Help us with our dinner service

[Courtney555]

Apologies for not finding a "cooking/dining" section to post in.

Essentially, we are looking to buy a beautiful set of white tableware. Full service of plates, bowls, sides, serving dishes, boats, etc.

We've had heavy Denby for the last 12yrs and decided to really treat ourselves. We'd like:

White, elegant, durable enough for the dishwasher and everyday (although we are extremely careful with our things, we've not broken a single piece of the Denby in 12yrs) and nothing with a metallic trim as DS12 will microwave something on it at some point
Budget not especially important as we plan on keeping a long time.

Aibu to ask you to send any suggestions or tips on what to get?...or indeed what not to get...

I don't know a lot about new stuff but what I wanted to say is to check out auctions and sale rooms for brands like Villeroy & Boch.

I have a V&B set from the 70's, it would have cost high 100's in old money (it's cost me about 50 so far) and the quality is so much better than what they produce now. In the olden days people got dinner service items for wedding presents and really looked after it. When relatives clear houses of deceased people they send this kind of stuff to sales.

Just find a style or pattern that you like (in your case white) and then you can keep adding to it over time, which is fun, especially when its discontinued and you have to search it out. It's also a nice feeling to keep the items in use and think about how many dinners they were used in!

If this sounds like your idea of hell, ignore me

Btw, I probably wouldn't go older than 70's because the 70's stuff has safe glazes and goes in the dishwasher happily.

Sophie Conran for Portmeirion?

This is an american website I think
www.mikasa.com/
but there is mikasa stuff on ebay though it looks like new stuff not secondhand

The villeroy & boch platinum sets are beautiful!

Completely ignore me - has metallic trim!

I agree that you would probably be best off with Sophie Conran

Posted the wrong link sorry, it's this one www.portmeirion.co.uk/dining/sophie-conran/sophie-conran-white

Thomas have always done plain white China. It might be worth looking for that.

We had a Thomas set years ago, it was gorgeous china.

Funnily enough, we've just swapped all of ours for Denby though I'm massively regretting it. They don't sit well in the dishwasher, and are stupidly heavy as well as small. Everyone had a heaped mound for Christmas as the plates were about 6cms smaller than our old ones.

My tip would be buy one or two and use them for a bit before deciding on a set!!

How about searching Royal Copenhagen, this for example?

I had a look at Heals - this is nice, it's white and it has a relief pattern for a bit of interest.

www.heals.com/flute-dinnerware.html

Have a look at www.davidmellordesign.com

He's a cutlery and tablewares designer, factory, workshop and shop in Hathersage, Derbyshire, but also have a shop in London. Beautiful plain white designs among others; they're not cheap but they are gorgeous.

www.heals.com/loft-16-piece-dinnerware-box-set.html

www.heals.com/for-me-dinnerware.html

Sainsbury’s do plain white porcelain. So does Tesco. Easy to buy more if some gets broken. Reasonable price. Durable

cookinglife.eu/wedgewood-dinner-plate-edme-26-cm/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA_qD_BRDiARIsANjZ2LCKuwd-WE6RIRy6IDwbtw0vN9tG4Of125_n5lwR61DA1vcGKhuVoxgaAmDsEALw_wcB

I bought these. They wash well in the dishwasher and look no different than the day I bought them about 5 years ago

I wouldnt swap my denby for the world. Tough, durable dishwasher microwave and oven proof. And you can usually get replacements in the unlikely event you break a piece. If it were me I'd consider white denby.

Sophie Conran sets are often in tk maxx

I've always thought that Villeroy and Bosch's 'New Wave' range is beautiful.

www.villeroy-boch.co.uk/shop/products/crockery.html?pmin=0.00&prefn1=decor&prefv1=NewWave&srule=most-popular

I have an Alessi set which I love - with the exception of the bowls which just don't fit anywhere in the dishwasher. If I was browsing for a replacement set, I'd run a mile from anything with odd shaped pieces!

Royal Worcester Serendipity is nice too.

@WhereYouLeftIt thanks for the reminder, I’ve wanted one of the new wave coffee mugs for ages and now they’re on sale

@HermioneWeasley they are lovely, I bought DH one for Christmas a few years back. I keep meaning to order myself one - I'm left-handed - but I don't think they make them any more .

Tiffany used to have a lovely plain white set with basket weave on the edges - sadly I could not afford it.

I came on to say Denby too. Not much else so durable.