Are private members’ clubs only for the rich? Which ones would your boss like to join, and what are the benefits?.
Groucho Marx may have famously joked, ‘I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member’, but for many people the cachet of belonging to an exclusive group is very desirable indeed.
Traditionally, private members’ clubs have been something only privileged men were allowed to join, but thankfully things have become a little more democratic and affordable. Here are some of the most interesting clubs across the UK, and beyond.
The trendsetters’ club
One of the great success stories of the private members’ club scene has been Nick Jones’ Soho House portfolio (sohohouse.com). If your boss wants to be in with the It-crowd, this is the one to go for. Founded in 1995, Soho House on Greek Street in the heart of London’s Soho was the first one to open, aimed at members in film, media and other creative industries. Since then, the group has expanded to include clubs, bedrooms, restaurants and spas across the UK, Europe and even the US.
Shoreditch House was added in London’s happening East End with its rooftop pool, Cowshed Spa and the largest Chesterfield sofa in the world, along with Electric House in Notting Hill and Babington House in Somerset. The latest outpost is Soho Beach House, Miami, which adds to the über-trendy Soho Houses in New York, West Hollywood and Berlin.
Prospective members need to apply online for the House closest to where they live or work and they must be nominated by two existing members who belong to any of the Houses. There are two types of membership: Local House – access to your local House only; and Every House – access to all Houses globally. Local House membership for Soho House is £600 and Every House membership is £1,200 annually. Under 27s get a discounted rate of £250 (Local) and £700 (Every) annually when they join, a discount that lasts until their 30th birthday. There’s also a registration fee of £200 (£100 for under 27s).
The getting-down-to-business club
Club LS1 (club-ls1.com) at 3 Albion Place, Leeds, has been connecting business people from the city and the surrounding area since 1849. The club’s eclectic membership is drawn from arts, sports and politics, and includes next-generation leaders as well as those already at the top of their field. Benefits include The Leeds Room, a vibrant and informal place to meet socially or on business. Then there’s the Club Dining Room and a reciprocal link to more than 80 associated clubs and venues worldwide with discounted accommodation rates.
The club hosts a series of business lunches and evening business clubs that encourage an exchange of ideas and collaboration. There are also book clubs and wine-tasting clubs. Meeting rooms are available with a 20% discount to members. There is Wi-Fi throughout and state-of-the-art video conferencing facilities. A specialist suite is ideal for focus groups and resolution work. Staff are on hand for photocopying, faxing, printing and emailing.
Members also get preferential rates at a number of city centre hotels in Leeds, including luxury accommodation at Residence 6 (residencesix.com) serviced apartments. There’s also a discount on parking at the nearby NCP Schofields car park, which means you can park until midnight for £7.20.
Full annual membership costs £399 plus VAT and there’s an initial joining fee of £149 plus VAT.
The global club
There are a growing number of global private members’ clubs that offer members services around the world, a real boon if your boss travels extensively. Quintessentially (quintessentially.com) operates like a 24-hour global concierge service. With offices in 57 cities around the world, the service can find you presents in a hurry, a good nanny, the best theatre tickets in town and VIP after-show parties. The idea is also to save executives time, whether it’s arranging someone to collect an item for you, or making sure that every detail of a business trip is organised.
For PAs, it’s like a valuable assistant. General membership costs from £1,000 per year. For a more dedicated service, it costs from £2,500 per year.
If you want to get your boss ahead of the in-crowd, watch out for forthcoming ‘Quintessentially One’ club (quintessentiallyone.com). Launching in summer 2013, this is an exclusive floating private members’ club hosted on board a 220m luxury super yacht. Travelling around the world, it will carry up to 500 passengers.
The social butterfly club
The Inner Place (innerplace.co.uk) offers a wide variety of access to members clubs for £40 per month. This is a club for execs who want choice and variety, rather than being stuck with going to the same places over and over again. As well as access to over 50 clubs, as part of the membership Inner Place also arranges its own networking members’ parties, complimentary champagne at top London restaurants, and advice and booking for any entertainment-based services such as private dining, tickets and VIP events. There are often discounts for full membership if members want to join clubs that Inner Space works with.
The creative club
29 Private Members Club at 29 Royal Exchange, Glasgow (29glasgow.com) is all about having the space to unwind, entertain, conduct business and relax with family and friends. Spread over two floors of the stunning 19th-century blonde sandstone premises, this place offers the best combination of style and comfort. With a Grill Room, Network Bar (open till 3am), Supper Club, Oyster Bar and exclusive use of a fabulous roof terrace, plus various options for private dining, this is the place to see and be seen in the buzzing Scottish city.
Members receive 10% discount on the à la carte menu Sunday to Wednesday in The Grill, complimentary room hire for private dining, discounted room hire and day delegate rates and can use complimentary Wi-Fi in all areas.
They can sign in three guests at a time and more for special occasions. Members also receive priority purchase options for exclusive VIP concert and sporting packages, and monthly offers and discounts. There are also opportunities to attend various business networking events for no extra charge.
Full membership costs £150 plus VAT with no initial joining fee.
The women’s club
Who better to open a private members’ club exclusively for women than business icon and public relations guru Lynne Franks? (This was the woman that Jennifer Saunders based Edina on in BBC comedy Absolutely Fabulous).
Lynne Franks launched B.Hive (bhive.co) in September 2010. It’s a business club in London’s Covent Garden just for women, in collaboration with the Regus Group. B.Hives in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Scotland are all in the pipeline for 2011, but the London club has already attracted the likes of the Grazia magazine team.
