Private members’ clubs have been part of London's cultural fabric for centuries. The stories that have emerged from within their walls have almost mythical status – be it Liam Gallagher receiving a ban from The Groucho Club for allegedly spraying Paul Gascoigne with a fire extinguisher (Gascoigne supposedly ate his steak, which makes the reaction seem much more reasonable), or Annabel’s turning away superstars including Mick Jagger (for not wearing a tie), The Beatles (for not wearing shoes) and Michael Jackson (for wearing leather trousers).
Seth Alexander Thévoz explored this legacy in his book: “Behind Closed Doors, The Secret Life of London Private Members’ Clubs”. He told SPHERE that: “The earliest, raucous clubs of 18th-century London met a very human need – to bring together like-minded people. Round-the-clock, boozy, high-stakes gambling by candlelight in clubs such as White’s, Boodle’s, and Brooks’s gave these early clubs a unique image. In the 19th century, clubs became louder and more established – and these are often the stately, temple-like buildings that we think of when clubs are mentioned.
