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Yoshito Akiyama's "British travelogue ③"

5th (continued)

The transformation of a venerable British hotel


Clarize's is a venerable hotel that boasts the tradition and prestige of Britain.
A member of the world-class ultra-luxury hotel Savoy Group.
Among them, it is famous as a stately hotel where the state guest class stays.
In the lobby, a gentleman who dressed elegantly in a good quality suit, apparently tailored to Savile Row, roamed.

The English you hear is Orthodox Queen's English.
It can be said that it is a snobbish, but it is cool because it has a season.
The age group of visitors is also high, and it is difficult for young people and unfamiliar people to even set foot. The dress code is also strict.
With no tie, at the entrance of a restaurant or lounge, you can politely ask for a pick-up, saying, "Please wear a tie."


Cigar lovers who have a cigar bar in the Clarigis will have no choice but to go.

However, when it comes to visiting the cigar bar of a magnificent hotel, I am naturally nervous.
The british gentlemen may be enjoying cigars and cognac elegantly.
The tension was betrayed with a single phone call.
The answer I heard from the phone to the question "What's the dress code?" Is "Anything other than jeans and T-shirts."
When I actually arrived at the hotel and looked around, the whole hotel was transformed into a casual one.
The previously quiet lobby is occupied by loud, cheerful Americans and doesn't feel stiff.
It feels more comfortable than a Japanese hotel. Both tension and anxiety are blown away.
It seems that the impression that it is profound and unattractive is up to a dozen years ago.


The name of the cigar bar is "Macanudo Fumoir", which appeared in the fall of 2001.

A collaboration between America's most popular cigar maca nude and Clarize's.
Maca Nude, which is not well known in the UK, is fully prepared to start expanding in the UK,

It's also interesting to say that the classic Clarize's was chosen as the collaborator.
A new breeze is blowing in London. The interior of the bar is more fashionable like a designer bar than heavy

It feels like it appears in a scene from an American movie.
It seems that he brought New York to London.
I was wondering if there was a veteran bartender, but the bartender was a young Frenchman.
The younger the staff, the easier it is.


Relax and enjoy cigars and liquor.

A group of four or five people, who seem to be Americans sitting at the counter, are also playing with each other in a light atmosphere.
A light kiss around the woman's neck. I envy you.
I think the Japanese are much more well-behaved.
A relatively short cigar called Diplomat was recommended.
It may feel a little mild to those who are accustomed to Cuban cigars.
This is fine when combined with champagne.
It feels like a perfect combination for a holiday afternoon, rather than after a full-course dinner, for a blissful time on the balcony or in the garden.
No one smokes a cigar bar.
It feels strange, but it feels more fashionable and lighter than the main bar, and it seems that there are many young customers.
Cuban cigars are also available, but there are more types in the main bar.
I want to go once, but will I be a repeater?

6th
England is expensive ... London is definitely a petite hotel

It feels good to stay at a world-famous Grand Hotel represented by Clarize's.

The majesty of the hotel tells us the glorious history of the British Empire.
The building is stately, the restaurant is gorgeous, and the rooms are calm.
The service is perfect, convenient and comfortable.
However, I dare to say that it is a petite hotel that you should stay in England.
Maybe there's no bar, sometimes there's no restaurant, maybe you can't email at this time.
Obviously inconvenient compared to the Grand Hotel.
However, once you get used to traveling to some extent, the Petit Hotel is more interesting and comfortable.
Each hotel has its own personality, warm hospitality, and friendship with other guests.
There is no choice but to try it anyway.


For example, there is such a hotel.
Dukes Hotel.


An old-fashioned hotel quietly nestled behind St. James Street.
The building makes you feel the history, and it seems to appear in the Sherlock Holmes movie.
The hotel is recommended by the staff of the Jermyn Street shop, "If you are in London, you should stay there."
The lobby is not large but comfortable with a nice sofa.
The lounge is large and the atmosphere is like being guided to the reception room of an upper class mansion.
Afternoon tea is the best.
Famous for its bartenders who make excellent cocktails, the bar is well worth a visit.
The sister hotels include the Egerton House Hotel and Franklin, which are smaller, just petite hotels.
The Stafford Hotel, which is right next door, is also a calm and famous hotel.
I want to stay at the annex Carriage House here. I want to try staying in a suite because it only needs to be done once in a lifetime.


Beaufort Hotel.

A lovely hotel with more than 20 rooms behind Harrods.
There is no restaurant or bar, and breakfast and afternoon tea are set in the price.
Breakfast will be served in the room and tea will be served in the guest room next to the lobby.
Being in this guest room makes me feel England.
Alcohol can also be drunk in the guest room at night. And it's free. This is nice.
The staff are kind and intimate. It treats guests softly and kindly.
By the way, the price for a single is about 35,000 yen including breakfast and tea, which is reasonable compared to others.
The rooms are bright and clean. Even a large junior suite can stay at a single rate at the Grand Hotel.
Women rejoice.


Darants Hotel.

A historic hotel in a quiet location behind Selfridges and Marks & Spencer.
Quiet but convenient as it is close to the shopping area.
The room is not large but reasonably priced.
Economy singles cost around 20,000 yen.
If you don't like a small room, you may want to take the plunge and change it to a Studio Room.
About 40,000 yen. It's quite wide.
Many guests stay for consecutive nights, and both guests and staff become friendly.
The sister hotel is located in Henley (about an hour from London), which is famous for Royal Regatta, and is called Red Lion.
It's a country house style and has a great atmosphere, so I want to go there once.
It's fun to look for it yourself, and it seems that there is a good hotel that stands in secret.
I would like to stay at 22 Jermyn Street with more than a dozen rooms and try shopping on Jermyn Street.


7th

Britain is expensive ... London is a shopping paradise for men (1)

Traditional that is rarely seen in luxury hotels

The city where British gentlemen infest is the Jermyn Street area.

One of London's leading main streets, one south of Piccadilly, is a city of men.
It is a shopping area that is only related to gentlemen, along with "Savile Row", which is said to have become the etymology of suits.
Shirt shops, shoe shops, hat shops, grooming supplies shops, etc. are almost unrelated to women.
Shirt shops include Turnbull & Asser, Harvey & Hudson, Pink, etc., and shoe shops include Tricker's.

Crockett & Jones, John Lobb (ready-made shoes), Foster, etc.
Foster used to focus more on bags than shoes, but recently the assortment has changed altogether.
The interior of the store, which was packed with sturdy hunting bags, was occupied by shoes.
Custom-made shoes Maxwell's ready-made shoes are also sold here.
In addition, New & Ringwood, which used to be a business for teachers at the prestigious public school Eaton, is a shirt.

It sells shoes (some of which are prestigious Paulsen Scone shoes).

Edward Green, which is popular in Japan, is located in Burlington Arcade, a short distance away.

As I learned from this visit, Crockett & Jones shoes cost more than 60,000 yen.
Even if VAT (value added tax) is deducted, it is 50,000 yen or more.
It is about 70,000 yen in Japan. Certainly it is about 7 times the price in Japan

Speaking of cheap, it is cheap, but it depends on the person whether or not to consider purchasing 30% cheaper as a merit.
It may be said that the merit of purchasing in Japan is greater.
The reason is that since I am in England, it is more meaningful to spend time sightseeing and visiting museums.

And although British shoe stores only have their own brands, if you go to Isetan or Nihonbashi Takashimaya in Japan, you can compare them with other brands.

Because you can choose shoes that you are satisfied with.
For example, at Nihonbashi Takashimaya, in addition to British shoes, Weston in France and Tanino Christi in Italy,

It's on another floor, but you can compare it with Berluti. Maintenance is also easy.
Even at shirt shops, for example, Turnbull & Asser ties are 15,750 yen in Japan and 13,000 yen in London, which is not cheap just because they are local.
My hobby is shopping abroad, I want to talk intimately with the clerk, I want a limited edition of a specific brand, I'm a shoe nerd, etc.

It's a fascinating shopping area where you can spend hours on your own for some reason.

And, of course, there are also cigar-related shops that are a gentleman's favorite.

Dunhill and Davidov are on Jermyn Street.
Dunhill began selling all men's products, but originally smoking equipment was the main product.
The assortment of pipes seems to be amazing. I can't say for sure because I haven't set foot.
It may be rude to the shop, but shopping at the dunhill shop in London makes me feel like a "nobori-san".
Jermyn Street is a minor town that is somewhat like a "man's hideout".
Dunhill is somehow major.


8th England is expensive ... London is a shopping paradise for men (2)
The mysterious relationship between cigars and shaving supplies

If you walk along Jermyn Street from east to west, you will find that it touches on the west side.

St. James Street.

There are many cigar shops and grooming supplies shops in these two streets (what do you call it in Japanese, different from cosmetics shops).
Actually, these two are related for some reason. It is an image of a man and is often used in Western-style movies.
Scenes of smoking cigars, whipping soap with a shaving brush, etc. The grooming and grooming of a man.
In Japan, the Cigar Club is developing the Art of Shaving, and if you look at the American cigar site, you will
find that cigar shops sell shaving products.
It doesn't matter whether it's east or west.


A man's day begins with a shaving and ends with a cigar .

It seems that the beginning and the end are important. Shaving at the beginning of the day.
Japanese people don't have much time, so they often use an electric shaver for dry shaving.
Certainly, technological innovation has been remarkable every day, and the shaving taste is refreshing and the storage can be cleaned.
But after all wet shaving feels better.
Apply a steaming towel to your face, moisten your face with hot water, apply a generous amount of soap to your face with a brush, and shave with a razor.
The beard and drowsiness disappear at once.


The day has to start like this ...

There are long-established stores such as DR Harris, Taylor, Trumper, and Floris, but when it comes to shaving goods specialty stores, Taylor and Trumper are the best.
Both stores also have a barber shop. It's fun to look in the shop.
Brushes, soaps, and creams are on display throughout the store.
Choosing your favorite product from a large number of products is the same as choosing a cigar.


Well, cigars.

Davidov is located on the corner of Jermyn Street and St. James Street, down St. James and Fox.
In Davidov, there is a walk-in human middle in the back of a large shop where you can choose slowly.
A wide selection of products. Many small items are also available.
The specialty store manager always smokes cigars.


Fox is along St. James Street.

There is a hat lock and a shoe store John Rob (custom shoes, a different shop from ready-made shoes) in the neighborhood.
When you open the door, cigars are lined up on the right side and a sofa is placed on the left side.
There are quite a few cigar goods, but there are many shops in Japan that sell interesting goods, so my index finger doesn't move.
Magazines and other magazines have introduced a British gentleman smoking a cigar in a well-behaved manner, and the threshold seems to be high.
But that's not the case.


It's a store that anyone can enter.

Once you enter, you are an important customer, and they will respond politely.
They will explain and introduce new products.
Choose your favorite cigar and have a cigar discussion with the clerk over a cup of coffee on the sofa.
Anyone can enjoy it if they can speak English to some extent.
The customer's cigars are stored underground.
It seems that there are rare cigars in the basement, but it seems that you can't enter here unless you become a regular customer.
It seems that even Japanese people have regulars.
I wonder if anyone can introduce me, I'd like to come in someday.

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