Brooks's of London was founded in 1764 as the Almack's Coffee House in Pall Mall. The 27 founding members included the highest levels of British upper class society. The idea was to create a place for upper class men to socialize away from home and obligation.
Brooks's Early History
Originally, William Macall, who ran Almack's Assembly Rooms, also managed Almack's Coffee House. During this time Brooks's was both a gaming and social club for men. Soon a founding member named Brooks took over the establishment.
After Brooks's purchased the club, Henry Holland designed a new building on St. James Street. The club moved into the new building on St. James Street in 1778 and remains there today.
The club attracted many illustrious members such as Charles Fox, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, David Garrick, Horace Walpole, Lord Robert Spencer, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Beau Brummell. The Prince of Wales also visited Brooks's frequently until Brooks's denied admittance to his friend Jack Payne.
In the 1790's, the club allowed a maximum of 450 members and charged each member annual dues of ten guineas. An entrance fee of five guineas was also charged at the club.
18th and 19th Century Club Life
Brooks's was the type of place where a man could meet his friends at any hour of the day or night without interference from women. Meals were served at the club. Rooms were available if someone wanted to stay overnight. Numerous game rooms provided entertainment at all hours.
Brooks's was a popular exclusive gambling club for the upper class. The club was known for high stakes games. Members could gamble any time of the day or all night, if desired. Common games included whist and hazard. Betting books were also kept at the club for the entertainment of members. The club often deducted debts from a member's winnings so that no bills for outstanding debt were necessary.
Political Ties
While Brooks's was known as a gaming club, it was also known as a Whig club. Influential members of British society including the Prince Regent frequented Brooks's. The social club was a place where upper class men could engage in political discussions and form powerful alliances to support Whig interests.
Brooks's Today
Brooks's remains one of Great Britain's most exclusive gentlemen's clubs and maintains many original traditions. Women are still not admitted into membership. Noteworthy members include Andrew Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire, John Colvin, Claus von Bulow, Nigel Strutt, Alan Clark and Sir Alan Campbell.
Sources:
Moers, Ellen, The Dandy: Brummell to Beerbohm, The Viking Press, Inc. 1960
Margetson, Stella, Regency London, Prawger Publishers, Inc. 1971
Hughes, Kristine, The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Regency and Victorian England From 1811-1901, Writer's Digest Books 1998
 |
