Our Story | Bespoke Tailor & Shirtmaker in the Cotswolds | Barrington Ayre
Cirencester, The Cotswolds — Est. 2010
Our Story
How Barrington Ayre became the Cotswolds’ most trusted bespoke tailor
The beginning
A different kind of tailor
My name is Tom Wharton, and I’ve loved clothes for as long as I can remember — not just wearing them, but the craft behind them. The way a perfectly cut jacket can change how you carry yourself. The satisfaction of putting on a shirt made exactly to your proportions. The quiet confidence that comes from wearing something truly made for you.
What I didn’t love was the experience of getting there.
I believed there had to be a better way to access world-class British craftsmanship without the stuffiness. So in 2010, I founded Barrington Ayre Shirtmaker & Tailor in my home town of Cirencester, right in the heart of the Cotswolds — and set about doing things differently.
The showroom
A showroom like no other
Our Cirencester showroom, situated in the historic Market Place, is designed to feel nothing like a traditional tailor’s shop. From the moment you walk in, you’ll find a handmade blue Chesterfield sofa, hundreds of fabric samples to explore at your own pace, tea, coffee, wine, beer — and yes, a gin and whisky bar for those who fancy something stronger. There’s even a large TV for when the sport is on.
And more often than not, you’ll be greeted at the door by Monty, our much-loved showroom dog, who has appointed himself Head of First Impressions and takes his role very seriously. He’s been known to win over even the most hesitant of visitors — and we’re fairly certain he’s responsible for at least a few repeat bookings.
This is all deliberate. Because at Barrington Ayre, we believe the experience of commissioning your clothing is part of the joy of owning it. We want you to feel relaxed, take your time, and genuinely enjoy the process — whether it’s your first bespoke shirt or your tenth suit.
The craft
Made for you. Classic British Tailoring.
Every garment we make is cut and crafted to your individual measurements, your posture, your lifestyle, and your taste. We work with an exceptional range of British and European fabrics — over 3,000 tweeds alone — alongside fine cottons, linens, flannels and cashmeres.
With a Savile Row-trained tailor in house, every piece that leaves our Cirencester workroom is held to the very highest standard of British craftsmanship.
Bespoke suits & jackets
Cut to your exact measurements, refined through fittings
Bespoke shirts
Full control over cloth, collar, cuffs, fit and finish
Wedding tailoring
Suits, waistcoats and formal wear for your special day
Visiting tailor
London, Devon, Wales, the North West and beyond
Why we wear what we wear
A passion for the history of tailoring
Great tailoring doesn’t exist in a vacuum. At Barrington Ayre, we’ve always been fascinated by the story behind the clothes — why certain garments came to be, how they evolved, and what they tell us about the people who wore them. The tweed jacket born from the Scottish moors. The suit shaped by centuries of military dress. The shirt collar that changed with every decade of social history.
Understanding where clothing comes from informs every garment we make today. It’s why we take fabric, cut and construction so seriously — because we know the tradition we’re part of, and the responsibility that comes with it.
17th–18th Century
The birth of the suit
The three-piece suit emerged from the English court, setting the template for menswear that endures to this day.
19th Century
Savile Row rises
London’s golden mile of tailoring became the global benchmark for bespoke craftsmanship and sartorial excellence.
20th Century
Cloth meets culture
From Edwardian country tweeds to post-war elegance, clothing became a mirror of social change and personal identity.
Today
Bespoke for everyone
Barrington Ayre carries that tradition forward — making world-class tailoring approachable, personal and built to last.
Follow our journey
Join us on Instagram
Our passion for the history of tailoring doesn’t stay in the showroom. On Instagram, we share reels that explore the fascinating story of why we wear what we wear — from the origins of the tweed jacket and the evolution of the bespoke suit, to the cultural moments that changed how the world dressed forever.
@barringtonayre
From behind-the-scenes glimpses of garments being cut and crafted in our Cirencester workroom, to deep dives into sartorial history that have attracted hundreds of thousands of views — our Instagram reels have built a genuinely passionate community of people who love clothing as much as we do. If you’ve ever wondered why a jacket has a ticket pocket, what made the Edwardian frock coat fall from favour, or how British country dressing came to define a global aesthetic, you’ll find the answers on our feed.
Follow us on Instagram →Not just the Cotswolds
Barrington Ayre, across the UK
While our home is Cirencester, Barrington Ayre tailoring is worn across the UK and beyond. We offer a full visiting tailor service, with regular appointments in London, Devon, Wales, Macclesfield and the Alderley Edge area — bringing the same personal, unhurried experience to you wherever you are.
Our clients include international cricketers, broadcasters and country sports enthusiasts — but the majority are simply people who have decided, once and for all, that they want clothes that actually fit.
Dress well. Live brave.