Visiting London. Where should I shop for brushes?

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 6:33 pm

My wife and I are going to London for a few days next week. While I'm there I'd like to look at a few brushes. Does anybody have a shop they recommend?

I'm interested mainly in Simpson, Rooney and Kent. I have owned several Simpsons and Rooneys and I've loved some and hated others (shedders). I'd really like to see them in person before pulling the trigger. I think it would be a nice item to help remember our trip to the UK.

Thanks

Aztecface · Post by **Aztecface** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 9:25 am

Tony, take a trip to the Gentlemen's department in Fortnum & Mason.

M6Classic · Post by **M6Classic** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 10:41 am

Take a long stroll down Jermyn Street with detours down Princes' Arcade and the Burlington Arcade (which actually is off Piccadilly). You will not be disappointed by what you discover and you may find mementos in excess of mere shave brushes. In any case, all of the great shaving emporia are represented in Jermyn street and in St. James's Street perpendicular at the top of Jermyn. Look also for cheese, scotch, shoes, shirts, hats, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Buzz

Gary Young · Post by **Gary Young** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:24 pm

Definitely call into D.R. Harris on St James and ask to see the 'special' Simpson they keep high up in on the display cabinets behind their main counter. I am sure you will appreciate the brush!
Have a good trip.

Gary

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 7:18 pm

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm really looking forward to it.

Aztecface · Post by **Aztecface** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:23 am

Tony, definately do what you have been recommended here. But the only place you'll find Simpson brushes on sale is at Fortnum & Mason. Trumper's have... something else these days. The other's no longer offer Simpson brushes.

Fido · Post by **Fido** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:51 am

All within a short distance of each other:

Taylors of Bond Street
Trumpers
Truefitt and Hill
DR Harris

Jermyn Street/St James area.

And Fortnum and Mason also close by.

All worth a visit even if you don't buy anything.

jww · Post by **jww** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:53 pm

Fido wrote:All within a short distance of each other:

Taylors of Bond Street
Trumpers
Truefitt and Hill
DR Harris

Jermyn Street/St James area.

And Fortnum and Mason also close by.

All worth a visit even if you don't buy anything.

+1 -- gotta make the pilgrimage to them all!

M6Classic · Post by **M6Classic** » Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:30 pm

Fido wrote:All within a short distance of each other:

Taylors of Bond Street
Trumpers
Truefitt and Hill
DR Harris

Jermyn Street/St James area.

And Fortnum and Mason also close by.

All worth a visit even if you don't buy anything.

& Floris, & Czeck and Speake, & Dunhill, & Turnbull's, & Beretta, & Berry Brothers, & Lobbs, & Crockets, & New and Lingwood for God's sake, & cetera...& cetera...& cetera. The Jermyn and St James's axis is perhaps my favorite place on earth. Get your morning pastries at the Patisserie Vallerie and have dinner at The Wolseley in Piccadilly. Be certain to have a martini or a vesper in the bar at Dukes Hotel, even if you don't stay at Dukes.

Buzz

jww · Post by **jww** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:26 am

While you are at it -- grab a train to Leeds and check out Mitchell's --- actually there is nothing much there in Bradford to see --- I don't even believe they will give tours -- although I have asked a couple of times, but they have turned me down -- they clearly didn't know who they were speaking with.

M6Classic · Post by **M6Classic** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:37 am

jww wrote:While you are at it -- grab a train to Leeds and check out Mitchell's --- actually there is nothing much there in Bradford to see --- I don't even believe they will give tours -- although I have asked a couple of times, but they have turned me down -- they clearly didn't know who they were speaking with.

I beg your pardon! The original Harry Ramsden's is in Leeds and certainly worthy of a visit!!! Okay, it is actually in Guiseley, which is even closer to Bradford, but that is very near Leeds.

Buzz

jww · Post by **jww** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:25 am

M6Classic wrote:
jww wrote:While you are at it -- grab a train to Leeds and check out Mitchell's --- actually there is nothing much there in Bradford to see --- I don't even believe they will give tours -- although I have asked a couple of times, but they have turned me down -- they clearly didn't know who they were speaking with.
I beg your pardon! The original Harry Ramsden's is in Leeds and certainly worthy of a visit!!! Okay, it is actually in Guiseley, which is even closer to Bradford, but that is very near Leeds.

Buzz

Sorry, I stand corrected --- I had forgotten about ole 'arry.

http://www.harryramsdens.co.uk/

I always thought that it was Whitby's Magpie Cafe wot had the world's best fish n chips. ?????

http://www.magpiecafe.co.uk/

We've eaten at the Magpie, and to be honest, the dining-in experience wasn't all that great. The take-away was quite a different thing though. You can't eat MWF or Trumpers ......

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:29 am

Fido wrote:All within a short distance of each other:

Taylors of Bond Street
Trumpers
Truefitt and Hill
DR Harris

Jermyn Street/St James area.

And Fortnum and Mason also close by.

All worth a visit even if you don't buy anything.

I just got back from England. I visited all of the shops recommended above. Fortnum and Mason was the only shop that had Kent brushes, which I really wanted to see, but they were all Best Badger and I wanted a higher grade of hair. The other shops all had rebadged brushes that I assume were mostly Vulfix. They were all two-band super and best grades, but were looser (floppy) than I prefer. There were a few rebranded Simpson brushes, so it was nice to get to finally hold samples of Persian Jars, Chubbys and Polos. I really didn’t find anything I liked until we went to Truefitt and Hill. They had a very large selection of brushes and many were excellent. I managed to find a rebadged Rooney Finest that stood out as though it had a spotlight on it. It was the only two-band brush I saw while in London and it was a thing of beauty. Black roots and extremely white tips. It found a good home here in the U.S.

When I get a chance I’ll give a full writeup of it. It seems to be pretty similar in build to my two-band Simpson Tulip 2. It’s a small bit bigger in diameter and seems just as stiff. It does feel a bit easier on the face, so it has that unique soft scrub feel of a Rooney’s Finest. Overall it’s an expensive, but great brush.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:27 am

I just read that Rooney stopped making their Finest line, so I'm now really happy I spotted this one.

druphus · Post by **druphus** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:13 pm

McNutt wrote:I just read that Rooney stopped making their Finest line, so I'm now really happy I spotted this one.

You did very well indeed. The latest 2-band Rooneys are not nearly as nice as the old "finest"!

jhclare · Post by **jhclare** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 3:31 am

I live in London and rarely, if ever, do shaving shopping here.

Why?

Because last time I went all the re-branded brushes were too pointy-bulby, lofty, and too floppy for my tastes.

Plus, all the English creams/soaps are highly overrated in my opinion.

Give me Arko, IK, and Cella any day of the week!

John

Vulfix Old Original · Post by **Vulfix Old Original** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 5:08 am

jhclare wrote:
Plus, all the English creams/soaps are highly overrated in my opinion.

John

You can re-visit this quote John after trying our new Simpson Cream ... !?

Best,

Mark