expensive, you could pay as much for one fork as for a cheap set. There is also a city in China which is called Sheffield - who knew? In the end we got a Chinese made canteen which had been finished in Sheffield.

I only say this in case you are considering where things in your home are made, as I do.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

We bought it from John Lewis, by the way.

[VolcanionSteamArtillery]

Ikea, the cheapest set they do. Last forever, well weighted, the spoon is the right shape and size. The knife looks a bit odd but when you've used it for a while you realise ikea have it right and everyone else has it wrong

[BikeRunSki]

We had a similar experience @CaptainMyCaptain. Visited the David Mellor shop in Hathersage too, that was entertaining!

[OwlDoll]

Try M&S as well for everyday cutlery. I prefer it over IKEA.

[paap1975]

We have Robert Welch and love it. I think you can get some of the ranges at John Lewis

[sazzle27]

So after 5 days of hell and BS estate agents hassling us....

We have exchanged today!!

Time to seriously begin the cutlery hunt; lots of fabulous ideas here thank you!

[pinksquash13]

Tk max

[CruCru]

www.nisbets.co.uk/tableware-and-bar-supplies/cutlery/_/a33-2