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Dress Code at The Shard

(40 Posts)
LesleyC Tue 03-May-16 11:39:30

I'm not a jeans or trainer wearer for going anywhere special and my children know not to turn up in theirs either if we are going out for a special meal together. It's not so much the place, but dressing smartly if casually for an occasion. I am surprised if trainers weren't allowed just to view at the Shard.

Riverwalk Tue 03-May-16 09:47:58

Surely a misunderstanding on someone's part. Ive twice been up the Shard in trainers.

The bars and restaurants there have dress codes.

I'd say 90% of visitors/tourists to such venues would be wearing trainers to tramp around the streets and stand in queues!

annodomini Tue 03-May-16 09:35:28

Supposing the OP's SiL had taken his trainers off, carried them in a bag and gone barefoot? Just asking. hmm

harrigran Tue 03-May-16 09:34:58

Yes jeans can look smart and some are very expensive but if you allow someone into a restaurant with £200 jeans on then you can't refuse the other person with the £5 pair on.
The no trainers up the Shard baffles me, I would have thought they were less damaging to the floors than some shoes but as DH has just said to me " it is a subtle way of keeping out the riff raff " nice hmm

Witzend Tue 03-May-16 08:52:33

I can understand a no trainers rule, but jeans? Non tatty ones can look smart enough if dressed up a bit. TBH I rarely wear anything else, and have been to some extremely smart London restaurants in them - usually to meet a BIL who lives overseas and wants to meet there when he's in London. Nobody has ever said a word or looked askance.

Though I do remember many moons ago when a dd and a friend of hers both had German exchange students coming to stay. Half term was coming up and the other mother and I thought it'd be nice to take them all to Cornwall for a few days. I found a small 3 star hotel that seemed nice enough - only to find that it said 'no jeans in the dining room'! For a small seaside hotel I thought it barmy, not to mention pretentious - dd and her friends hardly possessed anything else they'd be happy to wear. We didn't go.

NonnaW Tue 03-May-16 08:40:27

We went to the Shard last year, a Christmas gift from DD. I'm sure I remember reading beforehand about the no trainers rule so we made sure we wore other shoes. It was so spectacular up there, wandering round with a glass of champagne, watching people have afternoon tea, I was quite happy without my beloved trainers!

Lillie Tue 03-May-16 08:16:17

Tip - if you're going to walk through "mucky" areas in London in trainers , just pop a pair of court shoes in your bag to go into restaurants, theatres etc. grin

Alima Tue 03-May-16 07:54:13

How very strange. The Shard is in such a mucky area. Might be different when they finish tarting up London Bridge Station. I am surprised the dress code isn't hard hats and hi-vis.

Nelliemoser Tue 03-May-16 07:37:50

What if you have bad feet and trainers are the only footwear that are comfortable? I was in this position before I had my bashed hammer toe fixed.

Lillie Mon 02-May-16 17:27:18

If you are going to eat in a "posh - ish" London restaurant it's worth dressing casual, but smart. The same applies to afternoon teas. I went to a London hotel recently with a group of friends and one of the ladies had to rush out and buy a pair of black trousers because she wash't allowed in wearing jeans.

If it was just to see the view at The Shard, then that does seem a bit silly that you can't wear trainers.

tanith Mon 02-May-16 15:02:06

On the website it specifically says No dress code to view but the restaurants may well have a dress code and to check before hand.
Maybe someone was being a Jobsworth!

Elrel Mon 02-May-16 14:45:08

Oh my, what do reprobates in trainers get up to in the Shard?

Charleygirl Mon 02-May-16 14:43:51

Ballgown and tiara for a female? They would be quick to take his money irrespective of what he wore. A first on me.

ninathenana Mon 02-May-16 14:43:21

Oh good grief, I would never have given a though to a ruddy dress code for such a place.
They should certainly make sure it's well advertised.

NotTooOld Mon 02-May-16 14:39:28

My SiL took DD to The Shard on Saturday as her requested birthday treat. When they got to the entrance SiL was told he was unlikely to be allowed up to see the view as he was wearing trainers and therefore contravened the dress code! After some negotiation he was allowed in but really! I suspect he would have told them what to do with their dress code except that it was DD's birthday treat.