British Table Manners

How to sit: You should sit up straight in your chair. It is not a good idea to lean forwards or backwards. When you eat, you should not lean towards the plate but bring the knife, fork or spoon towards you. Don’t pick up the bowl and bring it to you.

Noises at the table: It is never a good idea to make a noise (a burp) at the table, even if it is into the napkin. It is considered rude to do this in the UK. If you accidentally burp, say ‘excuse me.’

Using your fingers: Normally we don’t pick food up with our fingers when we are eating main courses. If you are uncertain, the safest thing is to use your knife or fork. There are, however, some foods which we usually eat with our fingers. These include: pizza, sandwiches, burgers, chips (or fries) and fruit.

Passing things: If someone asks you to pass something like the salt, only get it if you are the closest person to it. Never lean across someone else’s food. It’s more polite not to use it yourself first - pass it directly to the person who asked, then use it later. It’s best to taste your food before you put salt on it.

Speed: It’s best not to eat too quickly. Take your time when eating and try to eat at the same speed as everyone else. If there is food on the table, it is not polite to eat as quickly as possible and then take the extra food yourself. Always ask first if anyone else would like some of the extra food.

Your mouth: It is not thought polite to talk with your mouth full of food, nor to eat with your mouth open. And if possible, don’t make a noise. Never lick your plate after eating.

How much to eat: It is polite to eat the food that you have been offered, so a clear plate is a good plate. It shows that you enjoyed the food. If you can’t finish everything and you need to leave a little, that’s okay. You could say something like ‘That was very nice, thank you.’