Manners at the Table: Culture in the UK
Unleash Your Best Group dining etiquette course on 1 March 2025
Why are dining etiquette and manners at the table important? What is the etiquette when eating in Britain?
How does one navigate the table correctly?
Dining etiquette plays a big role in how you are perceived and being familiar with different dining scenarios - the formalities of a royal dinner, a business or social dinner will help you stay poised and focussed on the more important aspect—the conversation itself.
When you are confident in your table manners, you can direct your attention to the people around you and the discussion, rather than worrying how to navigate the table correctly or when to start eating. That’s key when the dinner is a part of a job interview—whether for a high-profile role or a more informal setting—it’s really about how you present yourself in the context of both your professional abilities and your social grace.
Knowing the basic dining utensils and the order of utensils—helps avoid confusion. Similarly, understanding the correct way to hold wine glasses and where to place your napkin is important.
Keeping your posture: Sitting up straight and keep your elbows off the table while eating may seem like small details, but it conveys respect for the occasion and the people around you. The way you carry yourself at a dinner will definitely leave an impression, not just in terms of dining skills but also as a reflection of your ability to engage thoughtfully with others.
Pacing yourself is also important. It’s about being aware of those around you, so you’re not eating too quickly or too slowly as is respecting the conversation flow: a dinner is as much about socialising as it is about dining.
Key topics include:
Navigating Your Place Setting
How to correctly hold cutlery
Which bread plate and glass to use
Passing & Offering Food
Posture & positioning for dining
Napkin Etiquette
Polite table conversation
The rhythm of dining
Styles of Table Service
Business & Social Dining
Eating Styles: American vs British vs Continental
Learn dining etiquette when eating in any setting
