The doorman

I was in London today, a bright and sunny day but oh so cold! Walking through the St James area of the secret world of gentlemen's clubs and the shops that supply their requirements, I realised that some things have not changed in hundreds of years. One has to just walk down St James to see historic clubs like Boodles, The Carlton Club and Whites which are a few steps away from shops like Lobbs, the shoe maker, Lock and Co the hatter, Berry Bros and Rudd, the wine merchants and Truefitt & Hill the barbers. Who buys from those shops these days? And of course, the discreet doorman in his top hat and coat. You can almost still see the figures of the past, like Beau Brummell striding out to his barber or tailor along St James Street.