The Walbrook

Spear's Review

The Walbrook was the last club designed by Mark Birley, and it opened its doors in 2000. Enviably located between Rothschilds and the Wren-designed Church of St Stephen, Walbrook, the club is housed in an exquisite Queen-Anne style red brick townhouse that wouldn’t look out of place in the countryside.

Originally the family offices of Lord Palumbo, the club is now managed by his son Philip Palumbo who has maintained the secrecy and exclusivity of this City-based institution. With 600 or so members at the latest count (100 more than Birley managed), the club is a haven for City grandees looking for some time out and the chance to network with like-minded financiers. There has been an impressive programme of events, with recent sessions including talks from Lord Mandelson, the exiled Crown Prince of Iran, the academic Kathleen Stock and Nadim Zahawi – among others. No wonder there are murmurs of an outpost further west.

The Walbrook does not trumpet its membership requirements, but it's understood that wealth or status alone are not sufficient to guarantee entry. Membership costs in the region of £750 per year.