So popular is the club that it was forced to close its membership list before even opening its doors! So your four-legged friend can laze in front of the open fire while you enjoy all the spoils of the dinner menu. They also come to enjoy concerts, talks, quizzes and films. But it is also a stimulating place, with many interesting events and activities, taking me down avenues I would not have thought of by myself., Broadcaster Naturalist, geologist, biologist The Club is a wonderful place to meet friends for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, with good food and a relaxing atmosphere. They share in having contributed significantly to society through their involvement in their chosen sphere. Members come to exchange ideas, to read or research, to listen to talks by leading experts in their field or to meet friends or colleagues over lunch or dinner. In a bid to attract younger members, there's also an under-35 membership option (1,750 per year plus a 500 joining fee) and an under-27 membership option (1,250 plus a 250 joining fee). Great for: Sealing a massive city deal, celebrating a bonus, that kind of thing All rights reserved. Finally! The Athenaeum is a private members' club in London. . St James's Palace. Key membership benefits:Networking, exclusive events, weekend entertainment, priority tickets to in-house events including the Cinema Club and access to Richmonds first members club, Ease Of Entry:Membership applications online. Three years later he began work as chief engineer on the Great Western Railway one of his many revolutionary engineering feats, which also included the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the worlds largest steamship. Meanwhile, Beaufort House remains open-to-business to non-members. Elected to the Club in 1937, Noel Coward was already one of the country's most celebrated playwrights, having penned hit comedies like Hay Fever, Blithe Spirit and Private Lives. A lifetime membership is priced at 15,000 ($19,540). At night, exit via number 21, the Vestibule Bar, like any other drunken member. Top ways to experience nearby attractions 'The Athenaeum has become a valued part of my life. A portrait of the Irish poet, who was a Professor at both Oxford and Harvard Universities, hangs in the Clubhouse. It was one of 20 novels he wrote, many of which centred on a clash of cultures between America and Europe. Key membership benefits: The cellar, theyve got over 5,000 bottles on the club list A gilded statue of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, looks out from a front balcony as the Clubs tutelary spirit and guide. Home to yoga and boxing classes, Russian saunas, a plunge pool and Reformer Pilates, the private members club is essentially a masterclass in the art of the detox. Robert Peel was elected at the first meeting of the Club on February 16 1824 when he was the UKs Home Secretary. Website: www.eightclub.co.uk, Great for: Oenophiles Information on membership can be found online here. But where Shoreditch House reaches dizzying heights is the top-floor restaurant and the rooftop pool with iconic views across London. The Chelsea Arts Club has a rustic and bohemian charm. Key membership benefits: An escape from your mindlessly dull but well paying job. Nowhere does a private members club quite like London. Launched in 2001, The Century Club sits behind a discrete front door on Shaftesbury Avenue. Coffee and light snacks are served in the Drawing Room and in several other rooms; lunches and dinners are served in the Coffee Room, and drinks can be obtained at the bar. Elected to the Club in 1937, Noel Coward was already one of the country's most celebrated playwrights, having penned hit comedies like Hay Fever, Blithe Spirit and Private Lives. The club is home to London's creative elite, with a number of celebrity members, and is renowned for its contemporary art collection. Somehow tucked discreetly away behind Shaftesbury Avenue, one hundred steps take you up to the aptly named Century Club, spread across five floors of members areas. Where: 40 Jermyn St, St. Jamess, London SW1Y 6DN To add to all of this, the staff are unfailingly helpful. ", It's a place to "create, work, and unwind in equal measure.". Read more: The 10 most expensive cities to live in around the world in 2019. There is a one-off joining fee of 250 ($326) and an annual membership costs 525 ($684), while a dual or couple membership costs 750 ($977). The property is a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star, secluded retreat located adjacent to the city's iconic Memorial Park, and minutes from downtown, the Galleria, and Energy Corridor. MEMBERSHIP COST: This is Tramps best kept secret youll need to enquire to find out. There is, however, a rule book for members. The Grade II-listed building overlooks the length of London's exclusive Berkeley Square. Use of mobile phones and laptops in the main rooms is often banned. Key membership benefits: Entry toLondons cosiest club Website: www.chelseaartsclub.com. EASE OF ENTRY:POTENTIALMEMBERS MUST APPLY OR BE PROPOSED BY AN EXISTING MEMBER AND CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE. Thats not to say, however, that The South Kensington Club doesnt offer splendour quite the opposite but the clubs pleasures are health-oriented, seeking wellness and relaxation. Available for both RF and RM licensing. The phoenix that has risen from not-quite the ashes is part hotel and part exclusive club. Pall Mall, London | The Athenaeum is a private members' club in London. 51.5068 . Membership cost: 250 joining fee and 525 per year, Great for: The health conscious This is a posh place, though the website states: "Ladies should be elegantly dressed and gentlemen are required to wear a jacket at all times," and provides a list of banned clothing, including leggings and untucked or unbuttoned shirts. Established in 1891, the club boasts over a century of artistic credentials and somehow its bohemian as ever. It is located in the former BBC London headquarters in West London. Membership requirements: A member of one of the Birley Club members' clubs (which include Harry's Bar and Mark's Club) must recommend new members. With multiple restaurants, bars and of course, its infamous night club, Annabels re-entered a busy members club market with an impressive offering. Membership cost: 950 joining fee and 3,900 per year. Who goes here: The cool, East London crowd (basically,millennials) The discreet entrance has seen the comings and goings of everyone from Frank Sinatra and the Beatles, a multitude of rock gods and goddesses, the worlds royalty, Hollywoods major players and the highest echelons of international business and society. Website: www.sloaneclub.co.uk. Membership cost: 1,400 annual membership, plus a fee to be on the waiting list (if it opens again), Great for: Smart-setArtists The wood panelled drawing room features a pianist and bar while upstairs the minimalist loft feels like a spaceship or laboratory. The original members of this new kind of non-partisan club, with its close connections to the learned societies, were nominated and elected because of their achievements rather than their background, family connections, professional or political affiliations. Dickens was 26 when elected to the Club on 21 June 1838. Member? the one-time Lord Chancellor replied, do you mean this is a club, as well?". A butchers daughter from Moss Side, I became a member in 2005 after a career in education and the civil service. Enter your password to log in. Home House has a policy of not asking members to leave their friends name at the door. 'Being a member of The Athenaeum is a real honour. It claims to have an atmosphere of "quintessential English charm," with a "relaxed sophistication" in the day that becomes "electric" as dusk falls. The first-floor restaurant, with its lofty ceilings and panoramic balcony for summer al fresco dining, is the focal point of the house. Prospective members can apply through a website form. Where are we going? There is also a host of engaging events available for members, from comedy club, cocktail masterclasses, wine tastings, supper clubs and wellbeing classes. The Chelsea Arts Club says it has a waiting list for new applicants, who have to be sponsored by two existing members whom they have known for at least two years. The proposal form can be downloaded here. All male clubs may be the work of the devil, but all female private members clubs are progressive as hell. Below three storeys of Art Deco-inspired rooms and suites, sits a beautiful, airy club thats a breath of fresh air to the private members club scene. Wave more friends in as if you belong there. 258.00. Those interested can fill out an application form online. Candidates require a proposer and seconder from within the club's existing membership. Formerly Rolling Stone Ronnie Woods socialite-heavy Harrington Club, The South Kensington Club has gone a very different direction now. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. Sat Nav Reference. "We want members that have something in common: namely, a creative soul.". The club offers members an opulent space to relax and conduct business. Author, Journalist, Editor They also come to enjoy concerts, talks, quizzes and films. Must be proposed and seconded by members and face a discerningmembership committee Who goes here: Restauranteurs, arts and culture types and creatives Membership is now around 2,000 and includes those from the upper reaches of politics, the church, arts and literature. These upper-crust citadels have become Londons number one blue-blood obsession. Below, another gallery showcases a selection of our most celebrated members of the past. Founded over 220 years ago by the movers and shakers of the time, The Athenaeum has been a centre of Influence within the city since its inception. Martin Brudnizki, the ubiquitous interior designer whose work can be seen in some of Londons most exclusive spots, has created a playground perfect for the rich and famous. Key membership benefits: What about tequila in the loos couldnt you like? Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Membership discounts apply for under 35s, under 30s, and "wine professionals.". As it's outside of central London, it's surrounded by luscious green manicured lawns, offering the perfect spot for an afternoon game of petanque, bowls, or croquet. The Club is particularly keen to encourage nominations of individuals from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds and disciplines as well as younger members who demonstrate potential for future attainment. Improve this listing All photos (25) Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more. Sinceopening in 2012, the clubs already achieved legendary status, and is a firm favourite of blue-bloods and A-listers alike. It resembles a country estate. Charles Darwin was elected to the Club in 1838 two years after his return from the HMS Beagle expedition that inspired his theory of evolution through natural selection. From worldly icons, to fashion trendsetters, city folk and luxury connoisseurs The club boasts private meeting and dining rooms and 23 luxury serviced offices, in addition to the main restaurant and brasserie. The club counts painters, sculptors, architects, poets, photographers, filmmakers, writers, actors, and musicians among its members, and their works are exhibited at the club year-round. Also, arrive coatless leave your coat at the Ritz cloakroom nearby and enter as if youve just been out for a fag. Key membership benefits: Members events and private dining Membership cost: 2,000 joining fee, 2,500 annual membership, Where: 40 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S 4NP Home Grown aims to "combine allthe luxuries of a members club with unrivalled networking opportunities" through events and a brasserie-style restaurant, study caf, bars, business lounges, meeting rooms, pitching suites, and 35 bedrooms. With gentlemen not allowed entry until the 1960s, The Sloane Club was ahead of its time in honouring spaces for empowered women. For under 30s, country members and those overseas the joining fee is reduced to 100 ($130). There is plenty of headed paper to write letters on. 'If you like being surrounded by clever people who bring both joy and curiosity to every conversation, and who will surprise you with the things theyve seen and done, this is the place for you. 'A haven of enjoyment, companionship, events, debate and, at times, inspiration. Great For:Offering exciting events, and a social haven away from Richmonds bustling High Street The original members of this new kind of non-partisan club, with its close connections to the learned societies, were nominated and elected because of their achievements rather than their background, family connections, professional or political affiliations. Medical consultant Often described as the founder of modern Conservatism, he went on to serve as Prime Minister twice. Debates over admittance for women are pretty much the only time you will see these clubs talked about in the press, with politicians and celebrities joining in the fray. It has a fascinating list of past and present subscribers, including members of the royal family. Opening its doors at 40 Jermyn Street in December 1969, Tramp has been one of the most exclusive private members clubs in London ever since, outlasting many of the popular haunts of the past. Applications are to be made to membership secretary Stephen Howard. As its name would suggest, The Arts Club attracts people connected to or passionate about art, architecture, fashion, film, literature, music, performance, photography, science, theatre, and TV/media. Membership cost: 875 per year. Open All Hours: 16 London Late-Night Bars. Athenaeum Club. Where: 79-81 Borough Road, Southwark, SE1 1DN Morton's head chef, Dario Avenca, has devised a Mediterranean-inspired menu and the club claims to boast the largest wine list above any of its competitors. A Hall Porter is on duty 24 hours a day for assistance, except at Easter and over the Christmas and New Year period when the Club is closed. We've rounded up a selection of London's most exclusive private members' clubs, which cost between 150 ($195) to over 6,000 ($7,816) for an annual membership. But it is also a stimulating place, with many interesting events and activities, taking me down avenues I would not have thought of by myself., Broadcaster Good luck getting behind its Grade I listed. every potential applicant is put forward to the membership committee. The private members club is home to mainly creative types drawn from the media. Like the Club's first Secretary Michael Faraday, he was a great experimentalist who received the Nobel Prize for chemistry for his "investigation into the disintegration of the elements and the chemistry of the radio-active substances". Each email has a link to unsubscribe. It started admitting women members in 1981. The Athenaeum Club - Contact The Athenaeum Contact The Athenaeum, 107 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5ER. Key membership benefits: Annual calendar of exhibitions, talks and events It was one of 20 novels he wrote, many of which centred on a clash of cultures between America and Europe. Considered one of the great violinists of the 20th century, Yehudi Menuhin joined the Club in 1969. Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall - Eminence in, or patronage of, science, literature, or any branch of the fine arts, are the qualifications for membership of this club. Great for: Enjoying the art collection Website: www.thegrouchoclub.com, Great for:Celebrity spotting and enjoying art The application process involves submitting your membership enquiry online here. This resulted in a rhyme: I'm John Wilson Croker, I do as I please; Instead of an Ice House I give you - a frieze! The team behind Home House will open Home Grown, a new club for "high-growth entrepreneurs," on April 3, 2019. Londons oldest private members club is also one its most exclusive. You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. The Athenaeum is a membership club that first opened its doors on the campus of the California Institute of Technology in . Poet, Playwright and Critic Mortimer House, a majestic six-storey art deco building in Fitzrovia, claims to have been "born of a desire to fulfil the need for synergy in our personal and professional lives. comedy club, and themed experiential dining events, to the relaunch of Londons original nightclub restaurant, and partnerships with some of Londons most exciting brands. Annabels is legendary on the London club scene. Associate Member 2: Per Visit Fee (must reside more than 60 miles from The Athenaeum to qualify) Other (please specify) . I also use it as a place to meet and interact with work colleagues, to study and somewhere I can retreat to. Candidates can register their interest online. Launched in the 80s, the club takes its name from Groucho Marx, who famously exclaimed that he wouldnt be a member of any club that would accept him as a member. Part of the Soho House empire, unusually membership to this private members club doesnt automatically give you access elsewhere, as The Ned stands apart from the rest of the Soho House structure. I am the current Chairman of the General Committee. Discussion of business matters is outlawed entirely in some, others allow business-talk but no closure of deals. In 2013, she wrote: "Becoming a member of the Athenaeum was a highlight in my life because it indicated to me that I had been accepted and was now fully British.. Housed in a converted East London warehouse (where else? Find the perfect corner of waterloo place stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. But theres no point in being a member of just one club you want to be admitted to all of them. These rates are reduced to 700 ($912) and 925 ($1,205) respectively for under 27s, for whom the registration fee is also lower at 200 ($261). Being a member of the Athenaeum allows me to continue to learn and debate ideas, to be able to explore the design fascination I have for the Regency world and its continued influence on contemporary art and design that still surrounds the club today. ", The club promises members can expect a restaurant with a menu developed by Michelin starred chef Tom Sellers, "show-stopping dcor," and "an ultra-sleek Gatsby-esque basement bar with cocktails created by award-winning mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana (AKA Mr Lyan).". ', Architect Picture by Daniel Hambury 2023 Athenaeum Club. All rights reserved. Also, good co-working space A four-minute introduction to the Athenaeum, as Members Sir Michael Palin and Professor Michael Wheeler speak briefly about the history of their Club before the publication of Professor. Key membership benefits: Private areas for members (including a rooftop pool!) Dickens gave a nod to the great and good of Boodles membership in Bleak House, with references to Lords Boodle and Coodle, the Duke of Foodle and Sir Thomas Doodle. You could probably fit at least half the private members clubs on this list into its eight floors of prime space. Composer, Playwright, Actor The New Zealand-born physicist is regarded as the father of nuclear physics. Congrats! It says that the club's mission is to make the world's finest wines accessible to its members at sensible prices. Quo Vadis The restaurant and private members club, housed in a former brothel that was once the home of Karl Marx (presumably not at the same time), combines a triumphant Soho restaurant with a private members club. Labyrinthine and always chokka block of people you know, think youve met before or want to meet now, its always a party and always fun. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. . Membership involves being proposed and seconded by an existing member, but many clubs also try to attract a clientele from specific sections of society, the In and Out has close military connections, the National Liberal the Lib Dems, and the Athenaeum has traditionally drawn people from the arts and sciences. There are great venues across the city that tick one or two of these boxes, but very few that bring all of these. Today, perhaps with the wisdom of age, it has a more wholesome reputation and with the building restored to its original Georgian glory the private members club celebrates its supper club roots. Members based in the country over 100 miles from London can pay 750 ($977), and overseas 650 ($847). Membership starts at 365 ($475) per month, plus a 1,000 ($1,303) joining fee, while an under 30s rate begins at 228 ($297) per month, with a 500 ($651) joining fee. Annabels is legendary on the London club scene.