Lounge Etiquette

A lounge works on a kind of shared agreement: we all keep the volume low, we all take our time, and we all leave the room as pleasant as we found it. Read these once and forget them. After that they are just how the evening goes.

• Arrive with a greeting

  A nod, a handshake, a hello — whatever is natural to you. It sets the tone for the whole evening, and it tells us you are here to enjoy yourself rather than to get somewhere.

• Dress smart casual

  There is no dress code to study. Smart casual is the shape of it — something you would wear to a good dinner. You will feel at home in the room, and the room will feel right around you.

• Keep voices low

  The whole point of Ashes is that conversation carries without effort. A low voice is not restraint here; it is what makes the room work. You should be able to hear the person across from you without leaning in.

• Ask before lighting up near others

  Smoke travels in a quiet room. If someone has just sat down beside you, a glance and a word before you light is a small kindness — and most of the time the answer is an easy yes.

• Give people their space

  Chairs here face each other on purpose. If you would like to join a conversation, ask. If someone is sitting alone with a cigar and their thoughts, that is a perfectly good way to spend an evening too.

• Let us guide your choice

  Rather than handling several cigars and putting them back, tell us what you are after and let us bring the right one out. It keeps the case in good order, and honestly it is the fastest way to end up with something you love.

• Cut and light it properly

  A clean cut and a proper light are most of a good smoke. Take your time with the flame and turn the cigar slowly as you go, so it catches evenly all the way around. If you would like us to do it for you, just say so.

• Tap your ash gently

  Ash falls when it is ready. A soft tap into the ashtray is all it takes — no flicking, and nothing left on the table. It keeps the room looking as it should, which everyone notices.

• Order a drink that complements

  Choose something that sits beside the cigar rather than over it. If you are unsure, ask us what we would pour with what you are smoking — it is one of our favourite questions.

• Thank the people who looked after you

  A thank you as you leave goes a long way, and it is genuinely part of why the room feels the way it does. We will remember you next time.