The Gstaad Guy sits down with William Hanson, one of the worldโs leading etiquette authorities and author of Just Good Manners, to explore the role of civility and decorum in a rapidly changing world. Known for blending British tradition with contemporary wit, William reflects on a strict upbringing, the foundations of proper behaviour, and how he crafted a global online persona rooted in charm, clarity, and good sense.
The conversation dives into the nuances of British dining etiquette, navigating love and relationships with grace, and the art of managing social discourse in an age where opinions move faster than manners. William shares how etiquette is not about snobbery or rigidity, but about kindness, confidence, and the simple act of making others feel at ease. A thoughtful look at why timeless principles matter now more than ever, and how good manners can anchor us in an era of chaos and noise.
Filmed at the club at The Twenty Two in London.
Chapters:
(00:00) Intro โจ
(03:17) Philosophy about peas
(07:01) Dining etiquette dilemma ๐ฝ๏ธ๐ค
(07:48) What to do with foods you cannot swallow ๐ฌ๐ฅ
(12:33) Teaching etiquette through entertainment ๐ญ๐
(15:05) Developing an online persona ๐ค๐ป
(16:16) The Gstaad Guy online vs. offline ๐ญ๐งโโ๏ธ
(17:22) Having strict parents ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ฆ๐
(18:38) Music and calls without headphones ๐ฑ๐๐
โโ๏ธ
(21:10) The voids in dating etiquette ๐๐
(24:58) People should not play games ๐ญ ๐ซ
(27:47) The art of asking someone out ๐ ๐ฌ
(29:38) Ideal first date ๐น๐ท
(30:52) โReverse catfishโ ๐ชค๐๐
(31:13) The optimal flow for a first date ๐งญโค๏ธ
(33:40) โI donโt like nightclubsโ ๐ซ๐บ
(36:24) Should you finish everything on your plate? ๐ฝ๏ธ โ
โ
(37:48) Is refusing to toast at a formal dinner acceptable? ๐ฅโ
(39:10) Is double dipping truly a faux pas? ๐ซ ๐ซ
(41:00) Should you ever correct someoneโs table manners? ๐ฝ๏ธ โ ๏ธ
(42:24) Loud vs. soft spoken ๐ ๐คซ
(43:26) How to ask someone to lower their volume? ๐คซ ๐ฌ
(44:10) Small talk go-tos ๐ฌ โจ
(48:30) Being early ๐ โ
(51:34) The art of RSVPing โ๏ธโ๏ธ
(54:21) Is regifting ever ok? ๐ ๐โ
(57:48) Handwritten thank you notes โ๐ป ๐
(01:00:50) How to politely end conversations ๐๐ป ๐
(01:02:58) What is etiquette fundamentally about? ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ป
(01:05:23) ร La Poubelle vs. Fantastique ๐๏ธ โจ
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
