Why do we love working with so many Royal Warrant holders at DUKES?
This year we celebrated our 110th year. Such a proud achievement, we’re truly delighted to have been providing a traditionally British experience to our guests since 1908.
Seeing a large number of returning guests each and every year, we hear so many pieces of positive feedback as to why we remain a favourite choice. These range from our attentive staff through to the experience offered by Alessandro and his team in the DUKES Bar.
And one of the lesser known points that comes up frequently is our association with some really remarkable brands. Truly appreciating the importance of ensuring we can offer quality in every area, it’s this that leads us to working with so many Royal Warrant holders.
But why? What is it that makes us the perfect match?
Well it’s important to start by looking at just what a Royal Warrant holder is.
Understanding the role of British Royal Warrant holders
Officially a ‘Royal Warrant of Appointment’, a Royal Warrant is given to certain companies to recognise them for their services delivered to the Royal family (or specifically, the households of Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke Of Edinburgh or His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales).
Book now: stay for three nights, pay for two and enjoy a traditionally British experience
Needing to be delivered for a minimum of five years – and with an agreement in place for the service to be continued as and where appropriate – a Royal Warrant is a truly great British accolade. It’s one that shows an association with the Monarchy, and which can undoubtedly add a very critical element to a company’s brand – the displaying of the relevant Royal Arms in relation to the business has always been very much a coveted ability.
With in the region of 800 companies holding a Royal Warrant, they are united in their commitment to delivering the highest standards of service and quality with everything they do.
And it’s exactly this which makes us passionate about working so closely with them.
A combined approach to a fantastic experience
Our focus at DUKES has, and always will be, the delivery of a truly fantastic guest experience. We want everyone to walk through our doors and be whisked away to a traditionally British hotel experience that goes above and beyond expectations.
Words like ‘quality’, ‘excellence’ and ‘memorable’ are all key to us, which is why working with similar brands – particularly Royal Warrant holders – is vital to ensuring that service is consistent.
Take Floris as an example. Founded in 1730, not only is Floris the oldest retailer of fragrance and toiletries in England, but it’s still operated by the same family who opened it nearly 300 years ago.
Proudly offering an array of their toiletries in every room within DUKES, the quality and luxurious feel of their products produces regular feedback.
Book now: enjoy the Floris range in all of our rooms and suites
Consider Truefitt & Hill, too. First opening their doors in 1805, it is not only London’s oldest barbershop but the world’s, and via HRH The Dukes of Edinburgh, is a Royal Warrant holder.
Always a favourite recommendation for when a hair treatment is due, they bring together the traditional with the contemporary perfectly, and the company has seen everyone from Frank Sinatra to Charles Dickens enter for a spot of male grooming.
Similarly, our concierge are always delighted to direct wine lovers to nearby Berry Bros & Rudd, who, establishing themselves in 1698, are the oldest wine merchant in the country.
Offering unrivalled guidance on how to taste and serve wine (as well as how to invest in it), their close proximity to DUKES makes them the ideal spot for some advice and guidance before you sit down for a glass or two of your favourite wine at GBR or in DUKES Bar.
A mutual respect
At DUKES we’re located in one of London’s most historic royal areas, St James’s. With the area synonymous with the Royal family, as such it’s one of the reasons why you see so many Royal Warrant holders in and around the immediate vicinity.
Important to us that we retain that British approach at all times, we do as much as we can to ensure all of our guests can really experience our British heritage. Having a considerable amount of adoration and respect for our Royal family, working with a range of Royal Warrant holders – many of whom have, for good reason, been in business continually for two or three hundred years – is a perfect example of how we see this run through our entire hotel offering and into our cherished guest experience.
PS – celebrating our 110th anniversary this year has been fantastic, but we’d encourage you to support The Queen and Prince Philip later this month, as on 20th November they’ll have been married for 71 years!
Image courtesy of David Skinner (Flickr)