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Original poster

New dinner set - what would you buy?

144 replies

Workyticket · 13/02/2021 19:31

We bought our last set of plates and bowls in a Debenhams sale and a couple are broken and thrown out / chipped now. Can't find replacements anywhere.

Dp fancies some patterned stuff we spotted in Tesco but I'm guessing we couldn't replace if we break any as theyrealways updating

Don't need cups - we have LOADS

We do need side plates, dinner plates, cereal bowls and pasta bowls

Denby is lovely but eye wateringly expensive

Any ideas?!

OP posts:
fairyannie · 14/02/2021 00:00

I got a Denby set when I moved to our current house.

I love it. It's very hard wearing and quite difficult to chip. I've clanged lots of things lots of times without chipping and cracking. I've replaced broken items along the years and added to my collection.

My basic eight place settings are 28 years old. I have added different style bowls, serving plates and serving dishes over the years. I use it every day. My mother had a Denby coffee set which would only come out occasionally. I am always using my coffee sets.

It looks new. It's good value for money when you consider how durable it is.

I bought both my daughters Denby sets when they bought their first homes. Now they are collecting it.

SageRosemary · 14/02/2021 00:06

Have a look at Belleek

www.belleek.com/SearchResults.aspx?InStockOnly=true&AttributeValueIDs=518

PickAChew · 14/02/2021 00:08

@addicted2spaniels

We've just bought Denby, and I'm heartbroken with it. The dinner plates are small and too thick to sit in the dishwasher, and for whatever reason, our dishwasher just isn't washing it properly so I end up having to do it by hand.

If I'd have known, I wouldn't have bothered. I gave our eldest DD all of our Gorden Ramsey Maze set that we had in 3 different colours, and I miss it Sad

Our denby dinner plates are massive. You must have the salad plates. Ours all goes in the dishwasher fine, though the bowls take up loads of room.

Interested in this thread?

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Home improvement
BackforGood · 14/02/2021 00:09

There are specialists out there who seek out replacements for dinner services, if you like yours.
'New' isn't necessarily the best place to be looking.

Ideasplease322 · 14/02/2021 00:27

I would second the suggestion for bellek. Excellent quality that really lasts.

StarlightLady · 14/02/2021 03:01

I have a blue patterned “almost set” which is a mix of Doulton, Kate Spade and Joh Lewis. They go together but they don’t match. It really does work on the table with the same shades and you can replace or add to what you have easily.

It might sound odd, but it works.

LeSquigh · 14/02/2021 06:50

Emma Bridgewater here too, mixed in with a bit of M&S. I haven’t replaced anything for 15 years and all of it’s been hard wearing with little in the way of breakages (I do have young kids too). I LOVE Bridgewater but it is expensive. I also have a very mixed lot rather than a “set”.

WellTidy · 14/02/2021 06:54

Like Bonnes we have the Maxim range from M&S. porcelain, and very reasonably priced. You can I individual items or sets.I’ve had it for maybe 8 years now and would buy it all over again. Square and round plates etc for variety.

Yellowtopaz · 14/02/2021 06:55

@Jigglyjugs

I'd buy the gorgeous green Habitat set that I keep eyeing up in Sainsburys. I don't need it, but I love it. It comes as a boxed set plus you can buy each item individually, so can add to the 4x bowls and plates etc that come in a boxed set.
I have my eye on this too!
FuckingHateRats · 14/02/2021 07:00

We bought the Le Creuset plates/bowls/pasta bowls. The rainbow effect means if we ever do break one and the colour has been discontinued, we'll be able to add a different colour without any bother.

I LOVE them. They make me smile every day.

New dinner set - what would you buy?
rockingaroundthemulberrybush · 14/02/2021 07:19

@FuckingHateRats - they are so lovely. I love rainbow colours. I have my eye on the Le Creuset too. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind?

  • did you have to buy the dinner plates separately as I can't find any sets of these?
  • any issues with how heavy they are or fitting in the dishwasher?
StarlightLady · 14/02/2021 07:30

@FuckingHateRats - This is similar to what l have done, but with my blue theme.

FuckingHateRats · 14/02/2021 07:31

[quote rockingaroundthemulberrybush]@FuckingHateRats - they are so lovely. I love rainbow colours. I have my eye on the Le Creuset too. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind?

  • did you have to buy the dinner plates separately as I can't find any sets of these?
  • any issues with how heavy they are or fitting in the dishwasher?[/quote]
@rockingaroundthemulberrybush

Yes, I bought them separately. I don't think you can buy them as a set.

Zero issues with them fitting in the dishwasher. The dinner plates are quite heavy but not wild. I don't think the cereal bowls/side plates / pasta bowls are as heavy. My 9yr old manages fine.

There is a new deep teal colour that I want to add Grin

FuckingHateRats · 14/02/2021 07:32

When I say I bought them separately, I bought the lot separately. Like a crockery pic n mix, if you will.

Cally62 · 14/02/2021 07:32

I had Denby for years, bought from house of fraser.
Couldn't get any serving dishes to go with it that were suitable.

Bought a really lovely set from Tesco...the black, white with a little brown rim. 2 box sets of 4 then extra small bowls and lots of serving dishes. I absolutely love it.

It was bought just over a year ago and they still have the whole set in Tesco.

Bandol · 14/02/2021 07:45

@Quornflakegirl and @LeSquigh do you have problems with your Emma Bridgewater plates’ glaze cracking at all? I’ve got a small number of plates and on one of them the glaze has cracked terribly and the rest have cracked a bit.

I’m trying to work out why - only thing I can think of is them going through the dishwasher at the hot setting from time to time. I want to get some more but I’m put off by the deterioration of my plates so would like to understand that before investing further.

I’ve got lots of Portmeirion Botanic Garden and that’s incredibly hard wearing compared to my Emma Bridgewater. Some of my Portmeirion is still perfect after 20 years of use.

I love the Portmeirion Botanic Garden. It’s not the most modern pattern out there, but it is so hard wearing and the ability to add to it in the unlikely event that some does get chipped or broken is great.

CoffeeWithMyOxygen · 14/02/2021 08:25

Oh, actually scratch that. The bastards still have it listed but it's out of stock

I know! It’s so mean, they’re dangling the dream! Although it they don’t have the side plates listed so I can’t even create a full set from this mythical Argos. Gutted.

Equimum · 14/02/2021 08:48

We bought white bone China from JL when we got married. Although they change the design ever so often, the new stuff always fits in, so we just buy what we need when we need it. Has worked out very cost effective. I then spend money on nice table linens etc and decorate the table that way.

Quornflakegirl · 14/02/2021 09:33

bandol I have heard that EB will replace crazed items, so worth contacting them.

SquigglePigs · 14/02/2021 09:35

If you like Denby and generally shop at Tesco you can convert your clubcard vouchers into Denby vouchers. We've got most of our Denby stuff that way, often only paying postage.

Molecule · 14/02/2021 10:10

I recently bought from Portmeirion in one of their sales. Seconds worked out cheaper than IKEA 352 which I’d just bought for my holiday let. Don’t think they’ve got a sale on at the moment but it’s worth signing up to their mailing list. They now own many of the famous brands here: www.portmeirion.co.uk/offers and here: www.portmeirion.co.uk/offers

Good service, and quite a bit is still manufactured in the UK, as is Denby.

When things are back to normal it’s quite fun to go round the Factory shops in the Potteries, Denby also have one but it’s in Derbyshire. Here’s a list of the Stoke ones: www.visitstoke.co.uk/see-and-do/shopping/ceramic-shopping some are true factory shops; Royal Stafford is part of the factory, not fancy but very good value, Emma Bridgewater is more of a “destination” but doesn’t have brilliant bargains.

Here’s Denby, again, like Emma Bridgewater, more of a day out on its own, and I didn’t think there were brilliant bargains to be had: www.visitstoke.co.uk/see-and-do/shopping/ceramic-shopping
But again UK manufactured.

Original poster
Workyticket · 14/02/2021 10:20

Thanks everyone! My valentine's day browsing is sorted - I'll be browsing crockery all day!!

I love, love, love le creuset but DP just brought me a coffee in this (despite there being dozens of other, non chipped cups) which puts me off a bit

OP posts:
ZenNudist · 14/02/2021 10:22

Denby do a smaller sized dinner plate which is great for every day use and fits in the dishwasher. They also do the massive dinner plates that dont fit in the dishwasher and are great for say Christmas dinner or a special meal but too big for normal every day use. This is good as they stay pristine as we hardly use them. If you were on a budget just get the smaller size.

I have a beige striped edge set that is discontinued now which is sad as the dc broke a load of it. I occaisionally buy plates off eBay etc. I supplemented my rice bowls (a great size for cereal or dessert) by getting Denby Intro Stone White from Dunelm. The shape and colour match perfectly. I'd recommend that set its lovely and you can match what you like with it

minipie · 14/02/2021 10:22

@BonnesVacances

We've had the plain white Maxim range from M&S since we got married 20 years ago. Easy to replace broken plates/dishes as it's still going.
Oh is it?! We have an ancient Maxim set and assumed it would be long gone. Thanks