A 'Gentlemen's club' is a members' private
club originally designed for male members of the
English upper class. Today, however, they are generally more open about the gender and social status of their potential members. As well, many countries outside the
United Kingdom have prominent gentlemen's clubs.
History
The original gentlemen's clubs were established in the
West End of
London. Even today, the area of
St. James's still sometimes is referred to as 'clubland'. Clubs took over the role occupied by
coffee houses in
18th century London to some degree, and reached the height of their influence in the late
19th century. Often, they were formed by groups of acquaintances who shared some interest or pursuit.
Gambling, usually on cards, was central to the activities of many. Others were characterised by their members' interest in
politics,
literature,
sport, or some other pursuit. In other cases, the connection between the members was membership of the same branch of the armed forces, or a background at the same university. Some of the older clubs were highly aristocratic, but over time, increasingly more were founded. By the late 19th century, any man with a credible claim to the status of "
gentleman" was able to find a club willing to admit him, unless his character was very objectionable in some way or he was "unclubbable" (incidentally, a word first used by
Samuel Johnson)
[1]. This came to include professionals who had to earn their income, such as doctors and lawyers.
It should be noted that public entertainments, such as musical performances and the like, were not a feature of this sort of club. The clubs were, in effect, "second homes" where men could relax, mix with their friends, play
parlour games and get a meal. They allowed upper- and upper-middle-class men with modest incomes to spend their time in grand surroundings; the richer clubs were built by the same architects as the finest
country houses of the time, and had the same types of interiors. They also were a convenient retreat for men who wished to get away from their female relations. Many men spent much of their lives in their club, some of which even offered overnight accommodation.
The class requirements softened gradually throughout the 19th and
20th centuries. In addition, beginning in the late 20th century, some clubs opened to women as guests and as members, partly to help keep up membership levels.
Current status
While it is true that traditional gentlemen's clubs no longer are as popular or influential as they once were, many have seen a resurgence of popularity in recent years. Some top clubs, however, still maintain distinctions which often are imperceptible and are rarely explained to those who do not satisfy their membership requirements. After reaching the top of a long waiting list, there is a real possibility of being
blackballed; the proposer of such a person is expected to resign, as he failed to withdraw his undesirable candidate.
Today, gentlemen's clubs exist throughout the world, predominantly in
Commonwealth countries and the
United States, i.e. the
Anglosphere. Many clubs offer reciprocal hospitality to other clubs' members when travelling abroad.
Different meanings of the term
In both
Japan and the
United States, the term "gentlemen's club" frequently is used to refer to
strip clubs - a trend increasingly common in the United Kingdom, with chains such as
Stringfellows and
Spearmint Rhino using the term in this way.
United Kingdom
There are perhaps some 25 London gentlemen's clubs of particular note, from the
Athenaeum to
White's, see the full
list of London's gentlemen's clubs. Many other estimable clubs (such as the
yacht clubs) have a specific character which places them outside the mainstream, or conversely may have sacrificed their individuality for the commercial interest of attracting enough members regardless of their common interests. (See article at
club for a further discussion of these distinctions.)
Discussion of trade or business usually is prohibited in London gentlemen's clubs, but increasingly more people in politics and business use clubs in the UK and around the world for debates and conferences on current affairs. For example, the
Commonwealth Club in London counts former
British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and
Australian Prime Minister John Howard as influential people who have spoken there. The use of such establishments for public discussion and debate, however, is in its infancy, as many of the larger and more established clubs strictly enforce their rules on such matters.
Quirks of membership
Some clubs have highly specific membership requirements. For example, the
Caledonian Club in London requires "being of direct Scottish descent, that is to say, tracing descent from a Scottish father or mother, grandfather or grandmother" or "having, in the opinion of the Committee, the closest association with Scotland." The
Travellers Club, from its foundation in
1819, has excluded from membership anyone ''"who has not travelled out of the
British Islands to a distance of at least five hundred miles from London in a direct line"''. The
Reform Club requires its potential members to attest that they would have supported the
1832 Reform Act, whilst the
East India Club requires attendance at one of its subscribing
public schools.
Australia
Australia has several gentlemen's clubs in
Sydney and
Melbourne. These include the
Australian Club, the
Melbourne Club, the
Weld Club, the Athenaeum Club (named after its counterpart in London), and the Savage Club.
South Africa
South Africa is home to the
Rand Club in downtown
Johannesburg.
United States
Most major cities in the
United States have at least one traditional gentlemen's club. Gentlemen's clubs are more prevalent, however, in older cities on the
east coast, such as
New York City (which has the largest number of prominent clubs),
Philadelphia,
Boston, and
Washington, D.C.. Many American clubs have reciprocal relationships with the older clubs in London, with each other, and with other clubs around the world. Some American clubs date to the 18th and 19th century, like their English counterparts.
See also
★
List of London's gentlemen's clubs
★
Country club
.jpg)
العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
Español
