A Gentleman’s Guide To London According To Tom Chamberlin

by Felicity Carter
Forbes   August 6, 2020

Tom Chamberlin is the editor of The Rake, a supremely stylish and elegant magazine aimed towards the discerning chap.

An aficionado when it comes to all things luxury, Tom shares his little black book of London, from top tailors to the best martini tipples.

Stay: Corinthia London

Brilliant team from top to bottom, Thomas Kochs, the MD is perhaps the best in the business, having run Claridge’s and Café Royal.

Best hot chocolate in London too, which with a cigar in their terrace (or on the balcony of one of the penthouses) is for me, the definition of luxury.

Corinthia London, Whitehall Pl, Westminster, London SW1A 2BD

Shop: Piccadilly Arcade

The best and most diverse of all the arcades, will have something to tweak any man’s interest. Honorable mention to Royal Arcade for Cleverley, E.B. Meyrowitz and Watch Club.

Piccadilly Arcade, St. James's, London SW1Y 6NH

Tailors: Kent & Haste

Terry Haste is in my opinion the best tailor in the world, and because he is on Sackville street rather than the adjacent Savile Row, it is about two thirds of the cost for bespoke. He is also terrific fun to work with and as bespeaking a suit for the first time is fairly intimidating, this is an underrated value.

Kent & Haste, 7 Sackville St, Mayfair, London W1S 3DE

Workout: Workshop Gymnasium

Lee Mullins and his team are very safe hands no matter what your goals are. The approach is unique but highly effective. I wouldn’t want to work out anywhere else.

Workshop Gymnasium at the Bulgari Hotel, 171 Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DW

Bar: The bar at DUKES London

Alessandro Palazzi is the country’s most charismatic barman. For potency purposes, you’re limited to two of the house martinis.

DUKES London, 35 St James's Pl, St. James's, London SW1A 1NY

Dine: Bellamy’s

Chic and discreet, the only restaurant in the world that the Queen has eaten in more than once (I believe it is now three times).

Bellamy’s, 18 Bruton Pl, Mayfair, London W1J 6LY

Relax: Davidoff of St James’s

To quote Nick Foulkes, to enter Davidoff is to enter a world in which it is impossible to imagine anything even remotely unpleasant ever happening. The cigar shop ne plus ultra.

Davidoff of St James’s, 35 St James's St, St. James's, London SW1A 1HD

Grooming: Pankhurst London for haircuts and products, D.R. Harris & Co for the rest

Brent Pankhurst has cut my hair for years now, and his new shop in collaboration with Thom Sweeney’s new tailoring house, is sure to be a pilgrimage site for anyone visiting London. D.R. Harris is extremely traditional, but the products are brilliant, especially the cucumber and roses hand moisturiser.

Pankhurst London at Thom Sweeney Townhouse, 24c Old Burlington Street, Mayfair, London W1S 3AU (opening in September).

D. R. Harris & Co., 29 St James's St, St. James's, London SW1A 1HD

Culture: Royal Opera House

Consistently has world class performances, the zenith of high culture in the nation.

Royal Opera House, Bow St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD

Landmark: Brunswick House

Incongruity at it’s very best, a country house surrounded by polluted modernity, terrific interiors shopping and restaurant inside too.

Brunswick House, 30 Wandsworth Rd, Vauxhall, London SW8 2LG

Book store: Maison Assouline

They are the best coffee table books in the world and their ‘maison’ on Piccadilly is homely but grand.

Maison Assouline, 196A Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9EY

Secret place: Passione Vino

Luca Dusi is the charismatic oenophile and gourmand, his small premises in Shoreditch is made even more special if you find yourself pushing on the mirror in the corridor to the kitchen, let’s just say it opens up a new experience.

Passione Vino, 85 Leonard St, Hackney, London EC2A 4QS

Your favourite place: Mark’s Club

It has the best cigar terrace in London and is snuck away and civilised for reading, eating or brutal game of backgammon. A quieter version of Annabel’s, take from that what you will.

Mark’s Club, 46 Charles St, Mayfair, London W1J 5EJ

Source: www.forbes.com

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