The Connection:
Sir Mansfield Cumming was a founding father of MI6 and established the service right here in the Royal Horseguards Hotel on Whitehall Court. Sir Cumming wrote all his correspondences in green ink. This is the inspiration behind the signature Royal Horseguards green pen.
Address: 2 Whitehall Ct, London SW1A 2EJ
Close by..
Just a couple of doors down is the Ministry of Defence, and you’ll recognise the street where Bond returned to duty and abandoned the V8 in No Time To Die.
“Why are you Brits so obsessed with carbs, and finger foods without the crust?” Anastasia asks.
She is right of course. No picture of health would be seen eating this crap. The sugary treats we box up and give to a homeless guy outside. We did the same when we visited the The Ritz. It pains me deeply to say this but the better Afternoon Tea experience was at Dukes. I did a video on that experience.
Just a desk
There is no plaque to commemorate this being the original Mi6 building. I asked the staff. There is a desk with some description or other. I lift one the pens hoping it’s green ink. I get home to try it out. It’s not.
Overall
The experience itself is one that neither satisfies your hunger, nor your thirst. The service is provided by a team of affable Indian waiters and waitresses. I counted 8 in total. An inescapable feeling of old empire is not limited to the regiment memorial sculptures that decorate the very street upon which this hotel is situated.
