London's Annabel's Club Opens to Public
Annabel's, the exclusive London private members' club, is opening to the public for the first time in its history. The move represents a significant shift in the city's elite social scene, potentially signaling a change in the model of exclusivity in a post-Brexit era.
- This public opening features a five-month sushi pop-up with Michelin-starred chef Endo Kazutoshi, priced at £245 per person, with an optional £120 sake pairing. The club's strict rules remain, including a ban on phone usage, dietary requests, and perfume, alongside a refined dress code. - Founded in 1963 by Mark Birley and named for his wife, Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart, the club was originally in the basement of the Clermont Club at 44 Berkeley Square. It quickly became a hotspot for aristocracy and the international jet-set. - In 2007, entrepreneur Richard Caring acquired Annabel's and other Birley clubs for £95 million. In 2018, he relocated the club two doors down to a 26,000-square-foot Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse at 46 Berkeley Square after a £55 million renovation. - The lavish new interiors, designed by Martin Brudnizki, are known for their maximalist, garden-inspired themes, with features like hand-painted de Gournay wallpapers, a unicorn sculpture, and famously opulent pink onyx bathrooms with silk flowers on the ceiling. - Annabel's has a storied history of celebrity and royal patronage, having hosted Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, Princess Diana, and is reportedly the only nightclub ever visited by Queen Elizabeth II. Modern patrons include Kate Moss, Lady Gaga, and Tom Ford. - The club is part of Richard Caring's extensive hospitality empire, which has included The Ivy Collection and Sexy Fish, and is co-owned by a holding company shared with the former prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani. - The decision to open to the public, even in a limited capacity, contrasts with the prevailing "quiet luxury" trend in hospitality, which emphasizes discretion, privacy, and understated elegance over conspicuous displays. - London's private members' club scene is currently booming, with over 130 establishments and new ones launching with specialized focuses like family-inclusive offerings, women-only networks, and social impact, indicating a diversification of the traditional club model.
