About Us

The English Manner is a unique British-based company with associate offices in Toronto and New York. Established in 2001 and incorporating over 80 years of experience in protocol and etiquette, we have worked with the leading hotel in the Middle East, the Ritz-Carlton in Washington DC, the Four Seasons Hotel group and Orient Express hotels to name a few of our corporate clients, putting together comprehensive assessment, training and mentoring programmes for management and staff.

Noted for our attention to detail, our private clients are spread across the age range, from young children learning social skills for the first time to relocating and aspiring business executives, company Chairmen who wish to brush up on much used but perhaps tired social skills, and international families who are setting up homes and households in unfamiliar territory, weighed down by the perception of foreign protocol and do's and don'ts.

Alexandra Messervy, the founder of The English Manner, began her career in the Royal Household of Her Majesty The Queen and our tutors are drawn from the very finest in their field. With many years' experience in the luxury hospitality market, we are able to advise and consult with staff planning, operation practices and personalised training. We also offer premium search and recruiting services within the luxury hotel and residential markets.

The English Manner works with clients to reinforce ancient traditions of manners with modern practices, to create standards of excellence which are second to none, beyond comparison with any rival, which exceed any expectation, and which set the standard to which others can only aspire.

Biographies

Alexandra Messervy, FRSA

Previously a consultant to the world famous finishing school, Lucie Clayton, Alexandra brings over 25 years experience in etiquette, protocol and event planning and began her career in the Royal Household of Her Majesty The Queen. Alexandra enhanced her entertaining and social skills development knowledge working latterly for other members of the Royal Family and on several well known charitable committees before founding The English Manner in 2001. During her career, she has regularly consulted with VIP residential households and hospitality clients in the areas of staffing, training, planning and management and is recognised for her attention to detail and exceptionally high standards. She has contributed to several books and television programmes and is the etiquette columnist for the US 'I Do for Brides' magazine.

Alexandra was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2004 in recognition of her contribution to education.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn.

John Robertson

John joined forces with The English Manner in 2005 and has over ten years' experience developing and presenting business etiquette seminars. Combining a business education with professional household management certification, John delivers essential skills training along with his key message of business etiquette and protocol. Across the world from California to Dubai, John has taught service skills in five and seven star hotels and exclusive clubs, in private homes and aboard luxury yachts. Management consulting firms employ John's skills to groom candidates seeking career change as well as improving their own consultants' business etiquette skills.

John received his formal protocol and etiquette training from The Protocol School of Washington and holds relevant university degrees. He has appeared as an etiquette expert on television and various publications have featured John's columns on trends and issues of etiquette.

William Hanson

William joined The English Manner in 2008 as a tutor with a special interest in young people's and executive etiquette and has gained much experience in teaching for schools, international organisations and businesses. He has worked with renowned chocolatier Elizabeth Shaw, Fox's biscuits, international low-cost telephone operator easyMobile. Trained in voice at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, William divides his time between Manchester, Bristol and London and contributes to various newspapers, magazines, television programmes, and is a regular voice on BBC Radio.

Connect with William on LinkedIn.

Sir Alexander Muir-Mackenzie, Bt

Alexander is highly experienced in teaching English as a foreign language. He has consulted for and taught at several leading international language schools and specialises in this area for The English Manner with all aspects of communication etiquette.

Jason Tesauro

Marketing director for the acclaimed Barboursville vineyards in Virginia, USA. Jason has contributed to many media articles and television programmes, and is a columnist for 'Men's Health' magazine. He is contributing writer to Maxim, The Washingtonian and Virginia Living.

Reena Scrowston

Reena brings over 40 years' experience in household management and childcare development. Having managed and run private households of note for many years, she conducts skills training which is second to none and is noted for her exacting standards in all aspects of household and childcare, with particular emphasis on traditional housekeeping and nanny skills, perceived by many to be 'old-fashioned' but without doubt the backbone of the finest methods.

Louisa Miles

Louisa has 18 years' experience running a highly sucessful design consultancy, specialising in interior and exhibition design. She joined forces with The English Manner at the start of 2010 as Motivational Mentor. With a foundation degree in garden and landscape design, Louisa has several blue chip clients who have all benefited from her unique abilities. Throughout her career, Lousia realised that you must deal with the person as a whole and in doing so release their potential. Lousia has now taken a more holistic course and has studied complimentary qualifications in coaching and Reike.

Connect with Louisa on LinkedIn.

The English Manner tutors are drawn from the finest in their fields. We work with only the best - from 'English as a Foreign Language' and world-leading hospitality etiquette tutors for corporate and private individuals and households to Royal vintners; the best florists; cordon-bleu trained cooks and award winning garden designers. Only the best will do.

For a full list of media in which The English Manner and its tutors have appeared, please click here.

What People Say About Us

"Thank you so much for reminding us in such a stylish way that good manners and etiquette will never be out of fashion and that taking some care about the way we look, dress, sit, talk, and behave is a always a good start to make a nice impression. Your seminar at was a true lesson of 'savoir vivre'."
SDA Bocconi Business School, Milan

"An interesting and accessible seminar; our students have been keen to put their new skills into action and staff and students have been inspired to learn more about etiquette as a result of the topics covered. Those who benefitted from the course say they are more confident about interviews and about the different social situations they will be facing when they get to university." New Hall School, Chelmsford

"I wanted to write and thank you for putting on such a great program at the Willard. Our group very much enjoyed it and learned a lot. Thank you for your careful attention to the menu and for walking the group through each course. Now that we have a successful session under our belts, I look forward to working with you to conduct the same program for our younger associates and perhaps developing a more sophisticated version for our partners as we discussed. Thanks again for a great program." Senior Partner, Washington D.C. law firm

"The tour was excellent - everything worked well and our friends very much enjoyed it". Garden Tour organiser, Pittsburgh, 2008

"Thank you so much for such a wonderful Garden Tour. I loved every garden and the wonderful people we met. I hope to see you again on another wonderful trip...".

"Thank you so much for a delicious dinner party and excellent service. I am so glad we discovered The English Manner."

"You will be pleased to know that my evening went splendidly! I did my bit of glorious networking and sailed through, just as you predicted that I would. I am also happy to report that my manners were much better than many of those present (sorry to boast!)"

"Thank you so much for making my big day so special. Everyone thought it was fantastic - it all seemed to work like clockwork. A great job and a wonderful wedding" Private Clients