Groucho Club

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The Groucho Club
Groucho Club, Soho, W1 (2711860818).jpg
Greater London UK location map 2.svg
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Location in London
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Location in England
General information
Address45 Dean Street
Town or city London
CountryEngland
Coordinates 51°30′47″N0°08′03″W / 51.5131°N 0.1341°W / 51.5131; -0.1341

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 the publishing, media, entertainment and arts industries. [1]

Contents

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. [2]

History

The club opened on 5 May 1985. Its name is reference to Groucho Marx saying he did not want to be a member of any club that would have him. [3] [4]

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. [5] 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. [6]

In March 2024, the club announced that it would be opening its inaugural branch outside of London at Bretton Hall near Wakefield in Yorkshire. [7]

In November 2024, the club's license was suspended by Westminster City Council as a result of a criminal investigation. [8]

Members

Rachel Weisz Cannes 2015.jpg
Stephen Fry June 2016.jpg
Rachel Weisz (left) and Stephen Fry (right) have at one time been members of the Groucho Club

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. [9]

Prominent members of the club have included Cara Delevingne, Nick Grimshaw, Harry Styles, Caroline Flack, [9] Jarvis Cocker, Lily Allen, Melvyn Bragg, Stephen Fry, Noel Gallagher, Luke Pasqualino and Rachel Weisz. [10]

Art

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 the longest serving employee. [11]

The Groucho Club Maverick Award

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. [12]

References

  1. ↑ Sophie Leris (21 May 2010). "The Groucho Club: a home for hellraisers". Evening Standard . Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Inside Story: The Groucho Club – 20 years of schmoozing and boozing". The Independent . 2 May 2005. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Well, The Web. "HISTORY – Groucho Club". Groucho Club. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Cotterill, Joseph (18 June 2015). "Groucho Club sold by private equity firm". Financial Times . Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  6. ↑ Alex Greenberger (11 August 2022), Hauser & Wirth Owners Buy Storied London Private Club with a Star-Studded Art Collection ARTnews .
  7. ↑ "'Why would we go to America first?' London's Groucho Club to open in Yorkshire". The Guardian. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "London's Groucho Club forced to close after claims of 'serious crime' on premises". The Financial Times. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Why Is 'The Groucho Club' Harry Styles' Favourite London Hotspot? (Pictures)". Contactmusic.com. February 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Groucho Club: Private members bar set for £40 million buy out". Evening Standard. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "The walls talk in the Groucho Club | Christie's". Christie's . Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  12. ↑ "Nell Gifford wins the Groucho Maverick Prize". 2 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2023.

Further reading

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