Well-known exclusive London men’s club also admits women after 193 years

The Garrick Club, named after the 18th century actor David Garrick, is one of London’s most famous gentlemen’s clubs. The members include a relatively large number of actors, artists and journalists. Hugh Bonneville, Damian Lewis and Stephen Fry are among the Garrick members.

To become a member, a candidate must go through a balloting process. The Garrick is a place where gentlemen gather to talk, lunch, dine, sleep, play chess and other forms of socializing.

More than thirty years ago, the well-known journalist Jeremy Paxman was rejected by veterans because of his book Friends in High Places, a critical book about the established order. He was later admitted.

It then became clear how established the order within the Garrick is The Guardian two months ago revealed a secret membership list that had been leaked. The list includes the names of King Charles, conductor Antonio Pappano, television maker Melvyn Bragg, singer-guitarist Mark Knopfler, fashion designer Paul Smith and almost the entire cabinet of the current Conservative government.

The Garrick is one of sixteen gentlemen’s clubs in London. By the way, London’s ‘clubland’ has five clubs that are exclusively for women.

Embarrassed on the cheeks

The publication in The Guardian brought shame to some members of the Garrick. The head of the foreign security service MI6, Richard Moore, was forced to resign his membership. The head of the British civil service, Simon Case, also left the club. Earlier, during a session of a parliamentary committee, he was asked the rhetorical question how he, as a member of a classic gentlemen’s club, planned to bring more ‘diversity’ into the civil service organization. BBC celebrity John Simpson also threatened to cancel his membership of the Garrick if this did not change.

At the offices, around the corner from Trafalgar Square, some female lawyers took action against the exclusive character of the club. During the first vote on adjusting the membership policy, it turned out that there was not the two-thirds majority among Garrick members necessary for an amendment to the articles of association, with the result that the rules were adjusted for this one time: a simple majority was sufficient.

Renowned classicist Mary Beard has already hinted at her interest in membership now that the Garrick Club is also accepting women as members. Previously, women were only welcome at the Garrick if they were invited by a member and accompanied by him.