can you find me a...

heretolearn_2

tea set that isn't stupid price or gimmicky?

We want to upgrade our office from mugs for client visits and I've been hunting high and low for a normal little tea set and can't find one! Help?

Wants 6 cups and saucers, milk jug and sugar pot (and t pot would be nice but not essential). Not plain white so they look like ones you get in a supermarket cafe, but not covered in pictures of cupcakes either, or too old-lady blue Willow pattern/massive flowers, just contemporary without being too trendy and so looking silly in a few years. Normal ones, you know?

All I can find are the super expensive 'designer' ones you buy piece by piece, or, well, nothing ... I thought this would be easy to find, but nope. So there's a shopping challenge for you clever people.

Budget up to about £50 if with teapot, but would prefer around £30!

Hobsons_Choice

There are usually a lot of lovely tea services in Charity Shops. Worth a try?

Molly41

How about Whittards?

lostinrates

I would reconsider plain white personally, but go for a decent quality. Limoge white sets are undeniably luxurious in the hand......and easy to match when pieces get broken. Classic, stylish design.

mi_jardin

Debenhams usually have nice china, might be worth a peek online.

heretolearn_2

great suggestions, thank you, I will look at Debenhams and Whittards but they might be a bit pricey. You know, I hadn't thought of charity shops but they DO often have sets although the boss might not like the idea. also white - yes I wouldn't rule out nice ones, but all the ones I've seen are those chunky thick ones that do look like canteen stuff.

squeaky

Try this search:- six place tea service

Everything but the teapot in this one but a nice classy retro http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/retropolitan/product/1930s-paragon-china-six-place-tea-set

An interesting selection here: http://www.teacupgallery.com/

Oops! That's American. <sigh>

Linda32

I know exactly what you mean, my Mum is always on the lookout for teacups for her Coffee Morning and they are hard to find. You do see them in charity shops, but I'm sure I found a set of four cups and saucers for £10 in Matalan, does that help?

I personally think its very expensive but you just can't find them.

We got a dinner set for Christmas, Wilkinsons Essentials, this only had dinner plates, side plates and bowls, but I wonder if the Wilkinsons Essentials range includes any tea cups, to be honest, having searched myself for my Mum, I doubt it but its got to be worth a try.

kittycat204

been trawling the internet for you and you are right, what a nightmare. all i can suggest it a cook shop.

i found this which is quite classic and there are mugs on there too, but way over budget
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portmeirion-Sophie-Conran-Teapot-Cream/dp/B0042XFKR4/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1328550196&sr=1-4

Needaname_2

I have topped up my breakages in ebay - so two part sets may make it. Mine is Boots and there are several nice sets. You could get all of the pieces over time.
Amazon has china reasonably too.

quintwins

i know you said you didn't want white but i have this range and it's lovely (coems with mugs aswell as tea cups) and nice and fine, you can get it in debenhams, house of fraiser and other similar stores it's not that cheap but not overly expensive if only buying a few bits either