Smoking Lounge and Cigar Shop Opens at the Ritz.

[El Presidente]

 

 

A luxury smoking lounge and cigar shop has opened at the Ritz

 

London has strengthened its claim to be the cigar capital of the world with the launch of an opulent shop and smoking lounge at one of its most famous hotels.

Ritz London Cigars opened this week on the ground floor of the five-star Piccadilly landmark and will be open daily from 10am to 11pm.

Continued

 

[ayepatz]

One for @LordAnubis‘s next trip, methinks.

I’m sure there won’t be a dress code...

[Jimmy_jack]

And what cigar is that in the ashtray?

[LordAnubis]

One for [mention=15810]LordAnubis[/mention]‘s next trip, methinks.

I’m sure there won’t be a dress code...

 

Your shout mate 200 smackers for a behike must be original release surely!?!?

 

But yes when I eventually make my way back to the queens country we can check it out.

 

They’ve had a smoking lounge for ages. Only for guests though. I guess they’re now opening it to the public.

 

I’ve got chinos now mate. I should be good for entry

 

 

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[ayepatz]

1 minute ago, LordAnubis said:

 

I’ve got chinos now mate. I should be good for entry


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I hear they’ve got a nice bench outside. Just in case the chinos don’t cut it. ?

[torsion]

1 hour ago, Jimmy_jack said:

And what cigar is that in the ashtray?

They have some custom rolled blends from what I've read with fancy labels-they're not being forthcoming with who rolled 

[boopdeep]

I was there late last month.  Selection was very limited but they had some primo boxes including BHK56, Esplendidos, and the Hoyo Epi 2 Reservas.  Staff was very friendly but did not know anything about cigars (self-admitted).  They had a bunch of Ritz branded accessories that were not yet for sale, but the staff said would be soon.  They have a nice lounge for smoking and enjoying some beverages - had an indoor cafe feel to it. 

[99call]

HHmmm I don't think you can smoke in there, but as an experience, The Wolseley is far more pleasurable than The Ritz.  Same, if not far superior standard of food, and they are not up their own arse.

The owner of The Wolseley, concentrates of offering luxury, but with zero ego or pomp. Absolutely love the place.  Everyone that I know who's been to the Ritz, backs up my own experience. Needless stuffiness, arrogance. 

https://www.thewolseley.com/ 

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d731402-Reviews-The_Wolseley-London_England.html#photos;geo=186338&detail=731402&ff=296443955&albumViewMode=hero&aggregationId=101&albumid=101&baseMediaId=296443955&thumbnailMinWidth=50&cnt=30&offset=-1&filter=7&autoplay=

[Ryan]

I was in the Ritz's cigar shop on Friday, called in with a couple of friends.

It's still very new, they are still fitting out the humidor. Seating for about 35 people in the lounge in bright yellow and gold, brighter than the picture. A bit bright for me.

A lot of pine shelving used in the humidor and a strong smell of pine in the humidor still.

Prices are high as the article says. £180 for a Cohiba Talisman.

They have some of their own cigars with Ritz bands on them (that's one in the picture). We were told £60-£80 each.

The young guy showing us around said they were 100% Cuban tobacco but didn't know/wouldn't tell us where they were rolled. They all had pigtails and they didn't look like pigtails I've ever seen on another Cuban cigar. I didn't buy one and didn't take pictures as we were escorted by staff, who were friendly, but close by.

No problem with dress code, one of the guys had jeans on, though admittedly "dad jeans", so "safe".

We went to the new cigar sampling lounge in Harrods instead, they've done a good job there.

We went through the wine shop in Harrods looking at the various Petrus vintages, £7,500 for the '82.

Me: "I have no idea what 82 was like for Petrus."

Friend (cigar-retailer, not a Fox) says, "It's excellent."

"Very well, Mr. Bond."

[Luca]

Keen to check this out when I go to London at the end of this year/early 2019. By then everything should be up and running.

Why would they use pine in their humidor @Ryan ?

[topdiesel]

On 5/28/2018 at 7:12 PM, torsion said:

They have some custom rolled blends from what I've read with fancy labels-they're not being forthcoming with who rolled 

Certainly, they must be Gurkha special Ritz blends.  Everyone knows that Gurkha's are the best and most expensive cigars in the world.

[BrightonCorgi]

So, do you get Marriott points on purchase?

[99call]

19 hours ago, Luca said:

Keen to check this out when I go to London at the end of this year/early 2019. By then everything should be up and running.

Why would they use pine in their humidor @Ryan ?

Make sure you check this place out. unlike the Ritz, it will actually be enjoyable, and you wont even have to sell a Kidney! 

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d953554-Reviews-Gordon_s_Wine_Bar-London_England.html#photos;geo=186338&detail=953554&ff=267673905&albumViewMode=hero&aggregationId=101&albumid=101&baseMediaId=267673905&thumbnailMinWidth=50&cnt=30&offset=-1&filter=7&autoplay=

[liquid360]

There used to be (might still be) a beautiful little high class cigar lounge in the lobby of the King David hotel in Jerusalem.... anyone been there or know if it’s still around?


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[ayepatz]

I ran into the Ritz Cigar Shop manager Ashley Best tonight in the Groucho Club. 

Lovely fella. We compared notes on his Cuban custom and my Party Series No.1 EL (pepper, pepper, and more pepper, btw). 

He’s not on FOH, but I gave him the sales pitch. Lol

He said they’re still getting up to speed but would be happy to see any FOHers who drop by.

He also said they’re not draconian about the dress code. 

He seemed a genuinely nice chap who dealt with the drunken ramblings of this FOHer with grace and patience. That bodes well for his cigar lounge customers. 

?

[Derboesekoenig]

23 minutes ago, ayepatz said:

I ran into the Ritz Cigar Shop manager Ashley Best tonight in the Groucho Club. 

Lovely fella. We compared notes on his Cuban custom and my Party Series No.1 EL (pepper, pepper, and more pepper, btw). 

Hmmm. So was it enjoyable at all, or does it need some years to rest?

[ayepatz]

1 hour ago, Derboesekoenig said:

Hmmm. So was it enjoyable at all, or does it need some years to rest?

I’d say definitely give it time, Evil King.

[Derboesekoenig]

Ahhh sprichst du Deutsch oder was? 

I'll put my box away and stop looking at them then.

[ayepatz]

 

5 hours ago, Derboesekoenig said:

Ahhh sprichst du Deutsch oder was? 

I'll put my box away and stop looking at them then.

Nur ein kleines bisschen. 

To be fair, it was very enjoyable, but I think some time down will see them develop in something special.

[BrightonCorgi]

Seems like the Ritz's are more smoking compliant hotels in Marriott empire.  Abu Dhabi Ritz has a cigar bar as well.  Not as big a selection though.  I wonder how many other Ritz's have cigar accommodations? 

[Cayman17]

2 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Seems like the Ritz's are more smoking compliant hotels in Marriott empire.  Abu Dhabi Ritz has a cigar bar as well.  Not as big a selection though.  I wonder how many other Ritz's have cigar accommodations? 

The Silver Palm Bar at the Ritz in Grand Cayman sells about ten Cuban cigars at the bar (RyJ short church, CoRo, Hoyo DC off the top of my head) but you must smoke them on the small outdoor patio (about four tables) just off the main bar.  There is no smoking permitted indoors. Smoking is also permitted at the pool bar, in a designated area. 

[El Hoze]

2 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Seems like the Ritz's are more smoking compliant hotels in Marriott empire.  Abu Dhabi Ritz has a cigar bar as well.  Not as big a selection though.  I wonder how many other Ritz's have cigar accommodations? 

I have spent about 4 years of my life sleeping at Marriotts. Domestically I know the St. Louis Ritz (which is in Clayton) has a cigar club attached to it, also the Ritz in Beaver Creek (Bachelor Gulch) has a cigar bar. Also the Ritz in Riyadh and Dubai also have cigar bars integrated in. 

“The Ritz” in London is actually not part of the Ritz Carlton / Marriott brand, it is a totally separate thing and operates under Leading Hotels of the World. A bit similar to The Ritz in Madrid which is owned by Mandarin Oriental. An odd one is also the Ritz Carlton in Chicago which was operated by Four Seasons until recently but now is part of the “official” Ritz Carlton / Marriott system. 

[BrightonCorgi]

40 minutes ago, El Hoze said:

I have spent about 4 years of my life sleeping at Marriotts.

I spent a couple of years mostly living in Marriotts are well.  Was Platinum, but now Gold for a long time.  Actually I am staying at Marriott as I type this...  I did not know that there were Ritz hotels not a part of Marriott!  Learn something new all the time on this forum.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Damn, I walked past it last week whilst in London and thought it looked new from last time I was in town.

Another vote for the Wellesley from me. Love that terrace, even with the £800/stick LFDC Diademas (white whale of mine )

[El Hoze]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I spent a couple of years mostly living in Marriotts are well.  Was Platinum, but now Gold for a long time.  Actually I am staying at Marriott as I type this...  I did not know that there were Ritz hotels not a part of Marriott!  Learn something new all the time on this forum.

The trick is “Ritz” versus “Ritz Carlton”. Any Ritz Carlton-branded hotel has an association with Marriott to my knowledge. The Ritz (not Carlton) do not, similar to the original one in Paris, that is just a Ritz not a RC I can’t remember exactly how/when the brands became divided but I think Cesar Ritz who owned the Ritz in Paris and the Carlton in London somehow sold it off to a North American investor group years ago to monetize the value of his brand.  

One of the status’ I am least proud of is being Lifetime Platinum Premier, which is technically an invite only club above Platinum Elite. Supposedly very few people have it. Works pretty well. I have about 1,500 lifetime nights so I’ve literally spent about four years of my life there, luckily not all of them alone but many that were so not exactly a badge of honor given I’ve only been traveling for work for 10 years or so.