The only way to guarantee yourself after-hours drinking in the company of an exclusive clientele is in a members’ club. But since there are other things that some (most?) of us would rather spend upwards of £400 a year on, here are some of the venues that will give you a taste of the highlife so long as you play by the rules – which simply means booking in advance most of the time.
The Arts Theatre Club
The Arts theatre Club was an underground Soho speakeasy when the speakeasy craze was just a twinkle in the eye of nightlife editors everywhere. Apparently it was once a haven for London’s criminal underworld and can even claim to have been a bona fide illegal drinking den. These days it is a member’s bar that is more cocktails than Crays and serves up a select clientele into the early hours. Located on Frith Street, non-members are encouraged to book ahead to secure entry to the Arts Theatre Club so plan your visit in advance and enjoy the exclusivity.
Maggie’s
Club, bar and all-round bizarro venue Maggie’s is the members’ bar of choice for Made in Chelsea types. However, don’t let that put you off, the weird/ironic Margaret Thatcher theme is paired with a whole lot of 80s references, which is always a good thing. Non-members are free to visit at anytime of the week up until Thursday but for weekend entry they must book a table and agree to a minimum spend.
Phoenix Artists Club
If you read the site regularly – what are we saying, of course you read the site regularly – then you’ll already know that we like to entertain ourselves in the mock grandeur of the Phoenix Artists Club. Thanks to its piano, live music and penchant for show tunes it’s one of the most interesting members’ bars in town. Head here before 8pm – or 7pm to be on the safe side - and you won’t be forced to show a members’ ID on entry, thus leaving you free to enjoy drinking into the early hours in a relaxed setting.
Sketch
It may be one of the most cutting edge and creative members’ clubs in London but Sketch is also one of the easiest to get into. Provided you’re there to eat you can pretty much go anytime you choose. However, if it’s cocktails you’re after then you only have up until 9pm in the Parlour Bar before non-members start being told to sling their hooks some place else. And that ‘some place’ should inevitably be either Sketch’s Glade Bar or East Bar where restrictions seem not to apply.
Milk and Honey
Milk and Honey isn’t just famous for being an exclusive members’ club, it also has a killer cocktail list that keeps it on the radar. Non-members can walk into the swanky Soho bar provided they book a day in advance and vacate the premises when the clock strikes 11pm. You may not be able to stay late and enjoy the after hours antics but you can still sample some of the best cocktails around.
London’s Most Accessible Members’ Bars
Most members clubs are exclusive, elusive things that exist without really existing at all for most Londoners. But we want to change that. So here are some of London’s most accessible members’ clubs.
Published Apr 17, 2014