Robert Lancaster-Gaye Founder and Sleep Panel Expert
Robert Lancaster-Gaye is the founder of luxury linen company, Tradelinens. The first linen company to join the BCI, the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. Since cutting his teeth in the linen trade over 50 years ago, Robert has become the go-to expert in pairing luxury hotels with the bedding, bed and bath linen and tableware guests love. Here Robert shares his bedroom secrets and tells us why he’s known as the man that’s made a million beds.
How did you become known as the man that’s made a million beds?
Being in the business for over 50 years means I’ve helped dress a lot of beds! My colleagues came up with a million after averaging out the number of clients I’d served over the years. Of course, the quality of that bedding has continuously improved over time. The very first hotel I sold to was a luxury 70s five-star hotel in the Midlands. At the time we sold the highest specification 120 thread count linen. How things have moved on!
What do you remember about your early days in the industry?
The first company I worked for was a family-run textile wholesaler that had been around for about a hundred years. As a management trainee I did every job in the company, from hand-sewing hessian bags and packing to van driving and working in accounts. It was very much a case of learning on the job. At the time there were no cardboard boxes, mobile phones, calculators, internet – none of that had been invented, yet we still managed to import and sell textiles around the world! Crucially, it was here as a trainee that I learned the importance of sticking to my values. My boss taught me to know my own mind and not to accept anything that wasn’t correct. I’d say it’s one of the reasons we have the reputation we have today. People know we try very hard to get everything right.
Where is the craziest place you’ve slept?
One of the most unusual places I’ve slept is the floor of a Cross Channel ferry following a ski trip. I was woozy on travel sickness pills and fell asleep on the metal floor on top of a pile of skis. I woke aching and with ski marks running across my face.
What hotel, B&B or luxury retreat would you most like to revisit and why?
I’ve stayed in a lot of fabulous 5-star hotels, but the ones that stick in my memory are the Firmdale Hotels – I've slept in all of the London ones. Every Firmdale has its own character that oozes style and ambience and bundles of homely charm. The Pig Hotels are also a firm favourite, again because of the way they make you feel. When you’re sleeping in one of The Pigs, you’re cocooned in this wonderful nurturing environment that engenders a feeling of wellbeing. You leave feeling totally restored.
Where have you had the best night’s sleep?
It’d probably be Pine Cliffs in The Algarve, which I visited several years ago. It’s situated on a very steep cliff with lush grounds, a private beach and breathtaking views of the Algarvian coast. It reminds me that you don’t have to go to Barbados for a taste of paradise!
Tell us about your own bedroom?
Although I’m 6’ 2” and super king size beds offer more space, I prefer to sleep in a standard five-foot bed somewhere close to my wife! A super king size bed puts four feet of bed between you. My preference for bedding is a down pillow and duvet and soft and silky sheets in pure white, however, I am constantly ‘product testing’ the entire Tielle range for luxury, quality and comfort. I’ll even try a winter weight duvet in summer and vice-versa, just to be sure they’re delivering. I have a simple wooden headboard that suits me perfectly for a bit of bedtime reading, and wash my bedlinen every one to two weeks.
What gets you up in the morning?
I’m a lark and wake up somewhere between 5-6am after 6-7 hours sleep. It doesn’t take much to get me moving but the pale yellow bedroom walls certainly help. I chose the shade because I’m a morning person and as dawn comes up the walls just get warmer and warmer. The colour also goes beautifully with our white, duck egg and cool grey linen range.
What helps you sleep at night?
I can sleep anywhere – train, plane or car, so I’ve no problem at all napping or drifting off to sleep at home. I’ll always manage to catch a few pages of the book I’m reading though before I nod off. I’m currently reading Michael Connelly’s latest book whose writing style I love. Few authors write dialogue as well as him.
How do you help overnight guests feel welcome in your home?
Because I believe in the importance of a good night’s sleep, I always make sure my guests have a great bed to sleep in, and I’m always complemented on the linen! A long time ago, I stayed over at some friends who lived in a one-bedroom flat. They didn’t have a sofa bed so they made a bed out of a pile of books three books high, five foot wide and ten foot long and a flimsy duvet. Needless to say, I slept terribly! Although no-one's thankfully offered me a bed of books since, I do find the guest sleep experience is often overlooked.
What luxury item would you take on a desert island?
Getting a good night's sleep would help me wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day’s challenges so I'd choose the whole bed cocoon – a comfy bed, fresh white cotton bedlinen, and a good quality down duvet and pillows. If there's space I’d take a feather and down topper. Fluff them up regularly and they’ll give your bed a very luxurious feel.