So What Is The Best Club?

 

Whoa, tricky question because they're all good in their different ways. For sheer apex predator awesome it has to be White's. If you're a Prime Minister or own half the planet you may be invited to join. I'm not a member, oddly, and that's curious, because I am the Commandant of an irregular troop of light horse, the DLC (Dallas Light Cavalry). Huh.

Boodles

White's being shut to us, we move down St. James by a few hundred yards and land at Boodles. What a beautiful and comfortable Club! Winston Churchill used to sit in its storied bay window and watch passers by. I love that place and used to sit in its famous window, imagining Churchill's shade, but haven't been there in many years; I always think of the smell of coal fires when I remember it. It has, by the way, an amazing 18thC dining room and outstanding wine, obvs.

Carlton

So, walk across the road and what d'ye see? Brooks. I know nothing of Brooks. Keep walking and lo and behold, the Carlton Club. I used to enjoy that place in the '90s, when you could smoke in its Smoking Room and everything was cool and cashless. Just sign a chit, sorta thing. Haven't been there in ages. Still, you know it's good, there was a weighing machine next to the member's dining room. Perhaps there still is.

EIC

Next up. Carlton Club reverie over, stride forth into St. James Square, and what do you find? A veritable cornucopia of Clubs. The East India ain't shabby and offers a great Sunday lunch; order salmon and roast beef from the trolley if you're smart, and you won't be disappointed. 

In & Out

Replete, walk across the way to the Naval & Military (In & Out) to enjoy well-priced cocktails before heading over to the Reform Club on Pall Mall (not open on weekends apart from accommodation and an excellent breakfast). Excelsior. Of course there's others on that strip, notably the Travelers (Trav) and the Athenaeum, which I strangely haven't been to, all in good time. 

Speaking of which, there used to be place called the United Services Club, opposite the Athenaeum, which apparently set the officers mess tenor of Clubland. It's now something awful, the Institute of Directors, where people have business lunches and learn how to do Powerpoint when not checking the market on their phones. It is not a club, sadly, so don't be fooled.

NLC Bar

Pall Mall and Waterloo Place aside, you might want to keep walking towards Trafalgar Square, only to end up at the jolly old NatLib. Yes, the National Liberal Club, founded by Gladstone and still very much alive today. I like it for its exceptionally high ceilings and spectacular terrace overlooking the Embankment and its gardens. Most congenial and hardly snobby at all.

I love the Reform Club

Now, dear readers, all five of you, there are many more clubs and they're all awesome, but this quick shoot-out's based on the ones I mostly visit, apart from White's, and these days Boodles and the Carlton. My favorite? 

Unfair question because they're all most excellent, but I love the East India for Sunday lunch, the Reform for all 'round greatness, not least garden and architecture, the In & Out for a great courtyard where and for being in "Nancy Astor's place," not shabby, and the NatLib because rough and ready Gladstonian greatness, and you can smoke, eat and drink on its enormous terrace. So, each one is best in its particular way and what you want it for. Overall? I vote the Reform as the best on this list, but that's just me, I like them all.

So there you have it.

Clubland Forever,

LSP

Out & About - An Update

 

Where exactly? You ask in that exasperated kind of way. Well I'll spare you the detail but I've been in the UK, in London, in the beating heart of what was once the greatest empire in the world. Alas no longer, but the place's architecture reflects its glorious past.

Speaking of which, many of the city's Clubs still remain and I love them all, each good in their various way. That said, I enjoy the Reform on Pall Mall, utterly congenial, and if you stay there you get breakfast in the Coffee Room (Dining Room), which ain't shabby. 

So week one was all about setting up in Pall Mall and entertaining old friends in pleasant surroundings. Week two began with Sung Mass at St. Peter's London Docks, which is thriving, followed by outstanding beef from the trolley at the East India Club on St. James Square. Man, I tell you, their Sunday beef is exceptional, try it out if you get the chanace.

Then, the following day, ride the rails to Cheltenham and behold the slightly faded splendour of this beautiful spa town which used to be your home back in the mists of time. Still lovely, no doubt about it, but somehow more shabby. A friend who lives there agreed, "It's because they don't clean the streets and there's far more louts." He had a point.

Cheltenham over, drift back to London and a few nights in Soho followed by a weekend at the Reform and Sunday Mass at the Brompton Oratory. I love the Oratory and you might too. Oriented Latin Novus Ordo, recording quality music and the place is packed, there must've been well over a thousand souls at the Solemn High on Sunday.

Next step. Stroll down Knightsbridge with one of your sisters for yet another perfect Sunday lunch at the East India, followed by tea at the In & Out. Hey, if it's not broke, don't fix it. And this week? Just taking it easy, striding about town and visiting old haunts and friends before flying back to the great state of Texas on Friday.

All this by way of update, analysis, ahem, to follow.

Cheers,

LSP