on the basis that the new (brown leather) short haul and also grey lufthansa style cabins have fold down drinks trays in the middle seats of business and also 'pop in' arm rests to make the other two seats wider, i'd say this was a one off.

Was it around the time of the volcano disruption by any chance? Just a thought as it may have been OK'd as a one off in order to get as many people back on the move as possible.....

Certainly my LHR-BSL-LHR flights last week were 2X2 config with the drinks tray down - and curtain in place!