C.Gars St James's - Cigars & Whisky — Local services in London

What can I say about C.Gars in St James's! It's impossible to write a review about it in one paragraph so I will have to split it into different sections, but believe me every single section will be five stars.

The Location

To start I suppose it's best if we dive into the actual location, only a short walk away from Piccadilly Circus and even less from Green Park station, it is an excellent location for a cigar shop. Right in between two of its rivals and yet it stands out as the jewel of the St James crown. Whether you wish to sit in and enjoy the fine company of its patrons, or sit outside and bask in the spring and summer sunshine this place is the place to be. Perhaps we can call it a cigar Mecca, if you want any evidence just look at the calibre of people that attend its cigar lounge. You will never be bored, or lonely when enjoying a smoke at C.Gars. The people who visit this shop are warmly welcomed by both staff and customers alike and the conversations are in abundance.

The Staff

Every good business has to have good staff to accompany it, and at C.Gars of St James you are greeted by perhaps the most hospitable and warmest collection of staff one could possibly imagine. Their passion of Cigars is clear, their love of their work shines throughout their excellent customer service. I myself smoked my first cigar within the walls of their shop and if it was not for the staff of C.Gars I would have never realised how wonderful a hobby cigar smoking truly is. My first time visiting their shop a new worker had just started, a lovely lady, since then I have visited a couple of times since and the training she has received has been second to none. In the matter of a couple of weeks she has become a master of picking out the perfect cigar. It is a testament to the shop as a whole. Their knowledge is in abundance and their passion is unfathomable. If I owned a cigar shop, these are the staff that I would want working there.

The Owner

I was blessed today to have spent several hours in the company of the C.Gars owner, although there's no guarantee that he will be there when you visit, if you're lucky enough you'll never meet a more charming, charismatic and passionate owner in your life. His generosity knows no bounds and you just simply want to spend the whole month with him let alone the whole day. His passion for fine cigars and fine alcohol rubs off within the walls of the shop. I feel better off having met him, he is exactly the sort of man that you want owning a cigar shop because with him you know you will get nothing but the best high quality cigar as well as the best high quality conversation. Whether it be telling tales of his business, or cracking off the funniest of jokes it is impossible to resist the charm of the owner.

The Cigars and the Drink

What would a cigar shop be without its fine cigars and believe me C.Gars stocks the finest, the best, the most tasteful cigars that one can buy. While the hobby may appear expensive it is worth every penny. From their Montecristo to their Cohiba you will not be able to resist the fine tobacco of C.Gars. Their stock of Cuban cigars are second to none and every Cigar hobbyist will be envious of their humidor. A man could only dream of such an extensive collection of Cigars. But not only are the Cigars excellent but so is the fine selection of alcohol. The staff will pour you the finest cocktails, my favourite being the old fashioned (whisky, although rum is also a great choice) Having personally tasted their Scotch I must say you are getting the best and only the best. If you're in need of good company, good cigars and good drink then this is the place to be. If you're not there yet, then what on earth are you doing? Only the mad refuse to visit this wonderful establishment!

Critique's

The only critique I can think of is the fact it closes at 6pm, it should close at 6am at the latest! I could stay there all night and day. Scratch the 6am idea, keep it open 24/7!

Conclusion Please, just use C.Gars. You'll...

I came in one night last week while in London on a business trip. The team working was very helpful, knowledgeable and approachable. I sat down to enjoy a lovely vintage H. Upman and had a great chat with some of the fellows inside. Since it was close to closing time, and the shop wasn’t that busy, Sam was able to (and did) dedicate time to my relatively ‘newbie’ questions. Never did he make me feel uncomfortable for asking what might have been beginner questions. I planned on hitting a different shop/lounge the next day, but decided to come back to C.Gars again. I’m thrilled that I did. I picked up a bunch of fantastic cigars, but more than that, had a fantastic time meeting some of the regulars, and even Mitchell! Chatting with Sam, Mitchell and the other guys in the shop was an incredible experience. This is what people mean when they say cigars brings people together. Mitchell was an absolute gentleman and I tried to soak up every word he said! I can’t wait to come back to London where I’ll be exclusively shopping and smoking here. Thanks for the cigars, knowledge, great conversations and the wonderful drink that was...

The staff at St James's are always really friendly and happy to answer any questions you might have. Their welcoming attitude makes every visit a pleasure. I also had the chance to attend one of their tasting sessions, which was a fantastic experience. It provided a wonderful opportunity to explore a variety of new and unique products. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to expand their palate and enjoy a warm, inviting atmosphere. I have seen Amesh the last couple of times I have visited, who has always been really helpful.

I used to visit Turmeaus in Chester when I lived there, which was also a great place to visit. The CGars Malt whisky is wonderful and highly recommended. In particular, I value the no-pressure sales atmosphere, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.

An essential stop, whenever I visit London. No hesitation in...