Introduction
Tea at the Ritz is a blog post I wrote for https://www.yourlondonaffair.com, a site dedicated to bringing US visitors to London. The purpose of the post is to ensure that our US visitors are aware of that famous institution, Afternoon Tea at the Ritz, and to introduce a little history behind this iconic hotel.
One of the most famous hotels, if not the most famous hotel in London is the Ritz in Piccadilly, adjacent to the Royal Park, Green Park. It was opened in May 1906 by Cesar Ritz, who had opened the Paris Ritz some 8 years earlier, and took a little while to become popular. It is of course immortalised in the song by Irving Berlin, “Puttin’ on the Ritz”, which was written in May 1927, and was inspired by the slang expression “putting on the ritz” meaning to dress fashionably. Its adoption by the fashionable elite did not really occur until well after the First World War. Noel Coward would frequently dine there during the 1920s and 1030s. Barbara Cartland famously summarised the London hotel scene of the 1920s thus : “The Ritz stood for stuffiness and standards, the Carlton was for businessman, the Savoy was rather fast, some other ones were frankly scandalous, and the Berkeley, where you could dance all night for ten shillings, was for the young”
It became particularly popular with various members of European royal families during the Second World War, including housing King Zog of Albania and his family. The hotel was damaged 9 times during the War, but dining was only interrupted on two occasions. The basement bar was reserved for gay and lesbian guests while the upstairs bar was used by heterosexual guests. It was observed that the Ritz as too chic, too popular and above all, too queer for the authorities. Although homosexuality was still illegal at the time, presumably the authorities had too much to deal with in the War to spend too much time worrying about what was going on in the bars of the Ritz.
After the War and up to the 1960s, the hotel retained its appeal to the rich and fashionable. Film stars would regularly stay there, including Rita Hayworth and Tallulah Bankhead. But in the 1960s London began to change, as the Swinging 60s took hold. Standards of dress and behaviour began to decline, the internal décor and sense of luxury started to become shabby. Celebrities would still hold parties there, including the Rolling Stones, although Mick Jagger was once denied entry for failing to wear a jacket and tie. The Prime Ministers of the period, Harold Wilson and Edward Heath, would frequently dine there, Heath always reserving table 29.
The decline continued into the 1990s when the ownership changed hands and £40 million was invested into raising up standards. It’s return to Royal favour was marked in 1999 when Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles made their first public appearance together. IN November 2002, Prince Charles celebrated his birthday at the Ritz with his mother and father both in attendance. It also received the Royal Warrant in the same year.
The hotel currently boasts 111 rooms running from Superior Queens and Kings rooms, up to Executive and Deluxe Kings. There are a range of eye catching suites from the Junior up to the Palatial Prince of Wales Suite, although the latter come in with a price tag to match. The signature suites include use of the Hotel’s Rolls Royce to use a shuttle to the airport, which is a nice touch.
The restaurant is Michelin starred, and has been a favourite dining haunt for English Prime Ministers, the Royal Family, international film stars and celebrities. They have even made their “cook book” available for purchase.
Tea at the Ritz
But perhaps the jewel in their crown is the Palm Court, where you can have the most celebrated of occasions, Tea at the Ritz. Although this is comparatively pricy, starting at about £60 per head, it is such an iconic experience that it is worth every cent! And in spite of its price tag, it is booked up solidly for weeks, if not months in advance. Anyone can book, but it is important to note that, even in these times of falling sartorial standards, smart dress is required, which for men includes a tie. Jeans – even designer jeans, are not permitted.
