17 June 2026
A Guide to Hiring Villeroy & Boch Tableware Hire from Allens
When it comes to dressing a table for a wedding breakfast, awards ceremony, charity ball, corporate banquet or any event where atmosphere and detail matter, the quality of the tableware is rarely an afterthought. The plates, bowls and serving pieces that guests sit down to are among the first things they notice and the last things they remember. For event planners, caterers and hosts who refuse to compromise on that experience, we offer an extensive range of Villeroy & Boch tableware hire - one of the most respected names in premium ceramics in the world.
From delicate floral fine bone china to bold textured stonewear and understated white-on-white porcelain, the Allens Villeroy & Boch collection spans seven distinct ranges. Each brings a different mood and aesthetic to the table, but all share the same commitment to manufacturing quality, material integrity and design excellence that has defined the Villeroy & Boch name for more than 275 years.
About Villeroy & Boch
Founded in 1748, Villeroy & Boch has grown from a regional ceramic producer into one of the world's most recognised premium lifestyle brands. Deeply rooted in European manufacturing tradition, the company has consistently balanced heritage with innovation - developing new materials, finishes and production techniques while maintaining the design standards and quality controls that have made it a market leader across tableware, bathroom fittings and beyond.
The brand's tableware ranges are produced to exacting specifications. Each piece passes through a demanding quality process from raw material selection through to firing, glazing and finishing. It is that process, repeated consistently across millions of pieces, that makes Villeroy & Boch tableware a reliable and prestigious choice for large-scale events - where pieces need to look exceptional across hundreds of covers, withstand repeated professional washing, and arrive on every table without fault.
What is Fine Bone China and Fine Bone Porcelain
Not all event crockery is created equal. For hosts and caterers who want tableware that genuinely elevates a dining experience, fine bone china and fine bone porcelain represent the highest material tier available - and understanding the difference between standard porcelain and these premium formats helps explain why they command such respect in professional event settings.
Fine bone china incorporates a significant proportion of bone ash into its composition, typically alongside kaolin and feldspar. It is this bone ash content that gives the material its characteristic warm translucency, lightweight feel and brilliant white tone. The resulting pieces have a luminous quality that standard porcelain simply cannot replicate - food and table dressings look better against it, and the pieces themselves photograph with a refinement that registers even in candlelit settings.
Fine bone porcelain, sometimes called premium bone porcelain, shares many of these qualities but is formulated with a greater emphasis on strength and chip resistance - making it particularly well suited to the demands of professional catering environments. Villeroy & Boch's premium bone porcelain ranges are densely fired to a hardness that resists everyday wear without sacrificing the bright white glaze or the sense of lightness that defines high-quality tableware hire. In practical terms, this means pieces that hold their appearance across repeated use, stack efficiently in transit and emerge from commercial dishwashers looking as good as they did when they went in.
For tableware hire specifically, this combination of aesthetics and durability is crucial. Pieces that look stunning but chip easily, or that dull and stain after a few washes, are not suited to an event hire environment. The fine bone china and fine bone porcelain collections that form the backbone of the Allens Villeroy & Boch range have been selected precisely because they deliver on both fronts - beautiful on the table and robust in operation.
The Allens Villeroy & Boch Collection
Here at Allens Hire we stock seven Villeroy & Boch ranges, covering a wide spectrum of styles from classic elegance to contemporary bold design. Whether the brief is for a traditional formal dinner with cups, saucers and multiple plate sizes, or a sleek modern setting with coupe plates and a restrained monochrome palette, there is a range within the collection to suit. Below is a guide to each.
Blossom is the most distinctly decorative range in the Allens Villeroy & Boch portfolio. Produced in premium fine bone china, it features a delicate floral design that is deliberately imperfect in its application - a quality that is achieved through a highly demanding production process and that gives each piece a handcrafted character. The result is tableware that feels personal and considered rather than mass-produced. Available pieces include flat plates in 27cm, 21cm and 17cm, a 23cm deep plate and a 400ml individual bowl. Blossom is well suited to weddings, garden parties, afternoon tea events and any occasion where creative elegance is the brief. It makes an exceptional impression in fine dining contexts and pairs naturally with floral table dressings and soft linen tones.
Modern Grace is a premium fine bone china range inspired by the geometric furniture styles of the 1930s and 1950s. Its design brings together flowing squares, ovals, circles and cylinders in a convergence of dynamic and static forms that produces tableware of genuine visual interest. The pieces have defined lines and curves that are accentuated by the high-gloss fine bone china finish - elegant, considered and suited to connoisseurs and aesthetes. Available in two square plate formats (27cm x 27cm and 23cm x 23cm), Modern Grace is a distinctive choice for events where the table itself is part of the design statement. It works particularly well for contemporary award dinners, fashion and creative industry events, and gala settings where a departure from the conventional round plate is desired.
Villeroy & Boch Rock Black Shale
Rock Black Shale brings a bold, dramatic character to event tables. Part of Villeroy & Boch's Rock range - which draws inspiration from natural stone and slate textures - Black Shale features a deep, dark matte finish with the tactile surface relief that defines the collection. The range creates strong visual contrast against white linen and pale food presentations, making it a popular choice for contemporary fine dining events, awards ceremonies and corporate dinners where impact and modernity are the priority. Available in a 25cm round plate and a 28cm x 17cm rectangular plate, it is best deployed as part of a considered setting where other table elements - glassware, linen, centrepieces - are chosen to complement its character.
Villeroy & Boch Signature Gold
Signature Gold is the most formal and ceremonial range in the collection. Crafted from bright white premium fine bone porcelain, each piece features delicate hand-painted lines finished in 20-carat gold. The gold detailing is applied using Inglaze Gold technology, which fuses the decoration into the glaze during firing to protect it and preserve its brilliance. The result is tableware that carries genuine precious-metal decoration without sacrificing practicality. The Allens range includes plates in 27cm, 22cm and 16cm, tea cups and saucers (200ml), a creamer jug (210ml) and a 13cm bowl - a comprehensive selection for formal multi-course settings. Signature Gold is ideally suited to black-tie dinners, gala balls, high-table banquets and any occasion where the table needs to convey prestige and occasion from the moment guests are seated.
Stella Coupe is the most versatile range in the Allens Villeroy & Boch collection. Its clean, rimless coupe profile suits everything from casual banquet buffets to formal seated dinners, and the bright white fine bone china finish is a neutral canvas that flatters any food presentation. The Allens range is extensive: coupe flat plates in 29cm, 25cm and 16cm, a deep plate in 29cm/14cm, tea cups and espresso cups with matching saucers, a sugar bowl, cream jug, small dish and the Stella La Classica Nuova coupe bowl. This breadth makes Stella Coupe a practical first choice for event planners who need a single range to cover every course from breakfast through to dessert and coffee. It also lends itself to themed table settings, with Allens offering a range of Stella-based styling concepts for weddings, anniversaries and seasonal events.
Stella Rimmed shares the same fine bone china material and Stella family aesthetic as its coupe counterpart, but with a traditional rimmed profile that suits more formal, classic table settings. The rim provides a natural frame for food presentation and gives the table a structured, composed look that works particularly well for white-glove service and formal plated menus. Available pieces include rimmed plates in 30cm, 28cm and 24cm, a 16cm side plate, tea cups and saucers, and espresso cups and saucers. Stella Rimmed is a strong choice for corporate awards dinners, charity galas, wedding breakfasts and any event where the brief calls for classic elegance without ostentation. Like Stella Coupe, it is offered by Allens within a number of pre-styled table concept themes.
Vogue is a sophisticated choice for events where subtlety is the design intent. Its defining feature is a white-on-white textured surface - a relief pattern worked into the porcelain that creates visual depth and tactile interest without introducing colour or decoration. The effect is quietly luxurious: understated at a distance, refined on closer inspection. Available pieces include a 30cm plate, a 29cm deep plate, a 29cm/14cm deep plate and a 24cm plate - a focused range well suited to contemporary restaurant-style event settings. Vogue pairs naturally with other Villeroy & Boch ranges and coordinates effortlessly with silver, white and neutral table dressings. Allens offer it within Silver and Silverstone table styling themes, making it a strong option for corporate dinners, conference gala evenings and formal functions with a modern edge.
Tableware & Crockery Hire from Allens
Allens Hire has been supplying premium tableware hire across London and the South of England for many years, working with private clients, professional event planners, caterers and production companies across the full event spectrum. The Villeroy & Boch ranges are available alongside Allens' extensive catalogue of glassware, cutlery, linen and furniture hire - making it possible to source an entire event table setting from a single supplier.
All pieces are delivered to your venue or event address and collected after the event, giving your team one less logistical concern to manage. Contact us on 020 8574 9600 or at [email protected] to discuss your requirements, check availability or request a quote.
Villeroy & Boch Tableware Hire - Range Glossary
A Quick Reference Guide for Event Planners
The following summary sets out the key selling points of each Villeroy & Boch range available here at Allens Hire, along with the event contexts each range is best suited to. Use this as a quick reference when recommending ranges to clients or planning table settings for specific briefs.
Blossom - Unique Floral Elegance
Material: Premium Fine Bone China. Finish: Delicate floral print with a deliberately imperfect, handcrafted quality. Key pieces: Flat plates in three sizes, deep plate, individual bowl. Best for: Weddings, garden parties, afternoon teas, creative fine dining events. USPs: The only decorative, patterned range in the Allens V&B collection. The imperfect floral motif creates a bespoke, artisanal feel that sets tables apart from standard white crockery. Highly photogenic and distinctive. Pairs well with florals, soft linens and natural table styling.
Modern Grace - Geometric High-Gloss China
Material: Premium Fine Bone China. Finish: High-gloss with defined geometric curves - square plates with flowing oval and circular forms. Key pieces: Two square plate formats (27cm x 27cm and 23cm x 23cm). Best for: Design-led events, awards ceremonies, fashion and creative industry dinners, contemporary fine dining. USPs: The only square plate format in the collection. The 1930s and 1950s geometric inspiration gives it a distinctive mid-century character that suits design-conscious briefs. The high-gloss fine bone china finish accentuates every line and curve. A strong conversation piece on the table.
Rock Black Shale - Bold Textured Drama
Material: Premium Fine Bone Porcelain. Finish: Deep matte black with hand-painted stone-texture surface relief. Key pieces: 25cm round plate, 28cm x 17cm rectangular plate. Best for: Contemporary fine dining events, awards ceremonies, corporate dinners, dark or moody theme events. USPs: The only dark, matte range in the collection. Creates immediate visual impact and strong contrast against white linen and pale food presentations. The natural stone-inspired texture gives it a premium, distinctive feel. The rectangular plate offers a format not available elsewhere in the collection, ideal for contemporary plating styles.
Signature Gold - Precious 20-Carat Gold Detailing
Material: Premium Fine Bone Porcelain (bright white). Finish: Hand-painted 20-carat gold lines fused into the glaze using Inglaze Gold technology. Key pieces: Three plate sizes, tea cup and saucer, bowl, creamer jug. Best for: Black-tie events, gala balls, charity dinners, high-table banquets, prestige weddings. USPs: The only range in the collection to feature genuine precious-metal decoration. The Inglaze Gold technique ensures the gold is protected and long-lasting rather than applied as a surface coating. The most extensive range of service pieces in the collection, covering dining plates through to tea service. Combines formal prestige with practical durability.
Stella Coupe - Versatile Rimless Contemporary
Material: Premium Fine Bone China. Finish: Brilliant bright white, clean rimless coupe profile. Key pieces: Three flat plate sizes, deep plate, tea and espresso cups and saucers, sugar bowl, cream jug, small dish, coupe bowl. Best for: All event types from casual banquets to formal dinners. Weddings, themed events, business buffets, multi-course fine dining. USPs: The most versatile and comprehensive range in the collection. The rimless coupe profile suits both contemporary and classic presentations. The widest variety of piece types available - the ideal choice when a single range needs to serve every course from breakfast to coffee. Supports the full Allens table styling theme portfolio for weddings and events.
Stella Rimmed - Classic Formal Elegance
Material: Premium Fine Bone China. Finish: Brilliant bright white with traditional rimmed profile. Key pieces: Three plate sizes including a 30cm show plate, 16cm side plate, tea and espresso cups and saucers. Best for: Formal seated dinners, wedding breakfasts, corporate awards ceremonies, charity galas, white-glove service events. USPs: The classic rimmed profile provides a natural frame for food and gives a formal, composed table appearance. The 30cm rimmed plate is the largest in the Stella family and provides an impressive show plate option. Shares cups and saucers with Stella Coupe, allowing both ranges to be combined across a single event. Underpins Allens' Dusty Pink and White table styling concepts.
Vogue - White-on-White Textured Refinement
Material: Premium Fine Bone Porcelain. Finish: White-on-white relief texture - surface pattern worked into the porcelain for depth without colour. Key pieces: 30cm plate, 29cm deep plate, 29cm/14cm deep plate, 24cm plate. Best for: Contemporary fine dining events, corporate dinners, conference gala evenings, restaurant-style banquets. USPs: The only range in the collection where decoration is achieved through texture rather than colour or precious metal. The white-on-white design is sophisticated and considered - refined at close range, neutral and versatile at a distance. Combines effortlessly with other Villeroy & Boch ranges. Suits minimalist, modern and monochrome table schemes. Underpins Allens' Silver and Silverstone table styling concepts.
For further information on any of these ranges, to request samples or to discuss which collection is most suited to your event, contact the Allens Hire team on 020 8574 9600 or at [email protected].