About The Club

Dear Guest or Visitor,

It is we believe important that you know a little about the St James's Club before you consider joining as a member or arranging a function here.

The forerunner of our club, the Union Club was established, on April 6th 1825. The inaugural meeting held in the Star Inn raised £6000. Initially using premises in Norfolk Street and thence to Mosley Street. Peter Wainwright, the current President's great great great Grandfather, John Grimshaw, was one of the subscribers. An original copy of the prospectus is framed on display in the bar of the Bridgewater Room. Over the following years the Clarendon Club appeared in 1868 from the ashes of the Bridgewater Club formed in 1857, a direct descendant of the Albion Club originally established in 1837 on the site the present Club now occupies. A framed letter is displayed from the Treasurer, in 1837, of the Albion Club informing a new candidate that he had been elected and that the half years subscription of £2.12.6 was now due along with the entrance fee of £28.17.6.! In today's money a huge amount.

Over the ensuing years the Union Club prospered along with the Clarendon Club until in 1964 it was mutually decided that they should amalgamate, sell their individual Victorian premises, to enable the purchase of a modern purpose built club with 24 bedrooms. Naturally choosing the name for the amalgamated club was a source of animated debate. The dilemma was happily solved, the land which was bought occupied the former site of St James's Church in Charlotte Street, the obvious choice for the new name. Incidentally we have no connection with the St James's Club in London.

The new 14 floor building was topped out in 1966. We had the top 7 floors which housed 24 bedrooms, a squash court and a very grand snooker room, along with a variety of dining and meeting rooms. Sir Hugh Casson of Festival of Britain fame designed the interior.

The effluction of time and changing habits meant that we needed to look at the viability of owning and operating in such expensive premises. The General committee concluded in 1997 that we should sell our interest in these premises and look for a more suitable alternative. Not surprisingly we did lose members whilst we were without a home.

Happily we were able to open the doors here at 45 Spring Gardens on 14 February 2001 to both lady and gentlemen members. The building was most recently occupied by Barclays Bank. We own the freehold of the whole premise of 43-45 Spring Gardens. The Establishment Restaurant at number 43 on the ground floor is a subtenant of a lease from which the club derives no rental benefit for many years. There are 2 floors above the club's public rooms which are available for expansion when we are ready.

In common with all clubs owned by the members we enjoy reciprocal right to visit as members more than 70 clubs throughout the world, 9 of these are in London, 4 offer accommodation. We have locally a reciprocal arrangement with the Red Rose Club of the Lancashire County Cricket Club at Old Trafford, this is a very convenient for an inexpensive over night stay at their excellent Lodge and or to watch some cricket in the summer.

The Club is run by a small dedicated staff led by Roger Abreu. We are open for weekdays lunches. The club is open evenings when a function has been prearranged. So far we are not open at the weekends unless it is by special arrangement.

We are very happy to receive your enquiry, be it about holding a function here or with a view to joining as a member.

Please contact Roger Abreu the Club Manger and he will advise you of the best way to take your enquiry forward. We thoroughly enjoy and treasure our home from home in the City we sincerely hope you will also.

Yours most sincerely,

Charles Hadfield
Chairman.