LONDON’S BIGGEST CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 12 June 1923, Page 11

LONDON’S BIGGEST CLUB

AIMING AT 20,000 MEMBERSHIP. The London Club, which opened last month with a dinner, dance, and cabaret entertainment and a membership of 5000, is like no other club in the world declares the Manchester Guardian. It is the ambitious enterprise of a Glasgow man, Mr T. C. Gordon, who has had long experience as a caterer, and it came about in a new sort of way. Most clubs iorm a nucleus and then look for premises. Mr Gordon first found the spacious premises and then discovered how to make the best use of them. He has taken a huge place in King Street, that was lately a carriage repository. Before that it was the well-known Druce’s Bazaar, and more than a hundred years ago it was the barracks from which the Scots Greys went out to a great campaign. Large sums have been spent on alterations, and now it is a club with a huge hall where 150 people can dine or a thousand can dance, a billiard saloon equipped with 40 billiard tables, a table tennis room with 30 championship tables as well as reading, writing, smoking, and card rooms, tea lounges and quick-service buffets. It has a club license. It is large enough to accommodate 20,000 members, and this number will, it is hoped, be obtained. The impression one receives on entering is of whiteness, spaciousness, and bright but tempered light, and a rather awe-inspiring staff of uniformed attendants. The keeper of the inner door is a resplendent man with blue coat and magnificent crimson plush breeches The annual subscription is a guinea for men and half a guinea for women, and ten shillings for country members., candidates are asked to furnish such particulars as private and business address, nationality, age, rank, profession, or occupation, and not more than two references. The management reserve the right to return the membership fee within a month should a member not be considered suitable. The club closes at midnight and will be open all day.