In addition to the standard fork, knife, dessert spoon and tea spoon, you’ll get a side knife, side fork and soup spoon.

Large-handed folk might especially like the feel of it, in comparison to some of the daintier sets listed here. Classic polished flatware is never going to go out of fashion, and can be enjoyed for years and years – but it can be expensive. We also love that each place setting comes with seven pieces, perfect for when you’re serving up multiple dishes or sides.And, unlike so many other novelty ranges, they’re dishwasher safe – so you needn’t haul out the rubber gloves every time you dive a spoon into a bowlful of soup or run a knife through lasagne.

On the other hand, they’re slightly less comfy to grip than some of others, so give them a miss when you’re enjoying elaborate seven-course dinners. With a smooth edge, it is safe to use for both adults and kids, with no hurt to your hands and mouth. If we’re being fussy, we wouldn’t have minded a slightly deeper spoon, but on the whole these are handy: and a definite cut above disposable kit. But, this is my fault for not looking at the info and it's only a minor negative when the design is so lovely!A typical 16-piece set includes everything for four people: four butter knives, four forks, four tablespoons and four teaspoons. We have another set by the brand that’s we’ve used for well over 10 years, and it’s still going strong. The flatware set is housed in an attractive gift box, made of premium stainless steel with a vacuum electroplating process. Some delicate sets require more care to maintain their sheen, via hand-washing in warm soapy waters and immediate drying. Knives should feel smooth to cut with, without being sharp to the touch; forks should skewer food with ease, without being dangerously prickly.