Knives are out as diners choose to eat with one hand

Londoners buy almost three times as many forks as knives, according to new figures from Debenhams.

The surprising trend, which has emerged over the past two years, suggests a decline in traditional dining etiquette. Experts believe it is due to the growing consumption of ready meals, takeaways and small dishes that require little chopping and can be easily scooped up with a fork.

The habit of one-handed eating has been common in America for more than a decade. Diners cut up food at the start of a meal, then put the knife down before transferring the fork to the right hand to eat with, according to etiquette websites.

This style is thought to have rubbed off on British holidaymakers and businessmen. Maître d's across the capital say customers are increasingly adopting the right-handed fork technique.

Restaurants are beginning to respond, offering diners a fork and spoon. Hadi Aknin, maître d' at Launceston Place in Kensington, said: "There has been a big shift in how cutlery is used in the last few years. We see many customers eating with just their fork. We often see the knife left untouched.

"It is mainly down to the type of food being served. As nouvelle cuisine has become more common, where you have just three or four ingredients in a simply constructed small dish, then people need to use a knife less. Many snack salads come with cutlery nowadays - but it's always just a fork.

"I sometimes just offer customers a fork and spoon if that is all the dish requires. But I have not gone as far as to just offer a fork. Diners like to see some tradition even if they don't adopt those habits themselves."

Jo Bryant, etiquette adviser for Debrett's, said: "The influence of ready meals and people eating with food on their laps has had an impact. And America has always been less uptight about table manners. But good table manners are extremely important."

In response to the revelations Debenhams is launching a Civilised Dining Campaign to protect the traditional British way of eating. Etiquette experts will be in stores across the UK from next month to help customers.

Debenhams spokesman, Ed Watson, said: "Using a knife and a fork to eat has held this country in good stead for centuries - it's one of the mainstays of being British."