This New Table-Laying Service Will Dial Up The Dine-In At Your Next Dinner Party

With 'dining-out' currently off the menu and the great British summer upon us, LAY London (opens in new tab) wants to transform at-home hosting, as we know it.

LAY London is London's first 'tablescape' rental service, offering to lay your table beautifully, for groups from just 6 people and up.

With the motto #RentHostReturn, the service saves time and effort, but could also save money as the host won't need to invest in brand new tableware for an up-to-date – and Instagrammable – look.

The curated and ready-to-rent tabletop ‘looks’ mix and match beautiful artisan wares sourced from around the world for a holiday-inspired vibe.

So, how does it work? Pick a 'lay look' to rent – you can choose from a rainbow of looks, starting at £20pp. Then pick your date and table size (the minimum order is 6 place settings), and then Lay London come and deliver the tableware to your door. Aside from delivering the look, they also offer a 'lay up' service, laying the table to perfection. Then, once the party is over, they come to collect everything. Job done!

This way the host won't have to lift a finger, and can concentrate on other preparations – and hosting, of course!

Aside from being ideal for dinner parties, we imagine this service will be especially useful for celebration dinners, birthdays, engagements or even weddings.

There are countless looks to pick from. The ‘Fiesta Gloria’ tablescape features block-print Jaipur linens...

... Or, for a holiday-at-home feel, Lay London have tablescapes inspired by favourite travel destinations from Mykonos to St. Tropez.

The tablescapes work beautifully for al-fresco dinners, garden parties and glammed up picnics too.

'Recognising the importance of a circular economy we embarked on a mission to re-imagine the way we host; reducing the waste that can accompany hosting. No waste, less fuss, more fun. With an increasing demand for hosting smaller events with wow-factor table settings, we created a hassle -free rental service that can be enjoyed one-time only, without the waste of single use,' explain co-founders Jemima Herbert and Alice Herbert.

It's currently only available in London, but with more people swapping dining out for dining in, we're sure it will only be a matter of time before table-laying services start popping up all around the UK.