The London Lounge

Gentlemen

Where in London would one go to have a stiff collar properly cleaned and starched ?

Regards

Elton

In London:

http://blossomandbrowne.com/

or via the post:

http://www.barkergroup.info/stiff_colla ... ering.html

Thank you Leon.

Elton.

Further to this, Francis Bown’s excellent website details Barkers in Bournemouth (details below) which is where I believe Budd send their collars.

Barkers
121 Charminster Road,
Charminster,
Bournemouth,
Dorset BH8 8UH.
Telephone +44 (0)1202 29129

...Francis Bown’s excellent website...

...if you can live with some of his irrational prejudices (though I'm with him on the chewing gum).

Des Merrion's blog recently recounted how Des had received a letter from Mr Bown whereby Mr Bown had offered to review one of Des's suits in return for...the suit! Des has apparently archived his blog and the content doesn't seem to be available at the minute, but the letter was quite amusing: several paragraphs setting out Mr Bown's credentials and those of his 'online magazine' followed by one short sentence on the matter of the free suit. Needless to say, Des - like any good Yorkshireman - declined the opportunity.

Back on topic: given the relative prices of stiff collars and stiff collar laundering, might it not be less hassle simply to replace? If you're worried about the environmental impact, pop down to the Inns of Court where some impoverished, young barrister (i.e., anybody specialising in publicly-funded criminal work) will surely take them off your hands before working his magic with toothbrush and toothpaste and/or Tippex while waiting for his fees to come in.

Azdak

Just a quick note to add:

http://www.jeevesofbelgravia.co.uk/

although I have not used them. I have used Barkers only once, for a shirt, so do not feel qualified yet to pass judgment.

Just buy new ones from a legal outfitter. They're only about 6 quid each from Ede & Ravenscroft on Chancery Ln or Stanley Ley on Fleet St, which is only a pound or two dearer than having them cleaned. This is what most barristers do.

One option would be to contact Shrewton Laundry in Wiltshire. They are extremely helpful.

They still launder stiff collars. I suspect this is largely due to the number of army camps in the vicinity.

Chelsea

ignatius_j_reilly wrote:Just buy new ones from a legal outfitter. They're only about 6 quid each from Ede & Ravenscroft on Chancery Ln or Stanley Ley on Fleet St, which is only a pound or two dearer than having them cleaned. This is what most barristers do.

I tend to agree. Here is another collar source, who I suspect supply many of the retailers: http://www.luke-eyres.co.uk/(uwyosp55de ... category/1.