14-588: Chelsea Arts Club is a private members' club at 143 Old Church Street in Chelsea, London with a membership of over 3,800, including artists, sculptors, architects, writers, designers, actors, musicians, photographers, and filmmakers . The club was established on 21 March 1891 (in Chelsea), as a rival to the older Arts Club in Mayfair , on the instigation of the artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler , who had been
28-487: A Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England . Chelsea Arts Club was originally located in rooms at no. 181 King's Road . In 1902, the club moved to larger premises at no. 143 Old Church Street . In 1933 the club's premises, which had an acre of garden, were remodeled. The clubhouse includes a snooker room, bedrooms, dining room, former 'ladies bar' turned private party room, and
42-408: A (sometimes controversial) member of the older club. During its primary season from September–June Chelsea Arts Club serves as a host for many functions, from instrumental and choral performances to visual arts exhibitions, literary talks, weekend artist lunches and themed parties. Applicants for membership need to be sponsored by two current Members. The club is located in the former Bolton Lodge,
56-560: A garden. From 1908 to 1958 the club held a series of public fancy dress balls at the Albert Hall , latterly on New Year's Eve , which raised funds for artists' charities. In 1958, balls were banned from the Albert Hall owing to their notoriety for rowdiness, nudity and public homosexuality ( illegal before 1967 ). Subsequently, private functions were held at the club instead, with similarly lavish decorations and themes. In 1966
70-457: 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
84-847: 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
98-662: 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
112-452: The club was redecorated, a new bar was opened, and membership was opened to women artists. Although normally a plain white building, the club exterior is occasionally painted to coincide with a themed event. It has been painted by set designer Tony Common. In 2010 it was painted bright colours with images of circus performers, and in 2011 was painted to appear as if it had been bombed in order to coincide with celebrations marking 70 years since
126-522: 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
140-754: The end of The Blitz . 51°29′17″N 0°10′29″W / 51.4880°N 0.1746°W / 51.4880; -0.1746 Private members%27 club Private members' clubs are organisations which provide social and other facilities to members who typically pay 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
154-840: 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
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#1732775953112168-420: 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
182-510: 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 is a private members' club founded in 1985 and located on Dean Street in London 's Soho . Its members are mainly drawn from
196-673: 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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