Restaurant dress codes
Keith, our owner, has just sent us all a copy of an article from the Guardian bemoaning the lack of dressing up when people go out to dinner. This is quite a contentious issue with guests and restauranteurs / hoteliers alike and on both sides of the argument. I do know of a couple of very nice hotels around Cornwall who do still insist on jacket and tie for dinner and they are very successful, I also know some very good restaurants which are extremely successful (1 is next door!) that do not operate any dress code.
My personal view is that people should feel comfortable in what they are wearing, this does not mean however, that I think people should take this as carte blanche to go out looking like they have just got out of bed or off the beach. I wouldn’t feel comfortable at No 10 or Buckingham Palace in an open necked shirt and a pair of chinos, I would think a suit and tie would be more appropriate there, when going out for dinner with my wife I would rather be in something more casual but still in keeping with the style of the establishment.
When people are kept in suits and ties all day at work it seems a little churlish to make them dress up again, especially when they are on holiday - it may mean a whole extra suitcase! Quite often our guests will pop in to the restaurant to see what other people are wearing or will ask, we always say it is up to them and it is quite surprising the number of more senior guests who are then really quite pleased that they don’t have to wear a tie! If they themselves feel more comfortable in a tie then neither we nor the ambience of the restaurant makes them feel uncomfortable.
Read Linda Grant’s article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2171411,00.html and decide for yourselves!
