Table manners & table etiquette
Modern Table Manners & Table Etiquette with Polished Manners
Polished Manners’ table manners and table etiquette training helps you feel relaxed, polished, and confident at the table. My clear guidance on British table etiquette, correct table settings, and eating manners and etiquette, helps adults, teens, and children feel at ease, behave thoughtfully, and make a gracious impression in any dining situation, from family dinners and business lunches to afternoon tea, weddings, or formal events.
Table Manners & Table Etiquette, Recognised By
Laura has done a fantastic job!
The course is very organized and well prepared and with useful notes. The location is wonderful and sit in the centre of Kensington.
The real life practice for dining etiquette is in the same hotel. She also provided wonderful tips for my kid for his private school interview! Highly recommend!
Jenny Zhen
Google 5/5
My promise
Table Setting & Dining Etiquette: The Polished Manners Promise
My table manners and dining etiquette lessons are rooted in kindness, modernity, and practicality. I will teach you everything: which fork to use, how to set a table properly, and how your child should behave at the dinner table. My table manners lessons make British table etiquette simple and easy to remember, and leave you feeling more confident and composed at the table, whatever the occasion. Here is my three-step process:
1
Understand your needs at the table
In an initial consultation, I learn about your dining situations, worries, and goals, from business dinners and weddings to family meals and formal events. I then tailor your table manners training to your age, culture, and confidence level, so everything feels relevant and respectful.
2
Learn clear, modern table etiquette
Through demonstrations, practice, and clear explanations, you will learn correct table settings, how to set cutlery on the table, napkin etiquette, how to handle glassware, and eating manners and etiquette for real life. Lessons are relaxed, interactive, and focused on helping you feel comfortable, not judged.
3
Feel confident in any dining setting
You will leave knowing what to do at the table, from setting a table for a dinner party to behaving correctly at a formal banquet or afternoon tea. You will enjoy new confidence and social ease that allows you to focus on the people around you. Above all, your manners will support, rather than distract from, the moment.
"It’s etiquette that points out to the girl next to you that she’s drinking from the finger bowl; it’s manners that insist you drink from yours to put her at ease"
AA Gill
Why table manners & table etiquette matter
Table Etiquette: Make a Quiet—But Powerful—Difference
While good table manners and table etiquette are not about perfection or showing off, they can make a dramatic impression on those you are dining with. My British table etiquette classes help you feel calm, considerate, and composed at the table, while putting others at ease. I focus on the real-world relevance of eating manners and etiquette, helping you build better relationships, communicate more confidently, and enjoy social occasions instead of worrying about making mistakes.
Who I help
Who My Table Manners & Table Etiquette Classes Are For
Polished Manners’ table manners courses are designed for adults, professionals, teens, and children who want to feel more confident, considerate, and relaxed at the table. My dining etiquette training gives you skills you can rely on for life, from preparing for a formal or business dinner to teaching children how to behave at meals—and everything in between.
My table manners and etiquette training is ideal for:
- Professionals attending business dinners, networking events, or office parties
- Adults who want to feel confident hosting or attending formal dinners and dinner parties
- Teens and young adults preparing for interviews, university events, or formal banquets
- Children who need gentle guidance in table manners, eating neatly, and sharing food politely
- Families who want calm, respectful mealtimes at home
- Wedding parties and guests who want clarity on wedding table etiquette and who sits at the top table
- Anyone who has never been formally taught how to set a table, use cutlery, or follow British table etiquette
How I help
Table Manners Made Simple for Adults, Families & Professionals
Learning table etiquette can feel intimidating. Polished Manners makes the process simple and discreet; enjoyable even. Lessons can be arranged around your schedule, and you will always know exactly what we are covering and how to practise between sessions.
You benefit from:
- Flexible scheduling for evenings, weekends, and school holidays
- Options for private one-to-one dining etiquette coaching or small group sessions
- Clear, age-appropriate language for children, teens, and adults
- Practical tips for real-life situations: restaurant meals, family dinners, buffets, business lunches, weddings, afternoon tea, and formal events
- Review sheets and, where relevant, certificates to track progress and build confidence
What you will learn
What You Learn in My Table Manners & Dining Etiquette Classes
My dining etiquette programmes cover both how to behave at the table and how to set up the table itself. Depending on your needs, we will cover:
- Everyday eating manners and etiquette, including chewing quietly and avoiding talking with your mouth full
- Polite use of serving dishes and condiments (no double-dipping, using serving utensils, passing food correctly)
- Napkin etiquette: when to place it, how to use it discreetly, and where to leave it when you are finished
- How to hold and use cutlery using British table etiquette
- How to set a table properly for everyday meals, dinner parties, and formal occasions
- Correct table setting for a dinner party and dinner table place settings
- Handling glassware, toasts, and drinks with confidence
How to relax and enjoy the occasion while upholding considerate table manners
Table manners and etiquette guidance
Below I share some initial guidance, taken from my courses, to get you started with table manners and etiquette, table setup basics, and glassware setup.
Mastering the Silent Signals at the Table
How to Set a Table Properly (Everyday to Formal)
By the end of my table manners and etiquette courses, you will feel confident setting a table for dinner, creating correct table settings for a dinner party, and understanding the differences between casual, semi-formal, and formal tableware setups.
These are invaluable skills that will last a lifetime
My mother and I took a private etiquette course with Mrs. Akano. The course was tailored to what we wanted to improve upon. We learned so many principles that we are able to apply in both social and professional settings. We also had a wonderful lunch where we were able to apply the skills we learned. My mother and I are continually practicing even weeks after the course. These are invaluable skills that will last a lifetime.
Darlene Brown
Google 5/5
Dining etiquette for life
Table Manners & Etiquette for Every Occasion
Modern life brings many different dining situations including business networking lunches, afternoon tea, weddings, and milestone events—each of which requires a baseline understanding of table manners and etiquette. My dining etiquette training shows you exactly what to expect, how to behave, and how to feel comfortable in each setting.
Afternoon Tea & British Table Etiquette
Business Dining & Networking Etiquette
Weddings, Top Tables & Milestone Events
Dinner Party Etiquette as a Guest
Dinner Party Etiquette for the Host
How my lessons work
How My Table Manners & Dining Etiquette Lessons Work
My table manners training is available as private one-to-one coaching, small group sessions, and dedicated courses for different age groups. I work with children aged six and above, teens, and adults, adapting each class to your age, goals, and experience.
Location:
In-person dining etiquette and table manners classes in the central London area, plus online sessions for clients across the UK and worldwide.
Format:
Interactive lessons using demonstration, conversation, role-play, and practical exercises around a real or simulated table.
Class size:
One-to-one, couples, families, or small groups (including corporate teams and wedding parties).
Course length:
Options include focused one-off dining etiquette sessions, short courses, and modules built into wider etiquette programmes for children, teens, and adults.
Feedback & certificates:
Review sheets highlight key skills learned; some programmes include certificates to celebrate completion.
Table manners & etiquette courses
Table Manners & Etiquette Courses & Booking
Choose from a range of table manners and dining etiquette courses designed to match your age, goals, and dining situations. All programmes are practical, modern, and rooted in British table etiquette and real-life confidence.
Need a bespoke table manners & etiquette lesson?
Enquire now and I will recommend the most suitable option based on your situation and goals.
We are lucky to have connected with her!
My family and I attended a four hour private session with Mrs. Akano, and it was lovely. She planned a beautiful day at the Strathmore Hotel. The session was focused around dining etiquette, but she tailored the session to also include deportment and interpersonal skills as per my request. I am so glad that we did this!
Mrs. Akano is knowledgeable, patient, and kind. After this experience, my whole family feels more confident in our skills. She left plenty of time for additional questions, and was able to respond to our needs in the moment. After the session, it made me even more passionate to learn about etiquette in general. We are lucky to have connected with her! Highly recommend.
Jessica Nastasi
Google 5/5
My London location
Etiquette Classes London: Face-to-Face & Online Etiquette Courses
Polished Manners is based in central London, with in-person etiquette classes available in London, the surrounding UK, as well as online etiquette courses wherever you are in the world.
FAQs
Table Manners & Etiquette: Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about how my modern table manners courses and dining etiquette training work. These FAQs answer the questions I am most often asked by clients.
Why are modern table manners still relevant today? Isn’t etiquette old-fashioned?
Modern table manners are not about being stiff or old-fashioned. They are practical life skills that give you clarity and awareness, so you can feel relaxed and self-assured in any social setting. When you understand table etiquette, your focus becomes leaving a gracious, confident impression on the people around you.
What is the correct way to use and place my napkin during a meal?
How do I set a table properly for dinner?
How is a formal dinner table place setting different from an everyday one?
Who sits at the top table at a wedding in British etiquette?
My child struggles with basic table manners, such as chewing with their mouth open. How do you approach this?
Do you recommend any cutlery to help children learn good table manners?
I attend office parties and business dinners. What is the most important etiquette rule to remember?
Are your table manners courses tailored to different age groups?
Do you offer online table manners and dining etiquette training?
Join my table manners courses
Feel Calm, Confident, and Polished at the Table
Feel fully at ease at the table: at home, in the boardroom, or at a wedding. Join my modern table manners and dining etiquette courses and give yourself, your family, or your team the gift of lifelong confidence and consideration.
- UK and USA certified British table etiquette expert
- Over 10 years of table etiquette and table manners coaching
- Table manners courses in London and online