Message Forums

Why not try 'Aroc' crockery, its as light as the Chinaware, with similar properties, but tougher and less prone to chips and cracks. Its also oven proof upto 140c. We have owned a couple of sets of this stuff during our caravanning years, and indeed still use some of the first set within the house. We bought our original set from the old Spondon Caravan shop before it closed down, the second lot came from Lathams of Potter Heigham, in Norfolk, but its often for sale in the big stores as household crockery, and is available in many different designs. Our latest set is pure white with a fancy rippled effect and scalloped around the edges of the plates, cups and saucers. The Lathams set were available as separate items for between 99p and £1.99 for the large dinner plates, so not too expensive really, at just over £20 for a full four setting collection of cups, saucers, bowls, and dinner plates.

Julia

I was just going to suggest the same as Julia. We bought a set, very many years ago, when it was being sold in a camping store as 'unbreakable'(to demonstrate, the salesperson used to throw it on the ground!). It was still heavy, though!

I couldn't remember the name of the stuff but we found something very similar in France ('Arcopa'l, a sort of French white Pyrex, but still much nicer to drink from than melamine).

(Now off to google 'Aroc...')

No joy with the 'Aroc' search, I'm beginning to think we might be talking about the same company though, and that they maybe changed their name to'Arcopal'; I've just checked on ebay and 'Arcopal' brings up some vintage pieces which are identical to the ones we used to have for camping (as Julia says, it used to be scalloped around the edges, and available in either plain white or with a blue tiny floral decoration).

We bought a set, packed it into our folding camper and set off for France. Despite the 'unbreakable' claims, when we got there most of it was chipped or smashed! The rest was too heavy for the kids to carry to the washing up sinks!

Nowadays, we stick to melamine, except for the mugs (which are more durable than china and nicer to drink out of than melamine). I make sure I pack them so they can't chink against each other, though.

Well maybe the 'Aroc' is the same company as the Arcopal, they were available still last Summer from the Lathams shop, as we managed to buy an extra set of tea plates and bowls for our daughter to use at Uni.

Im wondering if Argos still sell them, as they did stock them in the past in packs of 4 place settings, i will have to have a wonder over and take a look.

Julia   

Mine are Tesco's cheapo Value range that cost 7 GBP a set for 4 settings (mug, bowl, side plate, dinner plate) a couple of years ago. Bought 4 sets in one go, so I have plenty of spares if I break them. So far I have lost a mug - it fell out of a bag and hit the concrete drive at home! It would have survived had it been grass.

They are made of plain white glass in France, probably the cheap/generic end of Arcopal. They are thin compared to stoneware and porcelain crockery.

I don't like using melamine or plastic crockery, as they do not have the same feel. Besides, they scratch too easily with sharp knives which is no good when I am eating a steak as I can't eat a steak with a blunt knife.

If I were to look for replacements now, I would seriously consider the coloured clear glass ones available in Ikea, as they are cheap and cheerful, looks and feels good.

DK

Have any of you heard of Corelle?  I have to say I havent, and therefore know nothing about it and cant recommend it personally.  However I came across it while searching for something else on Amazon and from the description of the stuff, I thought of this thread! 

We decided on melamime and have everthing matching, but yes it does scratch, so I have just bought a Tescos value porcelain dinner set of 4 t plates/4 dinner plates and 4 dishes cost £4.76 total weight 3.6 kilos - not too bad. I already have some mugs, and you can buy them individually so any breakages.... no problem.  Hey we insist on using real glasses so lets go for china....