Clubs of London

Episodi

• Boodle's: London's Quiet Survivor 29.06.2026 12min

  Founded in 1762, Boodle's is London's second-oldest club and one of its most understated. Unlike White's or Brooks's, it has never been defined by scandal or political intrigue. Instead, it built its reputation on comfort, privacy and tradition.In this episode of Clubs of London, we explore the story of the club named after a waiter, whose members have included Adam Smith, Edward Gibbon, Beau Brummell, Ian Fleming and Sir Winston Churchill. Along the way, we discover how Boodle's became the spiritual home of the English country gentleman, why Fleming considered it the ideal club, and how this remarkably peaceful institution has managed to survive for more than two and a half centuries.Sources: Anthony Lejeune's The Gentlemen's Clubs of London; Andrew Jones and Laura Hodgson's A London Club; the Boodle's Wikipedia page; and Geri Walton's 2014 article, Boodle's: A London Gentlemen's Club.Support on PatreonFollow on Instagram
• White’s: The Story of Britain’s Most Infamous Gentlemen’s Club 18.06.2026 15min

  For more than three centuries, White’s has stood at the centre of British establishment life. Born as a chocolate house in the seventeenth century, it evolved into the most famous gentlemen’s club in the world, a place associated with prime ministers, princes, gamblers, dandies, soldiers and some of the most powerful figures in British history.In this episode, we trace White’s extraordinary journey from Georgian gambling den to the pinnacle of London clubland. Along the way, we explore Beau Brummell’s famous bow window, aristocratic wagers, political influence, the Millionaires’ Squadron, Evelyn Waugh, Randolph Churchill, David Cameron and the controversies that continue to surround one of Britain’s most exclusive institutions.If you enjoyed this episode, follow Clubs of London on Instagram at @clubsoflondon. If you have stories, memories, or insights relating to London’s clubs, I'd love to hear from you at clubsoflondon@gmail.com.Anthony Lejeune, The Gentlemen’s Clubs of LondonEdward Couzens-Lake, White’s: London’s Most Exclusive ClubQuills & Quartos, White’s: A Gentleman’s World of ExclusivityWhite’s Club Wikipedia entryRAF Benevolent Fund — History of No. 601 SquadronForces News — The Millionaires’ Squadron
• Buck’s Club: The Birthplace of the Buck’s Fizz 05.06.2026 17min

  Buck’s Club is one of London’s most influential private members’ clubs. Founded by a group of young cavalry officers in the aftermath of the First World War, it became the birthplace of the Buck’s Fizz, inspired P. G. Wodehouse’s Drones Club and helped redefine what a gentlemen’s club could be in the twentieth century.In this episode, we explore the remarkable story of founder Herbert Buckmaster, the club’s wartime origins, its famous American Bar, the legendary barman McGarry and the colourful characters who have passed through its doors over the last century.If you enjoyed this episode, follow Clubs of London on Instagram at @clubsoflondon. If you have stories, memories, or insights relating to London’s clubs, I'd love to hear from you at clubsoflondon@gmail.com.SourcesAnthony Lejeune, The Gentlemen’s Clubs of LondonAndrew Jones & Laura Hodgson, A London ClubLew Toulmin, "Buck’s Club"Old Shirburnian Society — Herbert Buckmaster biography