A Guide to British Style Table
Manners11.

Why are table manners so important?

‘Manners make the man’
The above quote was popular for young people graduating
school in Britain in the 19th century.
Why are manners important? Even if you are intelligent,friendly, or kind, if you don’t have good manners you could
be misunderstood. People might not be able to see your true
character.
Manners help you to have an enjoyable dinner with yourfriends, family, or guests.
In other words:
It is important to not make the people around you feel
uncomfortable. Of course, it is important to know the proper
way to use your knife and fork or napkin, but more important
than that is the spirit you bring to the table. All of the details
that make-up “table manners” come from this desire tocreate a good atmosphere for everyone at the table.

2

2.

Table manners and etiquette「The difference between‘manners’ and ‘etiquette’」◎Manners are what we need to function well socially.
Manners can be your attitude or the way you behave
towards others.
◎Etiquette is all the different social “rules” we have forproper conduct.

3.

The order food will arrive at your table
1. Starter
2. Soup
3. Fish
4. Main
5. Dessert
6. Coffee / Tea3

4.

Example table setting

M
HIJN

L1L2POQKGF

A2 C2 D2

5.

E

D1 C1 B1 A1Name of cutlery items at your seat
A1 Entrée knife
B1 Soup spoon
C1 Fish knife
D1 Main knife
E Show plate
F Napkin
G Bread plate
H Sugar pot
I Butter cooler
K Butter spreader
L1 Dessert spoon
M Salt & pepper
N Goblet
O Red wine glass
P White wine glass
Q Champagne glass/ A2 Entrée fork
/ C2 Fish fork
/ D2 Main fork

/ J Butter knife/ L2 Dessert fork

46．The different manners for men and women
Important points for men:
When a waiter shows you to your table the men normally walkbehind the women. Women sit down first, and when all thewomen are seated, the men may sit down.

Important points for women:
When the waiter shows you to your table,
the women should walk at the front.
When there is no waiter present,men should walk at the front.

7． Conversation during the meal
The people who you should talk with during dinner.

Conversation topics you should avoid:
politics, religion, gossip, vulgar topics.
Manner point:“We always need to be careful about what are acceptable andunacceptable topics to talk about.”

58.

How to use cutlery
Important points
 When you use the wrong cutlery, don’t worry! Just
keep using that piece of cutlery and your waiter will
replace it before the next course.

 If you drop cutlery, just leave it on the floor; thewaiter will pick it up and replace it with clean cutlery.

 The position of your knife and fork on the plate havemeaning.

This signals to the waiter that you are still eating.

This signals to the waiter that you have finished and that they
can take your plate away.

6

9. Soup「How to eat soup」
In Japan, soup is generally considered to be something thatyou drink, but in many other countries soup is considered tobe something that you eat.

To eat soup, dip your spoon into thebowl, raise the spoon away fromyour body and then bring the spoon
to your mouth.
10. How to eat bread
Christians think of bread as the body of Jesus Christ,therefore it is not good manners to use a knife or fork to cut
bread. Use a butter spreader to apply butter to the bread.
1. Break off small pieces of bread with your hands and apply
small amounts of butter to them.
2. Break off pieces of bread over your bread plate to avoid
getting crumbs on the table.
3. Don’t dip your bread into the soup at formal dinnersituations.
Also, it is not good manners to use your bread to mop up
sauce left on your plate.

711. Fish「Fish comes after the soup」
The fish knife has a special pointed end so it is easier to getfish bones out of your mouth.

5How to use the fish knife and fork
They are basically the same as the other cutlery, but fish isnormally much softer than meat, so it is not necessary to cut
the fish, just gently separate off a piece you want to eat withyour fish knife.
With fish that is served with a lot of sauce, you will get aspoon instead of a knife, so as you can scoop up the saucewith each mouthful.

812. Meat
「Meat is the main course of your dinner」

How to cut the meat
Good! Cut off a mouthful of meat one at a time, startingfrom the left hand side.
Bad! Cutting your meat in half, or cutting your meat
into small pieces before you eat it.

Manner point:“If you cut the meat into small pieces before you eat it, themeat will go cold and lose its juiciness, so it won’t taste asgood.”

・SauceSauce is served with the meat on the plate.
However, it can be served separately dependingon the style of the service.

・Salt and pepper
If you want salt and pepper, politely ask theperson closest to you to pass the items to you.
Don’t reach across the table or stand-up andwalk around the table to get it.

913.

DessertYour dessert plate will normally consist of ice cream, sorbet,
mousse, fruit, a sweet sauce and other sweets.
You will have a dessert fork and spoon on your table. Use bothto eat your dessert.

Generally, dessert won’t be servedat the same time as your coffee andtea. This will come later.

14.

Beverages after your meal Tea and coffee
Stir your tea or coffee with your tea spoon andshake off the spoon over your cup before putting itback onto the saucer.
It is polite to put the spoon on thefar side of your saucer,
behind the cup.

Manner point:
If you are sitting at a low table, women should hold both thecup and saucer at chest height while drinking.

10

15.

Making a toast
In Japan, speeches are normally made before dinner, but inmost western countries, we usually make a speech at the endof the main course, before dessert is served.
[1] When you make a toast, you should stand-up and stand to
the left side of your chair. Stand-up first and then pick-up
your glass (don’t stand-up with your glass in hand).
[2] When making a toast, don’t clink your glasses together.
Just raise your glasses to eye height and say “cheers”.
[3] When you have finished speaking, put your glass down
first, then sit down and wait for your dessert.

Manner point:
It is polite to leave a little drink in your glass after toasting, so
do not drink everything in your glass after saying “cheers”.

16.

Useful English phrases【When you want more water】
Could I have some more water, please？
【When you ask someone to pass you the salt】
Could you pass me the salt, please?

1117. In conclusion
You may find table manners a little difficult to remember atfirst, but if you learn the correct etiquette, you will be able toenjoy a pleasant dinner as sophisticated ladies andgentlemen.
Please enjoy our table manners lesson at British Hills.

12