Replace existing dinner service or buy new?

I seem to have gone through a plate breaking period in recent months. I’ve replenished my everyday plate supply with plain white dinner plates from Asda. They are decent quality, dishwasher safe and at 89p a plate they were a bargain.

For specific crockery such as Arcopal it might be worth checking out local charity shops.

I've seen beautiful complete dinner services in various charity shops. Is it worth looking? Much cheaper than a new set - and surely it's better to be "recycling" rather than buying new.

Buy new! But not expensive.

I now have the remnants of 3 dinner services, collected and broken over the years.
I now only entertain family and if there are more than 4 of us it is mismatched.
No-one seems to mind.
Like a previous poster said if I were to replace it would be a round of charity shops for me.

For everyday the supermarkets have some very nice looking stuff, but not China if that is what you want.

I think it depends how much you love it really. It will be expensive to replace all the items you still have with a different pattern, so it’s probably more economical to search out second hand ones in the existing style- but only if you really love it still. I’ve never changed mine, because I do still love it, and luckily it’s still made now, after 35 years.

I got several pieces in a local charity shop.

Amazon have Arcopal tableware. Not expensive to buy. Plain white plates etc.

Two questions: Do you want a new dinner service, and do you really need one?

Yes, you can find plenty in charity shops, but unless you are an expert on china, you cannot know whether they were painted with lead-based paints or glazed with a harmful glaze, nor can you tell at a glance if they can be washed in a dishwasher, or if you easily can replace anything that gets broken.

So, I would advise buying a good modern set of china, if you want and need a new dinner service.

China is a bit passé nowadays surely.

I did not think people bought sets of china these days. Whenever I visit family or friends, w use a mix of crockery depending on what we are eating.

I know many of us, me included, have a really beautiful dinner set in bone china in the sideboard, that comes out at Christmas a nd thats all, but that is different. And despite AuntieE's dire warnings, when was the last time we read about someone poisoned by the glaze or paint on their dinner service?

If you want a dinner service, go to a charity shop or auction and buy a full beautiful set for a bag of washers - and if the glaze or decoration does come off in the dishwasher, well, just by another they are cheap enough. Lots of charities buy cheap china from charity shops to service their cafes, pretty and cheaper than proper catering crockery and if it breaks or damages, easy to replace.

I gave my Royal Doulton to a charity shop and started again.
I chose a Sophie Conran for Portmerion.

I replenished.
Have enough now to see me through.

Thank you for the replies. Do I need a dinner service? I need some dinner plates. I only have two left.

I like my old arcopal - it was called " Victoria" design. I also like the fact it was pyrex or if you prefer tempered glass as opposed to china. Its lightweight and easy to carry around. Modern china seems to be so heavy.

I did always have a fancy for a nice china service but never ran to it pricewise and didnt get any as wedding presents. I am the kind of person who likes pretty things even if that sounds naff to others.

Price wise I might be better just getting something else. I might try a charity shop if I can find one. I am afraid most of the closed around me in 2020 and didnt re open.

There may be some in towns further afield if I am going off that way any time.

I would like to replace either the arcopal or my mums Corelle , whichever I can get enough of pattern wise. I accept plain which Arcopal would go with it if I cant match up.

Thanks for the replies.

aprilrose

Thank you for the replies. Do I need a dinner service? I need some dinner plates. I only have two left.

I like my old arcopal - it was called " Victoria" design. I also like the fact it was pyrex or if you prefer tempered glass as opposed to china. Its lightweight and easy to carry around. Modern china seems to be so heavy.

I did always have a fancy for a nice china service but never ran to it pricewise and didnt get any as wedding presents. I am the kind of person who likes pretty things even if that sounds naff to others.

Price wise I might be better just getting something else. I might try a charity shop if I can find one. I am afraid most of the closed around me in 2020 and didnt re open.

There may be some in towns further afield if I am going off that way any time.

I would like to replace either the arcopal or my mums Corelle , whichever I can get enough of pattern wise. I accept plain which Arcopal would go with it if I cant match up.

Thanks for the replies.

You could also check out auctions if they have any near you. Before buying make sure you know how much the commission will be

I might be wrong, but as aprilrose has Arcopal, I doubt she is looking for china to replace it, because it is far less durable than what she has now. My dinner set is Denby stoneware, which lasts forever, and you can get any type of bowl, plate etc. you could possibly want in the same pattern. It’s just so easy, I put it in the dishwasher, and it still looks perfect after 35 years. I think most people would now opt for similar, rather than china, unless it’s a design with no gold edging.

We bought a new dinner service from Dunelm recently…….and fortunately it is possible to buy separate pieces of the same range……..handing with my track record……I’m a rubbish juggler!

Usedtobeblonde

I now have the remnants of 3 dinner services, collected and broken over the years.
I now only entertain family and if there are more than 4 of us it is mismatched.
No-one seems to mind.
Like a previous poster said if I were to replace it would be a round of charity shops for me.

Mismatched tableware is fashionable UTBB 🙂

Casdon

I might be wrong, but as aprilrose has Arcopal, I doubt she is looking for china to replace it, because it is far less durable than what she has now. My dinner set is Denby stoneware, which lasts forever, and you can get any type of bowl, plate etc. you could possibly want in the same pattern. It’s just so easy, I put it in the dishwasher, and it still looks perfect after 35 years. I think most people would now opt for similar, rather than china, unless it’s a design with no gold edging.

My SisIL found a complete Denbyware set in a charity shop!.

That’s great Allira, it’s worth picking it up even if she hated it, because there is a strong second hand market for discontinued Denby too.

I think they use it Casdon although it's just the two of them now.

The problem with fine bone china is that it can't usually go in the dishwasher.

And with bone china you don’t want anything made with bone if you’re a vegan remember.

Denby is fantastic, have had a set called, I think Troubador just about forever and a dinner set from Dunelm which isn’t over heavy and is cheap.