I’M FILLED with pride. Having returned from visiting the very best hotels and restaurants in Europe, I’m beaming at how well we compete.

As exceptional a property as The Ritz London is, it is far grander than any hotel here but not necessarily better when compared with The Mount Nelson Hotel which, let’s face it, is our nearest equivalent. Both hotels are world famous for Afternoon Tea but The Mount Nelson’s is better. The St Regis Grand in Rome is the best, but that is another story. Afternoon tea at The Nellie is R135 while The Ritz London’s is about R500.