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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,
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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
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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.
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London clubs, some of which discouraged use of mobiles and laptops, or discussion of business matters. By contrast, business-oriented private members' clubs combine the style, food and drink of a contemporary private members' club with the business facilities of a
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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.
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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 the
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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
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72:. Many of the traditional gentlemen's clubs now allow women as members, though a few, including - until May 2024 - the
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Several private members' clubs for women were established in the late 19th century; among them the
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300:"The Groucho Club: a home for hellraisers – Life & Style – London Evening Standard"
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96:(1998); similar clubs operate in other cities and countries: for example, the
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326:"Members Only: Soho House Joins High-End Hotel, Condos In DUMBO – BKLYNER"
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364:"Is New York's Romance With Social Clubs Merely a Pandemic Love Affair?"
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221:"The 18 most glamorous private members' clubs in London to join now"
274:"Garrick Club votes to accept female members for first time"
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Annabelle, Spranklen; Annabel, Sampson (17 January 2022).
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68:, the Ladies' Institute, the Ladies' Athenaeum and the
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The first gentlemen's clubs, mostly established in the
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Dictionary of
British Women's Organisations 1825–1960
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Notable examples of private members' clubs include:
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352:, homehouse.co.uk. Accessed 21 January 2019
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399:This organization-related article is a
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245:David Doughan; Peter Gordon (2013).
251:. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 12.
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192:List of American gentlemen's clubs
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197:List of India's gentlemen's clubs
80:, still refuse women membership.
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272:Gentleman, Amelia (7 May 2024).
187:List of members' clubs in London
362:James Tarmy (20 January 2022).
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324:Wong, Pamela (18 April 2017).
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403:. You can help Knowledge by
298:Sophie Leris (21 May 2010).
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88:(established in 1985),
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37:Private members' clubs
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100:was established in
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156:Knickerbocker Club
58:West End of London
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278:The Guardian
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228:. Retrieved
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150:Harvard Club
144:Garrick Club
138:Carlton Club
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76:in London's
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16:Social venue
168:Reform Club
164:, Cambridge
92:(1995) and
444:Categories
350:"About us"
230:3 November
203:References
94:Home House
90:Soho House
375:1 October
162:Pitt Club
126:Annabel's
111:coworking
98:CORE Club
335:28 April
309:28 April
304:Standard
181:See also
176:, London
170:, London
146:, London
140:, London
134:, London
128:, London
117:Examples
330:BKLYNER
174:White's
132:Brook's
113:space.
52:History
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225:Tatler
283:7 May
401:stub
377:2022
337:2017
311:2014
285:2024
253:ISBN
232:2022
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109:or
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.