The distinctive Beadles who patrol Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade today revealed their new uniforms designed by tailor Joshua Kane.
The Beadles are known as Britain’s oldest “police force” having been first appointed in 1819 by Lord Cavendish from his regiment The Hussars to guard the 180m-long arcade, a decade before the creation of the Peelers.
The new outfits of burgundy frockcoats tailored with a shawl collar, striped waistcoats and top hats are the first overhaul for more than a decade.
Kane, left with Beadles, said it was “truly an honour” to have redesigned the famous uniforms over the past year.
He added: “My design inspiration has always stemmed from a deep appreciation of historical elements, which I meticulously tailor and reimagine to fit a contemporary context. For this project, I chose to blend a variety of British heritage fabrics, including wool and velvet, in harmonious tonal shades. A standout feature is the dandy stripe waistcoat, which adds a touch of classic elegance.”
For Head Beadle Mark Lord’s uniform Kane added the extra flourish of a “navy houndstooth waistcoat incorporating Mayfair Dandy of 1819.”
The top hats have been designed separately by Italian luxury headware brand Borsalino, which opened a UK flagship in the arcade in February.
Mauro Baglietto, MD at Borsalino said: “The Beadles’ top hats are crafted in our founding city of Alessandria in northwestern Italy from the finest felts and embellished with blue-striped, burgundy grosgrain ribbons.”
Among the duties of the Beadles are welcoming four million visitors a year to the world’s oldest luxury arcade and enforcing the rules that include a ban on whistling, running, riding a bicycle, or “behaving boisterously.”
Burlington’s owner Tulliallan Burlington has appointed Savills as the sole leasing agent on the arcade.
