Our Black Cab Tour was a birthday present for a keen photographer, so the request was for Secret London with Photography in mind. We were informed the cab would be white with a panoramic roof (bonus), so we waited outside St Pancras Renaissance scanning Euston Road for a white cab that didn't arrive. It transpired that a cab waiting on the ramp was the replacement for the white cab that had technical issues. A text or email informing of the change would have been very basic Administration. Unfortunately Black Cab compounded the matter when it became clear that the driver had not been informed of the brief. He apologised graciously and said that, had he been informed he could have researched a route more appropriate to us.
The driver, on the other hand, gets 11 out of 10 all day long. Polite, friendly, genial and unfailingly helpful. His efforts very much pulled the Black Cab irons out of the fire. Despite being put in a position of having to plot the tour "on the fly" we had a most enjoyable time. Though I cannot help thinking that, had he been properly informed, it may have been even better.
With Cabbies, an encyclopaedic knowledge of London is a given, however we were all most impressed with the in depth historic knowledge that came with it. Most impressive.
I feel that Black Cab should review their Management / Administration procedures to address situations such as ours. Changes needed are very simple and basic but could pay huge dividends.
We ended our tour at Camino's, Varnisher's Yard, Kings Cross. WELL worth a visit.