Help me to fall in love with my

I have two Denby sets, a coffee set and a tea set. I love the look but don't use them! Tiny coffee cups are useless, as are small tea cups. I see Denby sets in charity shops all the time.

Sell it on ebay or facebook market place and buy something you love. Charity shops have many sets of unwanted crockery that have been kept for best. I have got rid of all my unmatched bits and pieces and use the 'best' china every day. Life is too short!

Oh dear I was just about to replace my cheap and very chipped set with Denby as it seems so strong. I hate using chipped crockery. Was going for the colour Linen. Do I need to rethink

I bought a new Denby set about a month ago !

I use Denby tableware everyday approx 20 years old. I think I know the style you have, heavily patterned on outside and awkward shaped bowls? I would try and sell it or give to charity. I had a full 12 place china teaset that I never used (think maybe 4 times in 54 years) and gave that to charity. The manager told me it would be auctioned or go to a "high end" branch for sale. Received a notice of how much they had earned on donation and it was quite a bit.

I had two sets of china, inherited from Mum and MIL, which had been stored away for years. I passed them on to a friend who makes 3-tier cake stands from them, and sells them for charity. They are very popular, right now, for afternoon teas.

I no longer do any fancy entertaining. Rather than have everything matching, I enjoy using a mix of ‘odds and ends’ so I can choose whatever suits my mood at the time. Variety is the spice of life.

I used to love my parents’ set of Green Wheat - regardless of the scraping noise of cutlery. I was quite upset when they replaced it.

Many years later a SiL donated a mass of her old Green Wheat, even down to a coffee pot - to a dd and her then partner (now dh) after they bought their first house. Having worked abroad for several years they had not so much as a teaspoon, and were very glad to have it.
Quite a bit has since been broken, and been replaced by plain white, but they still have some - and use it.

minxie

Oh dear I was just about to replace my cheap and very chipped set with Denby as it seems so strong. I hate using chipped crockery. Was going for the colour Linen. Do I need to rethink

Minxie - I would say go for it!! We have Denby Greenwich which is a green version of Denby Linen and we love it. We've had it for many years but it still looks new, hard wearing (doesn't chip easily) and the pattern is timeless. What's not to like

I also collected Green Wheat for years. Eventually I had every piece that they made. I only broke one piece, the banjo shaped celery dish, which was balanced on a packing case when I was pregnant and turned round quickly without taking into consideration the size of my bump. At the same time, I collected Viners Studio cutlery, I had the full canteen and managed to get all their other pieces with wedding presents. Having used them for years, the Denby has been honourably retired in exchange for something lighter, but the cutlery looks as good as it did 50 years ago,

I love my indestructible Denby.

I love Denby. I only have the imperial blue teapot, sugar bowl and milk jug. Would love an imperial blue dinner service but alas, finances don’t allow it ?

www.chinasearch.co.uk/

This company buys china in good condition if anyone has items they want to sell, I have the Thomas Quince dinner set over 40 years old but like new as only used at Christmas - it is worth more than I paid for it, looking at the prices they are selling it for on their website, I will pass on to one of my daughters-in-law who admires it.

I still have quite a few pieces of the Denby Arabesque dinner service which was a gift when getting married.
Like others have said, plates are large and chunky, and cups are wide and drinks cool too quickly when using.
And the dark brown colour is no longer fashionable.
Just looked on Ebay and plates are averaging about £10 each.
Might be worth selling ...

MiniMoon

I could always use my Haddon Hall china but it isn't dishwasher safe.

My father-in-law bought some very expensive silver plated cutlery from Mappin & Webb. I was going to wash it by hand but he bunged it in the dishwasher and said, 'Life's too short'. I recommend the same approach to your china. It'll probably be fine. The in-laws' cutlery didn't seem to suffer!

We were given Denby Arabesque as a wedding gift 52 years ago.

Twenty years ago I gave a surprise party for my mother at her house taking the Denby with. My teenage nephew later helped clear up but put the box containing the Denby in the dustbin and the box full of rubbish into the car......

The mistake wasn't noticed until the following day by which time mother's dustmen had finished their collection. It's safe to say that I was not a happy bunny!

There is a happy ending as when hearing of the mishap, the original purchaser of the Arabesque found a full set at auction and has since topped it up with every conceivable piece, which was extremely kind of him.

Have never had Denby so didn’t know it’s heavy. Can never understand people buying the really heavy and very expensive French cookery ware.
Mine is white, not always matching but it looks nice and can introduce colour with mats, cloths jugs and vases of flowers etc.
I do have patterned sets some quite old which are packed away. Considered donating but when I see these sets in charity shops they are so cheap presumably because no one wants them.
I have a royal doulton set collected via Safeway never used. That’s in a box under the bed. Just don’t entertain these days. A bit sad really.

My Denby is Boston, still going strong, mainly because it sits in the dresser unused most of the time. Our wedding crockery was Hornsea in a horrible brown of which I have only two bowls now. I also have my grandmother’s Crown Derby in the loft.

Lexisgranny we also have the original Studio cutlery plus a supplementary set made in Korea (subtle differences and not nearly as nice). However, the knives of both sets have tarnished in places. If you want to sell your knives, please let me know!

There are local selling sites or try collection only on Gumtree. Why let it all gather dust. My mum had all her sets in a china cabinet for years and when she died I bubble wrapped the lot and put them in my loft. I was moving house and ended up giving them to charity instead of putting in another loft. I felt guilty after my mum cherishing for years, but I knew I would never use them.

I think some care homes appreciate vintage as it brings back memories for the residents x

vickymeldrew I'd be wary of donating crockery of any sort to a charity shop. A friend, who used to volunteer in one (unnamed), was given the task of taking the crockery outside to smash it all because it was surplus to requirements. She was disgusted and refused to do it, suggesting instead that it could be donated to a different charity, but the shop manager didn't agree and was pretty cross with her. She left there and volunteered in a different shop.

If you don't want to sell it, you could offer it on Freegle or on your local community WhatsApp group. If you do, bear in mind it might go to someone who will sell it. Otherwise, have a great time throwing stones at it outside! (Beware of flying shards!)

I have Denby Luxor which I did keep for special occasions but is now for everyday. I also have then linen cups which I like. I did have a Wedgewood set which was more attractive but only have a few pieces left now. However if you have had it for 51 years and don't like it then its time to part with it and get something that you do like.

vickymeldrew If you decide to bring it out and use it, it might not be dishwasher safe...

What brilliant recommendations for Denby. I have a Denby set which we used to keep for dinner parties but now use it every day. I have unearthed 3 of MIL china sets, all with 12s of plates cups bowls etc plus all the sundries including tea pots and china handled knives. I and the family do not like the designs and they do not go in the dishwasher so we have to decide what to do with them. As someone else said they do not have much resale value. Our local charity shops are all shut at the moment.

GreenGran78

I had two sets of china, inherited from Mum and MIL, which had been stored away for years. I passed them on to a friend who makes 3-tier cake stands from them, and sells them for charity. They are very popular, right now, for afternoon teas.

I no longer do any fancy entertaining. Rather than have everything matching, I enjoy using a mix of ‘odds and ends’ so I can choose whatever suits my mood at the time. Variety is the spice of life.

I have sets of Royal Worcester plates given as wedding presents, never used. I'd love to find someone who makes cake stands. The plates would be ideal, with tea plates, sides and dinner plates.

But how to find someone?