Imagine you’re having a fancy dinner at The Savoy, one of London’s swankiest hotels. Everything is perfect—delicious food, great company, and a stunning setting. But then you notice an empty seat at your table of 13. Uh-oh. You remember the old superstition about 13 at a table being bad luck. What do you do? Enter Kaspar, the wooden cat at the Savoy who saves the day (and the dinner).
Kaspar’s story goes way back to 1898. A wealthy South African named Woolf Joel was hosting a dinner at The Savoy. At the last minute, someone canceled, leaving only 13 guests. Joel, superstitious but polite, decided to go ahead with the dinner. Unfortunately, he was murdered a few weeks later. This tragic event cemented the belief that dining in a group of 13 was a bad idea.
The Savoy, wanting to avoid any more bad luck (or awkward dinners), first tried having a staff member sit as the 14th guest. But let’s be real—how weird would it be to have a random waiter join your intimate dinner party? So, in 1927, an architect named Basil Ionides came up with a brilliant idea: a cat. Not just any cat, but a three-foot-tall wooden cat statue named Kaspar. Since then, Kaspar has been the go-to 14th guest, making sure no one dines alone and keeping bad vibes away.
The Cat at the Savoy is the Guest
Dining with Kaspar is a hoot. The hotel staff treat him like a real guest, complete with a napkin around his neck and sometimes even a little hat. They set a full place setting for him, making sure he “eats” alongside everyone else. It’s hard not to smile when you see this dapper, famous cat holding court at the table.
Kaspar isn’t just a quirky tradition—he’s a celebrity in his own right. He’s been featured in countless articles and even inspired a children’s book by Michael Morpurgo called Kaspar: Prince of Cats. The book spins a fun tale about Kaspar’s adventures, introducing this charming tradition to kids everywhere.
Dining with the cat at The Savoy isn’t just about avoiding bad luck. It’s about being part of a century-old story filled with elegance, history, and a dash of humor. So, if you ever find yourself at The Savoy and see Kaspar sitting with you, relax and enjoy. You’re in for a night of good fortune and great stories. After all, how many people can say they’ve dined with a legendary cat?
