Talk:Savoy Hotel/Archives/2019

The rich and powerful

Rather than have an edit was can we use some better wording than guests being classed as "rich and powerful"?

There are many high class hotels in London not just The Savoy and it is not really a relevant quote as the hotel is open to all to stay as guests and it borders on romanticism.

Any input on this subject would be welcome. Juanpumpchump (talk) 13:04, 7 February 2019 (UTC)

The Savoy was unusual, especially in its first century, in attracting an extraordinary number of wealthy and powerful guests, including royalty (King Edward VII and others), parliamentarians, visiting leaders, artists, entertainment and sports figures, etc. This is amply supported by reliable sources throughout the article and especially in the Notable guests section. Obviously the hotel is open to the public, and the statement made does not imply otherwise. Do you have alternative language to suggest that would better convey the fact? -- Ssilvers (talk) 15:08, 7 February 2019 (UTC)

Hi, one of the issues are that London has a number of large world famous hotels such as The (various) Hilton's, The Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park etc and especially The Goring, which opened in 1910 and the future Duchess of Cambridge stayed there the night before her wedding so in a way that all cater for the rich and famous. The Ritz has also been around since 1906 and was popular with socialites, the famous people of that era and the Prime minister of the time David Lloyd George - who was long before Churchill and even Margaret Thatcher who died there in 2013 - she had been staying there as a guest of the owners (The Barclay Brothers). Juanpumpchump (talk) 14:50, 8 February 2019 (UTC)

The Savoy was first and led the way. Prior to the example of the Savoy, the rich and powerful did not stay in hotels. Ritz was trained at the Savoy. -- Ssilvers (talk) 14:55, 8 February 2019 (UTC)

It could be clarified in the lead that the phrasing "attracting royalty and other rich and powerful guests and diners" relates to the historical time of Escoffier, etc - this is all supported by refs in the text, where it should be. - SchroCat (talk) 15:08, 8 February 2019 (UTC)

I think that's right. In Carte's day it was indeed the rich and powerful who frequented the Savoy, and, to judge from my last visit they now admit unpowerful riff-raff, e.g. me. Even so, "rich" is still pretty applicable. I have been lucky enough to have been someone else's guest at both the Grill and the restaurant over the years, and I'm jolly glad I didn't have to pay the bill. But SchroCat's point is ad rem: in the early years the Savoy was the stamping ground of the British Establishment from the Pr. of Wales downwards whereas now it is the haunt of well-heeled tourists. I even saw someone wearing shorts there last year. Enough said. Tim riley talk 15:30, 8 February 2019 (UTC)

I the light of a majority verdict I will leave things as they are currently written.

Regards

Juanpumpchump (talk) 16:25, 8 February 2019 (UTC)