For more than a century, The Ritz Hotel has been synonymous with luxury, indulgence and timeless style. Walking through its doors, guests are reassured that even if the outside world is rapidly changing, the hotel remains anchored in an elegant past – where things such as casual dress, and most certainly jeans and trainers, simply won’t do, the Daily Mail informs.
Enforced graciously but rigorously, house rules state that in its two restaurants and cocktail bar, ‘gentlemen are required to wear a jacket and tie’. However, the five-star establishment, on Piccadilly in Central London – the hotel of choice for royalty, world leaders and film stars – has been quietly undergoing a revolution.
Two weeks ago, The Ritz relaxed its dress code so jeans can be worn. But only at breakfast. And they must be ‘very, very smart’. Trainers, however, remain very much banned. Yesterday the hotel confirmed the relaxation in the rules. A spokesman said: ‘It was a management decision to change the policy and it’s been changed just to make guests feel more comfortable.’
But some regular visitors to the 133-room venue, founded in 1906 and holder of a Royal warrant courtesy of the Prince of Wales, were unimpressed. Actress Joan Collins said: ‘I only like jeans in the country. I’m not in favour of jeans in the city. But I’m not too bothered really about this. After all, they are letting them into Annabel’s [nightclub]. It’s the filthy trainers I don’t like.
‘I always think it’s nice to keep standards up. I suppose it really depends what kind of jeans they are wearing. There are some very nice designer jeans but then sometimes you see someone wearing jeans that look as if they’ve been covered in paint.’
Actor and director Julian Fellowes said: ‘I think The Ritz is the last “event” place in London. These things are difficult for management, though it’s like the nightclub Annabel’s letting people not wear ties. It’s a business like any other. I just have to hope that The Ritz will retain its sense of occasion. The problem, once you relax on jeans and ties, is that very suddenly people slip into wearing shorts and trainers.’
