 In the 1970s , the hotel fell into a turbulent period . Terrorist threats from the Irish Republican Army became the chief concern , and bomb scares were not uncommon . The oil crisis in the early 1970s directly affected business and prompted the Bracewell @-@ Smith family to sell their stake to Trafalgar House on 5 April 1976 for £ 2.75m. At the time of the sale , the hotel 's occupancy rate was just 45 percent ; the Ritz Grill Room had been closed and it had lost quite a bit of money in recent times . In 1984 , the Ritz brought back its weekly Sunday tea dances which were popular during the 1920s and 1930s . Because of demand , the hotel considered restricting afternoon tea at the Ritz to hotel guests only , as those staying at the Ritz were often unable to get a table . Many Londoners who would have been barred by this restriction voiced disapproval and the Ritz compromised by requiring reservations for afternoon tea at the hotel . Proper attire for tea is a must ; the Ritz once refused to admit Mick Jagger for tea because he was not wearing a jacket and tie . 
