The Garrick Club is a gentlemen’s club in central London, with members from all walks of life in the UK.
Founded in 1831, it is one of the oldest members’ clubs in the world.
It is said to have 1,500 members, including at least 160 senior legal professionals, at least 10 sitting MPs, dozens of members of the House of Lords, heads of public institutions, actors, artists and businessmen.
king charles There are even said to be around 150 knighted gentlemen, who pay around £1,000 a year to gain access to its dining rooms, luxurious lounges and exclusive bedrooms.
In fact, women were banned from becoming members and, until 2010, even from visiting the club as guests or spouses of members.
Even today, female guests are directed through a side door of the club’s headquarters in the heart of London’s West End and seated away from the restaurant’s main table.
All guests (i.e. non-members who are only allowed in if they are with a member) will receive menus without prices, and no payment of “anything” will be allowed. Tipping individual employees is also prohibited.
Michael Gove outside Downing Street. Image: PA
The exclusive club has hit the headlines recently after The Guardian leaked the names of some of its most famous members, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, Promotion Secretary Michael Gove and former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Other politicians listed include Gove’s department colleague Simon Hall, former justice secretary Robert Buckland and former Conservative MEP Lord Hannan, as well as Quasi-exaggeratedjust days before his brief tenure, he was elected to membership in 2022 Liz Truss’s headmaster.
UK chief civil servant Simon Case resigns He became a member today after criticism of the male-only entry requirement.
successor actor brian cox
In the field of art, succession It is said that stars Brian Cox and Matthew Macfadyen, “Downton Abbey”‘s Hugh Bonneville, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Benedict Cumberbatch, Poe Actors David Suchet and Damian Lewis are members.
Former England and Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, journalist John Simpson, Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler and designer Paul Smith also feature on the list.
Previous members include actor Sir John Gielgud and writers Charles Dickens, HG Wells and Winnie the Pooh author AA Milne, as well as composer Edward Elgar.
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Hugh Bonneville at Epsom Racecourse. ImagePA
In 2011, Joanna Lumley attempted to become the first female member in the club’s history, following a proposal from Hugh Bonneville.
The club consulted a lawyer who concluded that, despite equality legislation, women could not be offered membership and she was refused.
Many attempts to change its admissions policies have been resisted by members determined to maintain the tradition of selectivity.
Jeremy Paxman was blacklisted by the club in 1993 for his anti-establishment book Friends In High Places, but was readmitted in 2004.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden outside Downing Street. ImagePA
history
It was founded in 1831 by a group of gentlemen as the “Literary Society” to promote drama and collect drama scripts.
The first members are described as a “mature and international group” which includes 24 industry peers as well as writers, actors, musicians and publishers.
The club is named after actor and playwright David Garrick, whose performances and management of the Theater Royal in the 19th century brought him acclaim.
In deciding membership, its original committee said it was “better to exclude 10 incontrovertible people than to admit one nuisance.”
The club’s website claims this purpose ensures a “lively atmosphere”.
Former Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson.Photo Reuters
The current building has been home to the club since 1864 and the street was later renamed Garrick Street after the playwright.
In 1956, the rights to the Winnie the Pooh books were left to four beneficiaries of AA Milne – his family, the Royal Literary Trust, Westminster School – and the Garrick Club.
In 1998, members turned down the chance of a multi-million pound windfall from selling the rights to popular children’s books to Disney.
But three years later, the club caved and Disney acquired the film rights for 25 years.
This makes the Garrick Club the richest gentlemen’s club in the UK, with assets of approximately £60 million.
The club still has one of the largest surviving dramatic libraries, housing a large collection of manuscripts, plays, documents and a large collection of paintings and drawings.
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