Live like a local

Shop like a royal : London’s Royal Warrant Holders

January 08, 2021

A Royal Warrant recognises those who have supplied the Royal Households of The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, for at least a period of five years. The Warrant is seen as a mark of high-quality craftsmanship and often sets businesses apart from their competitors. Many of London’s Royal Warrant Holders have shops in Mayfair, within easy reach of the 45 Park Lane and The Dorchester.

Fortnum & Mason

A humble food shop when established in 1707 by its eponymous founders, today it is a go-to for gourmet groceries and quintessentially British produce. Fortum & Mason’s fame took off in the Victorian era, when it became a firm favourite of the Royal Family, supplying them with delicacies from rare cheeses to exotic teas. Today, its now-iconic hampers make the perfect gift, or even picnic box to have in one of the Royal Parks that surround the area. For those more interested in eating in, the four in-house bars and restaurants offer everything from afternoon tea to cocktails.

181 Piccadilly Mayfair
W1A 1ER
020 7734 8040
www.fortnumandmason.com

Pastries in popular shop in London near The Dorchester

Smythson

Although letter-writing isn’t as popular as it once was, Smythson proves the art of handwritten correspondence still flourishes. Established in 1887, they have been producing elegantly personalised stationery sets, stylishly crafted leather goods and a range of diaries and notebooks that look too beautiful to actually write in, to the Royal Family since the 1890s. With an ethos rooted in British heritage they have been favoured by figures from Winston Churchill to Katharine Hepburn for the quality of their craftsmanship and attention to detail. Now, with stores around the world, they still have a Mayfair flagship store in New Bond Street.

131-132 New Bond Street
Mayfair, W1S 2TB
020 3535 8009
www.smythson.com

Thomas Goode & Co

Occupying a handsome Victorian red-brick at one of Mayfair’s most elegant streets, Thomas Goode & Co’s one and only shop has supplied the royal families of Europe with exquisite tableware since 1827. Unmissable, the windows display two towering ceramic elephants commissioned for the Paris Exhibition of 1889. Inside the show spaces display gleaming silver, china and glassware from the greatest of names, including Lalique, Meissen and Sèvres, as well as Thomas Goode’s own designs and sets. Committed to craftsmanship they still produce their range of tableware in Stoke-on-Trent, and will create bespoke ranges on commission.

9 South Audley Street
Mayfair, W1K 2BN
020 7499 2823
www.thomasgoode.com

T Goode and Co shop exterior in London near The Dorchester

Mens shop on Savile Row with suits in window

Gieves & Hawkes

There’s no more impressive address for a tailor than No.1 Saville Row, and pre-eminent clothiers Gieves & Hawkes deserve the position. Initially two separate houses established in the 18th century, Gieves supplied the British Royal Navy – including Admiral Lord Nelson – and Hawkes the British Army – including the Duke of Wellington – before joining forces in 1974. Today, Gieves & Hawkes holds all three Royal Warrants, one of only 14 companies in Britain to hold the honour. Inside gentlemen can be fitted for bespoke or made-to-measure suits, or simply browse the ready-to-wear collection.

1 Savile Row
W1S 3JR
020 7434 2001
www.gievesandhawkes.com

Bentley & Skinner

The amalgamation of Skinner & Co., jewellers to the Royal Family since Victorian times, and Bentley & Co., founded in 1934, creating Bentley & Skinner is the place to go for everything from sparkling diamond solitaires to Art Deco brooches and Fabergé eggs. Initially established amid the luxury boutiques of nearby Burlington Arcade, today you’ll find them in larger premises on Piccadilly, where they now engage in repair and restoration work, as well as commissions. If the name sounds familiar to art lovers, you may remember their diamond-encrusted skull, created for boundary-pushing British artist Damien Hirst.

55 Piccadilly
W1J ODX
020 7629 0651
www.bentley-skinner.co.uk

Fine jewelry display in a shop in London near The Dorchester

Hunter Boot Ltd

A heritage brand founded in 1856, Hunter is credited with turning the Wellington boot, a decidedly functional shoe designed with changing weather in mind, into a style icon. The brand supplies both Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh with handcrafted, waterproofed footwear. Step through the doors of its flagship store on Regent Street where the décor evokes the rainy British countryside to browse a range of footwear and outerwear. Recent collaborations include Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney and even Disney, so there’s something for all ages and tastes.

83-85 Regent St
Mayfair W1B 4EW
020 7287 2999
www.hunterboots.com

Browse the boutiques and brands fit for royalty with a stay at The Dorchester, perfectly placed for shopping in Mayfair and Piccadilly.

Back to Dorchester Collection Moments

Live like a local