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I have bought a plain white melamine set on Ebay and 4 melamine mugs from ASDA for a fiver. Not keen on the pattern but they are a nice chunky mug. I won't feel like I'm a camper unless we use melamine!

I really love the new floral picnicware range at John Lewis http://www.johnlewis.com/73600/Range.aspx . I might gradually buy them. My husband won't notice the change over.

We decided right from the start that we would have china plates, bowls and side plates. The set we have came with mugs too (not the normal cup and and saucer). All our salad serving bowl and other  food servers are melamine though, they just get put on the tables for help yourself. I did insist on having a cafetiere and small cups and saucers though, I love my fresh coffee.

Looking forward to our week out in the van starting tomoro. 

We started out with melamine pottery.  After a time it becomes scratched and doesn't appear hygienic.  So, quite some years ago, we changed to Arcopol (which have a Pyrex-type quality, but white and with a patterned edge) and still use these exclusively.

Bertie.

A bit of a mixture, some mugs are pottery, but mainly melamine with some odd bits of those white, blue and green tin jobs from my camping days thrown in. I guess if I used a microwave in the van I might have a different view. But wieght and breakage are the main thing.

I think the taste issue is a bit in the head as I really don't think food tatses any different from normal melamine, I agree though for hot drinks it doesn't seem quite right! Rather like a hot drink form my oild pint tin mug though

China/pottery mugs for us too!  Can't bear the taste of coffee or tea in melamine or the staining that occurs.  I put the mugs in the rack in the cupboard and wedge them in with clean tea towels. Do use melamine plates and bowls and have noticed like another poster that they slip on the table.  I put a piece of paper kitchen towel under the plate like a place mat and then use it after eating to wipe the food residue into the waste bin.  Bought some thin plastic wine glasses from Attwools and they are quite realistic to drink out of. 

Carol

We use melamine plates and bowls. My lads have plastic tumblers for pop and we use glass mugs for tea.

Quote: Originally posted by Carolbay on 11/4/2010

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China/pottery mugs for us too!  Can't bear the taste of coffee or tea in melamine or the staining that occurs.  I put the mugs in the rack in the cupboard and wedge them in with clean tea towels. Do use melamine plates and bowls and have noticed like another poster that they slip on the table.  I put a piece of paper kitchen towel under the plate like a place mat and then use it after eating to wipe the food residue into the waste bin.  Bought some thin plastic wine glasses from Attwools and they are quite realistic to drink out of. 

Carol

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We use thin cork mats to tackle the slipping issue.

We bought a set of lightweight Aroc tableware, it like thin white pyrex and quite tough and stylish, about half the weight of normal plates and dishes

Cheapest place we found to buy them from as Lathams of Potter Heigham, on the Norfolk broads, who sell individual pieces for around a pound each, so full set each of large and small plates, mugs and bowls for a family of 4 with change out of £16.

Julia

Quote: Originally posted by Anglebox 66 on 11/4/2010

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By the way Romanygirl, we love Lathams at Potter Heigham, always have a mooch around there when we're on the Broads.

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So do I, it's one thing I look forward to when I go camping/caravanning down there. I missed it at Easter but hopefully will be able to get down for the second May bank holiday - so look out Latham's, here I come! lol

And to answer the original question - I use melamine plates and bowls but proper mugs and wine glasses. Drinks just don't taste right otherwise.