History of the Club

From 1825 to the present day – the name, the place, the parties.

There has been a St James’s Club in London’s West End since at least 1825. The building which now houses this legendary institution is 7 Park Place, built in 1892 and no stranger to the celebrity and occasional notoriety, that has always attached itself to London’s clubland.

In 1889, the news that 'the police made a raid on the Field Club at 7 Parl Palce, St James Street at 2 o'clock this morning and found gambling going on' was sufficiently shocking to make the pagesof the New York Times. Among those arrested were Lords, Earls and Barons.

At the same time, the St James’s Club (then housed at 106 Piccadilly) was home to the Dilettanti Society.

The club and the building were clearly made for each other, and eventually became one in 1981, when a new St James’s Club was opened by the entrepreneur Peter de Savary, who quickly rekindled the glamour and spirit of the original.

With Sir John Mills as honorary chairman, and a committee which included Roger Moore, Michael Caine, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore and Gregory Peck, the Club became a meeting point for the 1980s jet-set and bon-viveurs, coining the phrase ‘where else, but at the St James’s Club’.

Whilst changing hands in the 80s and 90s, the Club retained its exclusive membership as well as a continuous stream of glamorous guests at post-show parties, media launches and events.

The Duke of Edinburgh signed the visitors’ book. Tina Turner took up residence for nine weeks while touring the UK. Mayor Rudolph Giulani was amongst those who booked in while in London to receive an honour at Buckingham Palace. Al Pacino stayed during his West End run. Sir John Mills celebrated his 91^st birthday here.

We can boast about the famous names as we look back – but, of course current members and guests are assured of absolute discretion – at least until the next chapter in the history of the famous St James’s Club is written!