Henry Poole & Co has the longest Savile Row history of any firm on our list. James Poole arrived in London from Shropshire in 1806 and made military tunics during the Napoleonic Wars. His son Henry opened the main entrance on Savile Row in 1846, and by 1914 the firm employed 14 cutters and more than 300 tailors, making over 38,000 garments a year.
Its best-known contribution came in 1865, when the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, asked for a short coat for informal dinners at Sandringham. The firm's archives record it as the first dinner suit, and the founders of the Tuxedo Club in New York were Poole customers in the 1860s. Napoleon III granted its first Royal Warrant in 1858 and Queen Victoria followed in 1869. The firm still makes livery for the Royal Mews and court dress for high sheriffs.
The cut is the most moderate of the historic firms here: structured and clearly English, with a light shoulder pad, a little drape in the chest and a shaped waist. That makes it a sound choice for a dinner suit, a dark business suit or a first commission for someone who wants a conventional line. A two-piece suit costs about $8,600 (2025 figure).
The firm moved to 15 Savile Row in 1982 and has been run by the Cundey family since 1876. Simon Cundey, managing director since 2012, is the seventh generation, and the 220th anniversary in 2026 has brought a new house fabric and anniversary trunk shows in the United States. The shop opens on weekdays only.
TailorGuide score
Each test is scored out of 10 and weighted. Scores set the order within London; they are not compared across cities.
- CutCut and construction35%
- 10/10
- FitFit and fittings30%
- 9/10
- ReputationReputation over time20%
- 10/10
- ServiceService15%
- 8/10
- Founded
- 1806
- House style
- Moderate, structured English cut
- Best for
- Dinner suits and classic English tailoring
- What they make
- Bespoke suits, jackets, evening wear, court dress, livery, shirts
- Two-piece bespoke suit
- From $8,600 · 2025 figure; the firm does not publish prices
Prices are approximate and change with the fabric and customizations you choose. Confirm the price and the number of fittings before you order.
History
- 1806James Poole arrives in London and sets up as a draper, later turning to military tailoring
- 1846Henry Poole inherits the business and opens its main entrance on Savile Row
- 1865Makes a short evening coat for the Prince of Wales, recorded as the first dinner suit
- 1876Control passes to Henry Poole's cousin Samuel Cundey
- 1982Opens at 15 Savile Row
- 2026Marks its 220th anniversary
Clients named in published sources include Edward VII (as Prince of Wales), Napoleon III, Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, Emperor Hirohito, Charles de Gaulle, Buffalo Bill Cody, Haile Selassie, Jean Cocteau, J. P. Morgan and David Gandy.
Questions
How much is a Henry Poole bespoke suit?
The firm does not publish prices. Luxury London put a two-piece suit at $8,600 in 2025.
Did Henry Poole invent the dinner jacket?
The firm's archives record a short evening coat made for the Prince of Wales in 1865 as the earliest dinner suit. The founders of the Tuxedo Club in New York were Poole customers in the 1860s; the firm treats the popular story of James Brown Potter as apocryphal.
Who owns Henry Poole & Co?
The Cundey family, who took control in 1876 when Henry Poole died and the business passed to his cousin Samuel Cundey. Simon Cundey, the seventh generation, has been managing director since 2012.
How many fittings does a Henry Poole suit need?
The firm describes three: a baste fitting, a second fitting and a final fitting. Luxury London reported in 2025 that a suit usually takes up to 12 weeks.
When is Henry Poole open?
The shop at 15 Savile Row is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.15pm. Book ahead for a first appointment.
By TailorGuide · Updated April 2026
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