A coffee break with...

With James Sleater, founder, of The Service

The Service, a new coffee shop reflective of Savile Row and Mayfair lifestyle, has opened at no. 19 Savile Row. A collaboration with Bristot Coffee, it is the only café on ‘The Row’.

It has been launched by the team behind Cad and The Dandy, one of the finest tailors in the world which opened back in 2008. The Service is a welcoming hub where visitors to Savile Row can relax, meet and socialise, while enjoying the finest coffee and pastries around…

What’s your favourite part of your working day?
Our team morning meetings are always the best part. We meet at the Service every morning for coffee and to brief the day across both businesses. It’s become a really productive ritual and all the team love it. I mean, who doesn’t like to start the day with a strong coffee? 

And your least favourite? 
Like every other Londonder, the daily commute to and from work is most definitely the least favourite part of my morning. However, it is a great time to clear some e-mails, do small menial tasks and start planning the day before it really begins. 

What’s your favourite food and beverage?
I love sashimi, or pretty much any raw fish dish. Pair this with a glass of white wine and you have my ideal working lunch.

I’m also a huge fan of octopus and absolutely love to barbecue it myself at home. It's become my go-to dish when I want to show off my cooking skills. 

And your least favourite? 
There's very little I don’t like to eat – but one of the team treated me to jellied eels last year and I can safely say that I won't be trying them again any time soon! I do love a traditional pie and mash, but I just can’t get on board with the addition of jellied eels. 

What is the biggest factor currently affecting the industry?
We’ve been very lucky with our team since opening The Service. We really have built a wonderful support system here and I couldn’t be more grateful. 

Working across both bespoke suit tailoring and now the hospitality industry, I’ve managed to garner a lot of skills in building the right team for the job. Tailoring has taught me all about customer service and how important each individual is that comes into your life, both personally and in the workplace.

I’ve taken this practice into The Service and we’ve hired the very best people for the job. Our team are all personable characters and love to interact with our customers, making it a bespoke experience every time you visit. I really believe that this is so important to building a successful business. 

What one piece of advice would you offer someone working in the industry?
I was always taught to do the job that you want to get, not the job you were employed to do. If you want to get further in your career, you’ve got to show people that you’re the best at what you do. But again, showing willing and leadership will invariably get you where you want to go.

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