London clubs: Club class
The places you should join. You won’t find stuffed armchairs or a stuffy atmosphere in these new London clubs – just world-class design
You won’t find stuffed armchairs or a stuffy atmosphere in these new London clubs – just world-class design At the turn of the millennium, private members’ clubs seemed to spring up in London week after week but then it all went terribly quiet. Perhaps people started to follow Groucho Marx’s famous adage and didn’t want to join a club that would take them as a member.
But 2009 kicks off with several clubs going up a notch – quite literally in the case of Paramount [+44 (0)20 7420 2900], designed by Tom Dixon, which has the members’ lounge on the 32nd floor of the iconic 1960s Centre Point building by Tottenham Court Road station. Overseen by Pierre Condou (of Century Club and L’Odéon fame) and the members’ list by Stephen Fry, this is for high rollers of a different kind.
Over by Bond Street station is the new Molton House [+44 (0)20 7493 1688, www.moltonhouse.com], launched by Nick Valentine, who has been involved in several clubs including the Cuckoo Club on Regent Street. Given that this site keeps changing hands – its previous incarnations were another private members’ club 43 South Molton Street and before that Asian fusion restaurant Khew – the interior overhaul has been dramatic: chandeliers with feathers hanging off them, leather-padded walls and silken wallpaper for the staircases.
Then there’s the addition to the Quo Vadis restaurant in Soho which was famously owned by Marco Pierre White [26-29 Dean Street W1, +44 (0)20 7437 9585; www.quovadissoho.co.uk]. Taken over last year by brothers Sam and Eddie Hart, the eatery has just had a new upstairs private members’ club fitted out with a billiards room as well as a library bar. Of course, some established favourites are still going strong: Home House near Marble Arch has marked its 10th birthday by opening an extension, Home Bar [21 Portman Square W1, +44 (0)20 7670 2000; www.homehouseclub.com]. Designed by star-architect Zaha Hadid, this bar is her fi rst interior design project for 20 years.
