It is also helped by the fact that it is housed (no pun intended) in the most beautiful buildings. Arranged over three magnificent Grade I and II listed buildings designed by Robert Adam and James Wyatt, Home House is a Grand Designs fan’s dream.
House 19, which hosts the bar and restaurant, has always been part of the club, but has benefited from a recent makeover and relaunch. The Bison Bar, while a delightful space, felt more like a traditional Mayfair gentleman’s club, and now, in the redesign, feels lighter and less masculine. Charcoal panels complement deep peppermint walls with shagreen slipper chairs and cut velvet armchairs extending a welcoming invitation to relax in front of the fireplace. The new, illuminated island bar opens up to reveal views onto the magnificent garden.
There is a new restaurant menu that has been created by Jeremy Brown (formerly of the Ritz and the Marco Pierre White Group). Traditional meats, such as breast of lamb, ham carved from the bone, pork belly and mutton will be on offer, in addition to a comprehensive seafood menu. If the canapés and drinks from the opening night party are anything to go by, it looks set to be a foodie’s idea of heaven.
House 19 will also feature art specially curated for the club, including works by a select group of renowned artists such as Rupert Shrive, Simon Edmondson and Jim Threapleton.
House 19 links seamlessly with the rest of the club, which includes some elegant entertaining spaces in No. 20 and the vibrant bars of No. 21, not to mention the courtyard garden and the subterranean night spot, The Vaults.
The other punters are mostly well heeled and beautiful West Enders, with a sprinkling of Media and East End creatives thrown in the mix. The staff are charm personified, and the drinks are to die for.
So what’s not to like? In short, nothing. With a great location, beautiful surroundings, and that exclusivity and style factor that lesser clubs can only aspire to, there is a reason why Home House occupies a space at the top table. It is a private members club, though, which means you either need to join, or know a member, to partake in the House 19 experience. Guess I'd best get to filling out my application.
Walton Woodford
more stories from Walton Woodford
Walton (aka the Big W) is a failed breakdancer, extras 'actor', rugby player and lead singer of a never-heard-of garage band who, disillusioned with his own lack of talent immigrated from NZ to the UK in the mid '90s. Since then he has dedicated his spare time to drinking and schmoozing his way around various bars pubs and clubs of high - and occasionally low - repute, and writing about them on his now retired blog The Perfect Bloody Mary. After 17 years in the City, he has now found his calling working in the travel industry, and of course, reviewing for HITC.
The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire
Hubris: How HBOS Wrecked the Best Bank in Britain
