The hotel room wasn't ready so I took a stroll in the area and brought back shots of some of our favorite places.
The stores were closed, their shutters closed tight, the streets were empty; it was beautiful.
London Calling
I arrived in London very early on a beautiful Spring morning.
The hotel room wasn't ready so I took a stroll in the area and brought back shots of some of our favorite places.
The stores were closed, their shutters closed tight, the streets were empty; it was beautiful.
The hotel room wasn't ready so I took a stroll in the area and brought back shots of some of our favorite places.
The stores were closed, their shutters closed tight, the streets were empty; it was beautiful.
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whyescalar
- Posts: 90
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The Connaught is excellent. Proper English breakfast. Something reassuring about turning right out the door if you ever need a .600 nitro double-rifle.
Photo of Naples?
Photo of Naples?
London can be magic on a Sunday morning.
Re the Connaught, I recently had breakfast there after staying away for many years following wholesale management changes in 2001. A former Israeli prime minister was having breakfast as well. His minders were constantly scanning the dining room, and his family were taking photographs during breakfast. Their dress was exceedingly casual.
I shall not be returning any time soon. Such inconsideration to other customers would not have been imaginable under Paolo Zago. I made my views clear to the duty manager. Other guests seem to be making their views equally clear: on a number of occasions recently the Connaught was offering by far the best deals on internet hotel databases.
Re the Connaught, I recently had breakfast there after staying away for many years following wholesale management changes in 2001. A former Israeli prime minister was having breakfast as well. His minders were constantly scanning the dining room, and his family were taking photographs during breakfast. Their dress was exceedingly casual.
I shall not be returning any time soon. Such inconsideration to other customers would not have been imaginable under Paolo Zago. I made my views clear to the duty manager. Other guests seem to be making their views equally clear: on a number of occasions recently the Connaught was offering by far the best deals on internet hotel databases.
I would suggest that the dress of others not be allowed to spoil your visit to a very wonderful old hotel.
There's just not much you can do anymore about what others wear in your old favorite haunts. A pity, really, I try to not let it bother me.
The crowd at night, both in dining room and the 2 bars, is generally nicely dressed and considerate in that regard.
And what better place to enjoy a Sauters Havana, a beautifully made martini and while away some time on a rainy evening?
There's just not much you can do anymore about what others wear in your old favorite haunts. A pity, really, I try to not let it bother me.
The crowd at night, both in dining room and the 2 bars, is generally nicely dressed and considerate in that regard.
And what better place to enjoy a Sauters Havana, a beautifully made martini and while away some time on a rainy evening?
Yes, you are right, one should not let these things spoil one's enjoyment. Where I draw the line however is being photographed. That is not permissable in a place where my money pays for my privacy. You would not depict anybody on your beautiful photographs unless you had asked permission first, either.
Those are great photos. Thank you for sharing.
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Cufflink79
- Posts: 711
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:16 pm
- Contact:
Dear Uppercase:
Thank you for sharing your photos with us.
It is neat to see what these shops look like after I have read about them. Now I just need to find the time, and some more money to get to London.
Also I like the fact that there were many motor cars in the photos as well since I love cars as much as suits. Its too bad there wasn't a Rolls Royces driving around.
Also the photo of the closed door to E. Marinella is that also in Lodon? I thought they only had a shop in Italy.
Thanks again for sharing the pics.
Best Regards,
Cufflink79
Thank you for sharing your photos with us.
It is neat to see what these shops look like after I have read about them. Now I just need to find the time, and some more money to get to London.
Also I like the fact that there were many motor cars in the photos as well since I love cars as much as suits. Its too bad there wasn't a Rolls Royces driving around.
Also the photo of the closed door to E. Marinella is that also in Lodon? I thought they only had a shop in Italy.
Thanks again for sharing the pics.
Best Regards,
Cufflink79
Just 2 more photos I took on that brief early morning walk in London.
I hadn't realized really just how many country wear/field sport stores there are in that small area of London. I count at least 5-6 and I wasn't even looking for them.
Each store holds untold treasures of all sorts but I couldn't comfortably shoot their interiors for you.
What a great shopping town for classic wear!
Safari jackets, field coats, ammunition belts, beautiful, beautiful shotguns, wellies, saddles and harnesses, hacking jackets, heavy tweeds, high polish black riding boots country ties and cufflinks, as well as whips if you legitimately need them. Everything for a life on the manor except the dogs. All in the middle of the most expensive real estate in London, all within 10 minutes walk of each other.
It makes me think how poor great cities like NYC are in this regard.
Anyone remember the grand old Ambercrombie & Fitch, when it really was A&F, and not a teeny bopper hang out?! That's the difference in the original shopping experience which London still offers. Those buffalo horns and impala head in the Boss photo are not paper mache and there are no blown up photos of hollow chested, pouty boy-kids or doe eyed pre pubescent girls staring down, in black and white no less, at you in these stores.
It's fascinating to eavesdrop on a conversation in a store like William Evans on St. James St. next to Duke's Hotel when a shooter brings in his gun for cleaning and repair and settles in for a while; if you think that some gents here are obsessed with bespoke, you don't know what obsessed is until you get in with shooters.
Cufflink79, that is indeed the new Marinella store in London on 23 Wigglemore St. in Mayfair. It is a model of the Neapolitan original. Can you believe that that tiny business was valued at over $60mm. For a tie store?! I think you and I are in the wrong business.
If you like cars, well, there aren't too many Rollers any more in London that I observed.
Many more Bentleys however. You've got to love the Continental GT. I bumped into a Bentley dealer in a pub who bought me a Stella after I told him that I was a member of the LL. He told me that the average age of Bentley's customers has fallen from 65 to 45 with the introduction of the GT. That's a valuable bit of knowledge, there.
I hadn't realized really just how many country wear/field sport stores there are in that small area of London. I count at least 5-6 and I wasn't even looking for them.
Each store holds untold treasures of all sorts but I couldn't comfortably shoot their interiors for you.
What a great shopping town for classic wear!
Safari jackets, field coats, ammunition belts, beautiful, beautiful shotguns, wellies, saddles and harnesses, hacking jackets, heavy tweeds, high polish black riding boots country ties and cufflinks, as well as whips if you legitimately need them. Everything for a life on the manor except the dogs. All in the middle of the most expensive real estate in London, all within 10 minutes walk of each other.
It makes me think how poor great cities like NYC are in this regard.
Anyone remember the grand old Ambercrombie & Fitch, when it really was A&F, and not a teeny bopper hang out?! That's the difference in the original shopping experience which London still offers. Those buffalo horns and impala head in the Boss photo are not paper mache and there are no blown up photos of hollow chested, pouty boy-kids or doe eyed pre pubescent girls staring down, in black and white no less, at you in these stores.
It's fascinating to eavesdrop on a conversation in a store like William Evans on St. James St. next to Duke's Hotel when a shooter brings in his gun for cleaning and repair and settles in for a while; if you think that some gents here are obsessed with bespoke, you don't know what obsessed is until you get in with shooters.
Cufflink79, that is indeed the new Marinella store in London on 23 Wigglemore St. in Mayfair. It is a model of the Neapolitan original. Can you believe that that tiny business was valued at over $60mm. For a tie store?! I think you and I are in the wrong business.
If you like cars, well, there aren't too many Rollers any more in London that I observed.
Many more Bentleys however. You've got to love the Continental GT. I bumped into a Bentley dealer in a pub who bought me a Stella after I told him that I was a member of the LL. He told me that the average age of Bentley's customers has fallen from 65 to 45 with the introduction of the GT. That's a valuable bit of knowledge, there.
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DD MacDonald
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 1:51 pm
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You missed William Evans on the other side of St. James and Locks and Berry Brothers futher down on the other side. My first inclination is to scold you with a "tsk tsk" but my kinder side wishes to point out what treasures await you at such places.
If you're after some good old (and properly grotty) field kit, stroll down Pall Mall and turn right into the New Zealand arcade. If I remember correctly, the Reel Thing (or something close) is a the top on the left hand side.
DDM
If you're after some good old (and properly grotty) field kit, stroll down Pall Mall and turn right into the New Zealand arcade. If I remember correctly, the Reel Thing (or something close) is a the top on the left hand side.
DDM
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Cufflink79
- Posts: 711
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:16 pm
- Contact:
Thanks again Uppercase for sharing some more photos.
I am not a hunter or much of a sportsman, but I love the clothes.
Im not surprised that you would see more Bentleys than Rolls, people love to drive and after all you know the old saying. "You drive a Bentley, and ride in a Rolls Royce".
Also it looks like they sell big ties for big boys at Swaine Adeney & Brigg.
Best Regards,
Cufflink79
I am not a hunter or much of a sportsman, but I love the clothes.
Im not surprised that you would see more Bentleys than Rolls, people love to drive and after all you know the old saying. "You drive a Bentley, and ride in a Rolls Royce".
Also it looks like they sell big ties for big boys at Swaine Adeney & Brigg.
Best Regards,
Cufflink79
How terrific that they were able to wiggle the Vespas, courtyards and street numbers up from Naples as welluppercase wrote: Cufflink79, that is indeed the new Marinella store in London on 23 Wigglemore St. in Mayfair. It is a model of the Neapolitan original. Can you believe that that tiny business was valued at over $60mm. For a tie store?! I think you and I are in the wrong business.
.Yes, indeed, Matt, Maurizio did a spendid job in replicating the original store in London.
As you know, he's very keen on customer experience when buying a Marinella and my hats off to him, you couldn't ask for a better job; you'd almost think that you were in Naples.
Which is an advantage now, as with the army deployed in Naples due to a few too many unfortunate murders, Naples has suffered a decline in tourist receipts. In any case, I am sure that the Neapolitans will sort out local affairs pretty quickly.
Nevertheless, some of the sartoria were quick to respond, offering discounts of 15-25% to their international customers so now is a great time to fly to Naples particularly as the weather is gorgeous this time of year and for the next few months to come.
In any case, I think that with Rubinacci ,and now Marinella, in London anyone's Neapolitan cravings are pretty much covered there although they still can't get the vera Italiana pizza right yet. So you still do need to go to Napoli for that.
As you know, he's very keen on customer experience when buying a Marinella and my hats off to him, you couldn't ask for a better job; you'd almost think that you were in Naples.
Which is an advantage now, as with the army deployed in Naples due to a few too many unfortunate murders, Naples has suffered a decline in tourist receipts. In any case, I am sure that the Neapolitans will sort out local affairs pretty quickly.
Nevertheless, some of the sartoria were quick to respond, offering discounts of 15-25% to their international customers so now is a great time to fly to Naples particularly as the weather is gorgeous this time of year and for the next few months to come.
In any case, I think that with Rubinacci ,and now Marinella, in London anyone's Neapolitan cravings are pretty much covered there although they still can't get the vera Italiana pizza right yet. So you still do need to go to Napoli for that.
Wonderful pictures (and nicely composed I might add). I stayed a week at the Connaught for the first time this past summer and have to say I enjoyed it immensely. The hotel staff, esp the concierge desk, was very accommodating and helpful. And it's just down the street from Rubinacci among other things.
Jeez Upper,uppercase wrote:Yes, indeed, Matt, Maurizio did a spendid job in replicating the original store in London.
As you know, he's very keen on customer experience when buying a Marinella and my hats off to him, you couldn't ask for a better job; you'd almost think that you were in Naples.
You know I woke up this morning in London and it was raining, but I found that old Maurizio had put this in front of my room at the Connaught so that I could feel like I was in Italy as well
.
You've got to hand it to Maurizio. Too bad he couldn't do something about that lousy English weather, though. Rain everywhere it seems. You just can't escape it.
Plus the Hotel Parker's, Belgravia, is just not what it used to be, though the new Italian chef is said to be excellent and prepares a mean steak and kidney pie. Yum.
But do you really like Marinella ties anymore?
Plus the Hotel Parker's, Belgravia, is just not what it used to be, though the new Italian chef is said to be excellent and prepares a mean steak and kidney pie. Yum.
But do you really like Marinella ties anymore?
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