Restaurants bring back dress code for credit-crunch dining

The dress code could be making a return to the capital's top dining rooms.

Two restaurants opening this month, including the latest outpost of the Gordon Ramsay empire, are banning casual clothing such as jeans, sportswear and flip-flops.

Industry experts say the move marks a trend for formal dining as eating out becomes more of a "special occasion" during the economic downturn.

The Buddha Bar, which opens today in Waterloo, will ban flip-flops and trainers, just as it does at its Paris branch.

Murano, the Mayfair restaurant run by Ramsay's protégée Angela Hartnett, will open on 21 August with this dress code: smart, with jackets preferred for gentlemen. Jeans, T-shirts or sportswear not accepted. "The dress code is also applicable for Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's," said a spokeswoman.

The move is an apparent U-turn by Ramsay, who scrapped the jacket-and-tie dress code when he relaunched the Savoy Grill in 2003. Last year, the Good Food Guide sparked a debate on dining attire when it dropped all references to dress codes, saying the number of restaurants with one had plunged.

Richard Harden, co-editor of the Harden's restaurant guides, said the credit crunch could herald a return to formality. He said: "Until recently the only two places with a cast-iron dress code were the Ritz and Le Gavroche. Most restaurants assume people will dress appropriately - and more often than not they do. But with the fear of a recession looming I suspect Ramsay is ahead of the zeitgeist. With dining out set to be more of a special occasion perhaps we are seeing a return of the formal dress code.

"With the Buddha Bar, you can sort of understand the no flip-flops rule. The concept is a beautiful lounge atmosphere, which earned its reputation in Paris."

WHAT TO WEAR AND WHERE TO WEAR IT

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon WC2 - No dress code

Murano W1 - No trainers, no jeans and no sportswear

Gaucho W1 - No dress code

Asia de Cuba WC2 - No dress code

Suka W1 No dress code

Buddha Bar WC2 - No flip-flops and no trainers

Aaya W1 No dress code

The Fat Duck, Bray - No dress code. "We prefer our diners to be comfortable and in a relaxed atmosphere"

Zuma SW7 - No dress code

Roka W1 - No dress code

Pied à Terre - No dress code

Theo Randall at The Intercontinental W1 - No dress code

The Wolseley W1 - No dress code

Le Gavroche W1 - "Smart casual, although a jacket is required"

Pétrus SW1 - Smart. No jeans, no trainers. Shirt with a collar required, jacket preferred

Claridge's W1 - Smart. No jeans, no trainers. Shirt and jacket preferred, tie optional

The Ivy WC2 - No dress code

Le Caprice SW1 - "Not scruffy"

The Ritz W1 - Gentlemen at the Ritz restaurant, Palm Court and Rivoli bar are requested to wear a jacket. Blue jeans and trainers are prohibited

Annabel's W1 - No jeans or trainers. Tie not required but a jacket and standard shirt collar are

San Lorenzo SW3 - Smart casual. No trainers, jeans acceptable

Nobu W1 - No dress code