London Cigar Scene: JJ Fox & Robert Lewis

By tikichris Last edited 163 months ago
London Cigar Scene: JJ Fox & Robert Lewis

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Photography by Nic Wing

If you know a little of the geography of St James’s Street you will know that behind many of the stately and anonymous buildings lining the street are some of London’s most exclusive gentleman’s clubs. You will also find many shops which grew up to supply the members with their many requirements including wines, hats and boots. But Londonist was more interested in a good cigar when stepping over the threshold of London’s oldest cigar store which was founded in 1787 and can claim to be one of the three oldest surviving retailers in St James's Street.

Today the store has been updated from the days when it was Sir Winston Churchill’s cigar store but in the basement you will find the Cigar Museum containing many items gathered over the stores two hundred year history of which the most evocative are the ledgers of Churchill and Oscar Wilde. There are also pictures of the store as it was back in the day.

Today there is a state of the art walk in humidor containing a huge collection of Cuban and New World cigars. Upstairs you will find a compact sampling lounge where it is possible to sample the store's wares before you make your selection. A most important facility if you are planning on making an investment in a box of Havana’s very finest hand made production.

JJ Fox & Robert Lewis is located at 19 St James’s Street (SW1A 1ES). Visit the shop online at www.jjfox.co.uk.

By Nic Wing

Last Updated 27 August 2010