A nation of toffs: Research reveals what Brits class as ‘posh’ in 2016

Published On : 10/25/2016

• 14% of 18 to 24 year olds think using a cheese board is posh
• The Home Counties accent has been voted the poshest
• Owning a second or summer home is the poshest thing Brits can do

With public image becoming more of a concern for us Brits, luxury flooring company Posh Flooring surveyed the nation to find out what we really consider to be ‘posh’ in 2016.

According to the results,  ‘having a second/summer home’ is believed to be top of the criteria, with 41% of the 1,000 respondents putting this at the top of the list.

The top 10 things Brits consider to be posh are:

1. Having a second/summer house (41%)
2. Having a nanny (39%)
3. Expensive cars (38%)
4. Double barrel surnames (38%)
5. Shopping at Harvey Nichols (37%)
6. Having a distant royal relative (33%)
7. Attending a private or grammar school (33%)
8. Having an interest in polo (32%)
9. Designer label clothing and handbags (31%)
10. Buying champagne on a night out (27%)

Also scoring highly on the list is referring to your parents as ‘mummy and daddy’ when you’re an adult (24%), having a gated driveway (22%) and having expensive wooden flooring in your home (15%).

When it came to which supermarkets were deemed as posh, Waitrose was voted top (7/10), followed by Marks and Spencers (6.8/10) and Ocado (5.6/10). The supermarket coming in last was a three way tie, with the nation agreeing Aldi, Iceland and Lidl (3/10) weren’t posh.

Age was a large factor in what divided the nation’s concept of being posh. Over half (51%) of 18 to 24 year olds believe attending a private or grammar school indicates someone as upper class, whereas only 28% of over 65 year olds agreed.

Those in the South East will be raising a glass of champers when they find out that the Home Counties accent has been voted the poshest in the UK with 34% of the votes, tied with Received Pronunciation. However, those north of the border might not be so pleased, as Glaswegian was voted the least posh accent (1%).

Stephen Gillen, Head of Marketing at Posh Flooring says: “Wealth and the material things associated with it seem to play a big part in whether someone is perceived as posh or not, which is a shame because that needn’t be the case.

“We think it’s important that everyone has the chance to add a little luxury into their lives every once-in-awhile…although a second home somewhere sunny would be nice!”.

To find out the key characteristics of a ‘posh’ person, check it out here: https://www.poshflooring.co.uk/news/latest-news/the-art-of-being-posh-in-2016

Wanda Rich

Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.