Jim Gardner Burns has been a loyal doorman at The Athenaeum for 26 years. Here are some of Jim’s pearls of wisdom from his time on the job.
1st June 2019
Share Post:
From the army to The Athenaeum’s door
Jim started working in London hotels after he left the army and being a doorman is something former army personnel tend to excel at, since their training gives them immaculate posture. At 6ft 6ins too, Jim has a stately presence on The Athenaeum’s door, and is always dressed immaculately in a top hat, waistcoat and tails.
Tricks for keeping warm
Being a doorman means being outdoors whatever the weather, and once the cold creeps in, it’s difficult to get warm again. Over the years, Jim has finely honed his methods for keeping warm – and this often comes down to tracksuit trousers worn inconspicuously underneath his suit, and insulation soles in his shoes!
Make everyone feel special
One of Jim’s goals as a doorman at The Athenaeum is to make everyone feel special. He says it’s all part of the five star hotel experience and that guests deserve it. He uses mnemonics to remember guests’ names, anticipates what guests need before they know themselves, and prides himself on being an excellent listener.
Being nice goes a long way
In Jim’s most recent interview for Insider, he was asked how guests can get extra special service when staying at The Athenaeum. He said he treats everyone the same, whether they’re an A-lister celebrity or not. And he’s met a fair few celebrities at The Athenaeum in his time, from Samuel L. Jackson, Steven Spielberg and Natalie Portman, to Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman and even the former British Prime Minister, Lady Margaret Thatcher. However, Jim’s simple advice is to be nice to people. “They will then want to be of service to you, rather than just be of service. It’s human nature.”
We think Jim is a London legend!
More in Lifestyle
The UK’s Top Gourmet-Casual Tasting Menus For Vegans
Did you know that London was crowned the most vegan-friendly city for a fourth year in a row? Just in time and fitting for Veganuary as people try to opt for healthier food choices. Here we take a look the top restaurants and hotels in the UK offering fully vegan tasting menus with course prices lower than £12.
Taxis are always there when we need them but there are many other green ways of travelling around London. When walking gets too tiring, choose one, or several, of these alternative methods of getting around the city this winter.
Exciting exhibitions? Tick. West End wonderment? Tick. Foodie feasts? Tick. Located in the heart of Mayfair, The Athenaeum promises the perfect base for you and your loved ones to get your culture fix whilst re-discovering the capital this Christmas.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.