14-495: The Groucho Club was a private members' club founded in 1985 and located on Dean Street in London 's Soho . Its members are mainly drawn from the publishing, media, entertainment and arts industries. The club's facilities include three bars , two restaurants , a snooker room, an enclosed terrace, 17 bedrooms for members or their guests and four event rooms, which are available for hire. The club opened on 5 May 1985. Its name
28-454: A large collection of contemporary art, curated by Nicki Carter, a graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London during the YBA period, erstwhile waitress and now the longest serving employee. Launched in 2010 as 'the antidote to other awards', The Groucho Club Maverick Award celebrates people who have broken the mould in their field by challenging and making a significant contribution to culture and
42-471: A membership fee for access and use. Most are owned and controlled by their members even to this day. Some were originally gentlemen's clubs to which members first had to be elected; others are more modern commercial establishments with no class or gender bar, typically offering food, drink, comfortable surroundings, venue hire and business facilities, in return for members paying subscription or membership fees. The first gentlemen's clubs, mostly established in
56-829: The Groucho Club (established in 1985), Soho House (1995) and Home House (1998); similar clubs operate in other cities and countries: for example, the CORE Club was established in New York City in 2005. These typically offer memberships by subscription and are owned and run as commercial concerns. They offer similar facilities such as food, drink, comfortable surroundings, venue hire and in many cases accommodation. Mobile working (using phone and email) had put pressure on traditional London clubs, some of which discouraged use of mobiles and laptops, or discussion of business matters. By contrast, business-oriented private members' clubs combine
70-657: The West End of London from the late 17th century onwards, were highly exclusive, offering aristocratic and wealthy men a refuge from work and family. The eligibility of potential members depended on their class and gender, with women banned from joining any of them. Early clubs also provided an environment for gambling, illegal outside of members-only establishments. Individuals needed to be formally proposed for membership, and candidates were subject to election by committees which scrutinised individuals' character and suitability. Several private members' clubs for women were established in
84-424: The arts. Prominent members of the club have included Cara Delevingne , Nick Grimshaw , Harry Styles , Caroline Flack , Jarvis Cocker , Lily Allen , Melvyn Bragg , Stephen Fry , Noel Gallagher , Luke Pasqualino and Rachel Weisz . The club has a large collection of contemporary art, curated by Nicki Carter, a graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London during the YBA period, erstwhile waitress and now
98-460: The club announced that it would be opening its inaugural branch outside of London at Bretton Hall near Wakefield in Yorkshire. In November 2024, the club's license was suspended by Westminster City Council as a result of a criminal investigation. Anyone who is proposed by two existing members may apply for membership, but applications are favoured from those working in the creative side of media and
112-522: The club's license was suspended by Westminster City Council as a result of a criminal investigation. Anyone who is proposed by two existing members may apply for membership, but applications are favoured from those working in the creative side of media and the arts. Prominent members of the club have included Cara Delevingne , Nick Grimshaw , Harry Styles , Caroline Flack , Jarvis Cocker , Lily Allen , Melvyn Bragg , Stephen Fry , Noel Gallagher , Luke Pasqualino and Rachel Weisz . The club has
126-811: The late 19th century; among them the Alexandra Club , the Ladies' Institute, the Ladies' Athenaeum and the University Women's Club . Many of the traditional gentlemen's clubs now allow women as members, though a few, including - until May 2024 - the Garrick Club in London's Covent Garden , still refuse women membership. More modern but otherwise similar private members' clubs have since been established. Most of these, however, are for-profit commercial enterprises neither owned nor controlled by members. London examples include
140-512: The longest serving employee. Launched in 2010 as 'the antidote to other awards', The Groucho Club Maverick Award celebrates people who have broken the mould in their field by challenging and making a significant contribution to culture and the arts in the previous 12 months, either in the UK or internationally. Private members%27 club Private members' clubs are organisations which provide social and other facilities to members who typically pay
154-420: The publishing, media, entertainment and arts industries. The club's facilities include three bars , two restaurants , a snooker room, an enclosed terrace, 17 bedrooms for members or their guests and four event rooms, which are available for hire. The club opened on 5 May 1985. Its name was in reference to Groucho Marx 's saying he did not want to be a member of any club that would have him. The club
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#1732844096954168-459: The style, food and drink of a contemporary private members' club with the business facilities of a serviced office or coworking space. Notable examples of private members' clubs include: This organization-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Groucho Club The Groucho Club was a private members' club founded in 1985 and located on Dean Street in London 's Soho . Its members are mainly drawn from
182-570: Was in reference to Groucho Marx 's saying he did not want to be a member of any club that would have him. The club was owned by Graphite Capital from 2006 to 2015, when it was sold to a group of investors led by Isfield Investments and Alcuin Capital Partners. In 2022, the Groucho Club was purchased through Manuela and Iwan Wirth 's Art Farm, which owns a group of boutique hotels and restaurants, for £40 million ($ 48.9 million). In March 2024,
196-488: Was owned by Graphite Capital from 2006 to 2015, when it was sold to a group of investors led by Isfield Investments and Alcuin Capital Partners. In 2022, the Groucho Club was purchased through Manuela and Iwan Wirth 's Art Farm, which owns a group of boutique hotels and restaurants, for £40 million ($ 48.9 million). In March 2024, the club announced that it would be opening its inaugural branch outside of London at Bretton Hall near Wakefield in Yorkshire. In November 2024,
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