It was painted by fellow Member Fiona Graham-Mackay after they met at Heaney's 2012 Poetry Evening at the Athenaeum. Ease of entry:Difficult. I am the current Chairman of the General Committee. 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". One of six children, he travelled by boat with his family from Jamaica to London in 1919 in pursuit of an English education. Use of mobile phones and laptops in the main rooms is often banned. Nowhere does a private members club quite like London. In the best case they will let you stay for tea. Other membership privileges include a sky-lit gym, fitness classes and training programmes, a bathhouse (with a hammam, banya, and Watsu pool), spa and beauty treatments, a Mediterranean restaurant, club sitting rooms, and a concierge service. You could probably fit at least half the private members clubs on this list into its eight floors of prime space. The application process involves submitting your membership enquiry online here. It is, in short, my London haven. Regarded as the greatest author of the Victorian era, Dickens created some of the world's best known fictional characters. It encourages "individuality and fabulous party dressing," and claims its members are made up of "a hand-picked alchemy of like-minded people who share a passion for the best things in life. They trust non-members wont show up since they cant buy food. There are great venues across the city that tick one or two of these boxes, but very few that bring all of these. To get a membership one must be vetted by the previous class of occupiers and transfer a joining fee of 2,000 and an annual subscription fee of 1,500 (Dover Street Arts Club prices). It is one of the most reasonably priced members' bars in London. They get access to three restaurants (including one on the roof which comes complete with a pool), three bars, a 24-hour gym, dedicated co-working space, and access to events including gigs and quiz nights. Rooms may be booked for private parties and meetings with available capacities ranging from ten to 150 people. Ease of entry: Members must be extraordinarilyinterestingand interested to be considered Sohos largest rooftop doubled in size during lockdown and it ideal for gazing across the lights of the West End with a sundowner in hand. Dickens was 26 when elected to the Club on 21 June 1838. Author, Journalist, Editor Who goes here:Practising artists, or at least those withconnections to the visual arts 2023 Athenaeum Club. Where: 52 Lower Sloane St, London SW1W 8BP Inside, order booze and food freely (they sell to anyone). Despite spurious claims to having been formed in 1764 (when Samuel Johnson, David Garrick and Joshua Reynolds formed a supper club) history wasnt really made until 1992 when Blacks launched with a reputation as an enjoyably louche bohemian drinking den. The club's 26,000 square feet are open all day and night. Who goes here: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rhys Ifans and John Culshaw are apparently all members Website: www.hurlinghamclub.org.uk, Great for:Sporty types and families GREAT FOR:WORKING IN THE CHELSEA AT DAY; ENTERTAINING AND WINING AND DINING AT NIGHT Under 27s benefit from a discounted annual membership of 475 ($619), and a joining fee of 100 ($130). Great for: The ideal place to work during the day, then party during the night The proposal form can be downloaded here. Often raucous and always fun. A home for "a diverse community of people passionate about social change," the eight-floor, 40,000 square foot club aims to bring together "social entrepreneurs, creatives, business leaders, philanthropists and civil society.". Website: www.hosb.org.uk. To bypass this hurdle politely tell the waiters that your member friend is playing squash downstairs. 6,611 were here. Ease of entry: Members must be proposed and seconded by existing members 12 Hay Hilldescribes itself as a business-focused members' club "where business can be conducted without restrictions." My own involvement in the Club is just one illustration of this. However must be a member to get it!" Simon Wear. Its website states: "The theme is always celebrated in style with special menus and plenty of wine! albertsclub.com Club Prive at L'Escargot Tucked away on Greek Street in Soho, Club Prive is located upstairs in London's oldest French restaurant, L'Escargot. 24 and under. Meanwhile, theDaily Mailsuggests that new members must be vouched for by some 35 signatories. 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. Those interested in applying should get in touch with the club to be sent an application form. Henry James was elected to the Club in 1882 a year after the publication of his masterpiece novel, Portrait of a Lady. The concept is a three-story townhouse featuring an all-day restaurant, two bars and a nightclub, plus a private dining room. comedy club, and themed experiential dining events, to the relaunch of Londons original nightclub restaurant, and partnerships with some of Londons most exciting brands. Applicants can have up to two referrals, but it's not compulsory. ', Physician and Academic Candidates require a proposer and seconder from within the club's existing membership. Navigating the myriad of London clubs can be opaque and tricky, so weve put together all the very best ones in one place. Robert Peel was elected at the first meeting of the Club on February 16 1824 when he was the UKs Home Secretary. The 18th-century townhouse at 40 Dover Street in Mayfair counts Charles Dickens among its former members. There are also 12 bedrooms which members may book. There's a large open kitchen, with an "East meets West" menu, dim sum, Peking duck, and bao buns served, as well as healthy plant-based dishes. If the skylit gym has you feeling a little weary, dont panic you can put your feet up with a host of their holistic treatments, and relax in the tea library. And if theres one thing more frustrating than bastions of elitism, its not being a part of it. 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. With the cost of living crisis and youth unemployment on the rise, creeping into members clubs is practically the only way for youngsters to get ahead in life, quickly, without fees. And anyone looking for a truly traditional Georgian feel 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). 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). Social Anthropologist The passion is, of course, fine wine, which is the lifeblood of 67 Pall Mall. A clash of 18th century grandeur and modernity, The House of St Barnabas goes out of its way to redefine the private members club image, not least by combining the pleasures of clubbing in every sense (except seal) with a commitment to social responsibility. Pre- and post-theatre suppers are available from 6pm until midnight. Seamus Heaney became a Club Member in 1996 - a year after he received the Nobel prize for literature. Key membership benefits: The cellar, theyve got over 5,000 bottles on the club list Wales just happens to be on Foursquare (social network) so his whereabouts are known. Unlike swanky parties, where its easy to bluff the guest list by mentioning someone elses name from Twitter, members clubs require a membership card. Website: www.theartsclub.co.uk, Great for:Being at the centre of the party The cloakroom ticket will be used to enter next time to collect your item. Membership cost: 150 joining fee and 840 per year. 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. Have a tour with the manager and point out the defective area. The Hurlingham's huge grounds feature outdoor and indoor pools, squash and tennis courts, a gym, bar, and conservatory, in addition to countless rooms and terraces. Not surprisingly, this is a club solely for graduates, and current undergraduates of Oxford and Cambridge. Home House has lasted the course and is well on the way to becoming a London institution. Website: www.centuryclub.co.uk, Great for:Sohos largest rooftop terrace Athenaeum Club | 22 followers on LinkedIn. The Roof Bar features a retractable roof and heaters, and offers views of the City and St Paul's Cathedral, with an international menu prepared on the rotisserie grill and wood oven. Home House is an exclusive private members' club in London's Marylebone, which "fuses 18th-century splendour with 21st-century style.". Ease of entry: Ideally theyd like you to be in the creative industries. 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. One of six children, he travelled by boat with his family from Jamaica to London in 1919 in pursuit of an English education. Non-members are also welcome to book a table, subject to availability. Personally, the talk dinners are the highlight. It boasts four floors of members' club fun, including Soho's largest roof terrace. Meanwhile, under 30s benefit from a discounted rate of 300 ($391), and those overseas can pay 350 ($456) annually. Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Artist and Royal Academy professor Joseph Turner became a Club Member in 1824. Home to London's longest copper bar, a restaurant, private dining rooms, a 38-seater cinema, private sound studios, and an outdoor heated terrace, The Ministry is a pretty cool place to be. The brains behind Ministry of Sound launched this private members' club and co-working space for creatives in a former Victorian printworks in Southwark last year. They also come to enjoy concerts, talks, quizzes and films. In 1929, Mr. And Mrs. Allan C. Balch presented the Institute with a gift of stocks to establish the lub. Artist and painter The Ned is something totally different. One of the foremost scientists of his generation, he wrote that he was "full of admiration at the Athenaeum, one meets so many people there that one likes to see". 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. Ease of entry: A proposer and seconder must put you forward (they need to have known you for more than two years). a residency by Massimo Bottura, the best chef in the world. The Athenaeum is a private members' club in London, founded in 1824. 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. Naturalist, geologist, biologist A leading engineering designer of the Victorian age, Isambard Brunel followed his civil engineer father (Marc) Isambard Brunel into Club membership in 1830. It is popular among Soho's creatives, foodies, and more generally seekers of relaxed business and serious pleasures. The rarefied world of clubland is filled with anecdotes such as these. It resembles a country estate. 1,150 ($1,512) plus a 300 ($394) admin fee (or 750/$986 and 250/$329 fee for under 30s) will get you access to all three clubs, while the Bloomsbury Club is 700 ($920) plus 300 fee, and Mayfair is 900 ($1,183) plus 300 fee. The Richmond Club is Richmonds first private members club and is a true hidden gem in West London. Membership cost: 250 joining fee and 525 per year, Great for: The health conscious Say youre meeting a person whom you know is in. The revamped look is pretty slick too. A holocaust survivor, Eva Maria Kohner came to England in 1949 as a refugee from Soviet-run Hungary. To apply, hopefuls should submit a personal profile online here. Theres no interviews or esoteric initiations in the membership process its billed as a homefromhome, albeit a supremely exclusive one. It boasts two floors of member spaces, a 17-metre rooftop pool and bar, steam room, sauna, hammam, cinema, screening room, huge gym, and 45 bedrooms. 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. 107 Pall Mall St James's London SW1Y 5ER. All members are required to be proposed by a current member, or to come in for a quick tour with the membership director. David Cameron famously resigned from the club in 2008 after 15 years of membership, over its refusal to admit women members. The Athenaeum Club Is A Prestigious Health Club and Day Spa located on Cherry Orchard Way, Southend 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. There is an air of eccentricity to the club which offers its members access to a series of private rooms, including the salon noir, salon bleu, and salon rouge, which regularly host performances and general debauchery. Soho House at 76 Dean Street is a Grade II-listed mid-Georgian townhouse spread over four floors. 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). A whopping 65m spending splurge saw them leave their traditional basement home a few doors down and instead occupy a substantial Berkeley Square townhouse in its entirety and the results are quite impressive. The bar stocks wines from all-female vineyards and there is a unique cocktail list that pays homage to pioneering women from history. Wave more friends in as if you belong there. Membership is now around 2,000 and includes those from the upper reaches of politics, the church, arts and literature. Those interested in a founding membership can apply online, and those accepted before the opening will have their joining fee waived. Unlike in other preeminent clubs, its members were chosen on the basis of their achievements rather than on . Musician Jay Electronica, Gwyneth Paltrow and architect David Chipperfields son Gabriel are members. It has a fascinating list of past and present subscribers, including members of the royal family. Soho House spreads its achingly cool appeal across the globe, and Soho House Greek Street is where it all started. A career in British academia led to him being appointed the first black dean. While the "Resident" membership, which gives members unlimited access to communal floors, meeting rooms, the gym, and events programmes any day of the week, will set you back 500 ($651) a month (6,000 or $7,816 a year), there are a few other options, including a "Club" membership for 80 ($104) a month where you can only visit on evenings and weekends for social events, "Traveller" for 250 ($326) a month which gives you access to all floors on evenings and weekends and five days a month, or a "Home" membership, which, from 1,000 ($1,3030) a month, gives you a dedicated workspace.
