Looking for a private gentlemans club in Dublin

delad

I'm looking for a club where I can go in, sit in a comfy armchair and enjoy a cognac in a quiet peaceful place. I want to get away from the crowd and the people who can't hold their drink.

I would like the place to be like a library, lots of oak paneling, it should have a carpet and there should be a fireplace, in winter time there will be a roaring fire.

I would be willing to pay up to 2,000 a year for membership of the club.

However I can't seem to be able to find any such places in Dublin, can anyone point me in the right direction? Most other big cities have such clubs so I would imagine Dublin has as well.

wicklowwonder

delad wrote: »

I'm looking for a club where I can go in, sit in a comfy armchair and enjoy a cognac in a quiet peaceful place. I want to get away from the crowd and the people who can't hold their drink.

I would like the place to be like a library, lots of oak paneling, it should have a carpet and there should be a fireplace, in winter time there will be a roaring fire.

I would be willing to pay up to 2,000 a year for membership of the club.

However I can't seem to be able to find any such places in Dublin, can anyone point me in the right direction? Most other big cities have such clubs so I would imagine Dublin has as well.

http://www.residence.ie

This might be what you are looking for? Not sure of prices etc or don't know any members but I do remember reading about it. They threw Gavin Lambe Murphy guy out one night.

wicklowwonder

Fairly sure RDS offer membership and I think Odessa do as well. There is a few workmans clubs as well, I think I remember reading here about one in Inchicore that has a great membership base.

delad

delad wrote: »

I'm looking for a club where I can go in, sit in a comfy armchair and enjoy a cognac in a quiet peaceful place. I want to get away from the crowd and the people who can't hold their drink.

I would like the place to be like a library, lots of oak paneling, it should have a carpet and there should be a fireplace, in winter time there will be a roaring fire.

I would be willing to pay up to 2,000 a year for membership of the club.

However I can't seem to be able to find any such places in Dublin, can anyone point me in the right direction? Most other big cities have such clubs so I would imagine Dublin has as well.

this sort of place is more what you're after.... http://www.sghc.ie/

MadsL

Odessa if you are in your thirties and don't need a snobby vibe.

http://odessa.ie/club/#reception

delad

Thanks for the replies. The hibernian is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for, but on their site it says there are a few steps to becoming a member and you have to call them or email them for more info. Fug that, I'm not going to jump through hoops to give someone my money.

The odessa looks good too but I don't think thats a private club, theres no mention of membership on the website.

Piliger

delad wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. The hibernian is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for, but on their site it says there are a few steps to becoming a member and you have to call them or email them for more info. Fug that, I'm not going to jump through hoops to give someone my money.

The odessa looks good too but I don't think thats a private club, theres no mention of membership on the website.

You're not going to find a quality club that won't make you jump through a few hoops. That's the whole point of trying create a club for special people and to keep out the dross.

delad

Piliger wrote: »

You're not going to find a quality club that won't make you jump through a few hoops. That's the whole point of trying create a club for special people and to keep out the dross.

Charging a few grand for membership keeps the dross out.

I'm tempted to start a movement to open a new private members club. If I could get 300 people willing to pay 2 grand a year, that would get us a very decent city centre location to lease and would enable us to hire a bar man and cleaners. We could have a snooker room, a poker room and then a nice bar room. We could also probably have a few bedrooms if people need a room the odd time (but there would have to be rules on the max number of times a year you could stay in a room).

Yellowblackbird

Many reckless, high-stakes wagers will be made in this club I'll warrant.
Ambitious men will launch on wild adventures from these august rooms.
Kings will be made and broken. And empires fall.

delad

Yellowblackbird wrote: »

Many reckless, high-stakes wagers will be made in this club I'll warrant.
Ambitious men will launch on wild adventures from these august rooms.
Kings will be made and broken. And empires fall.

Sounds good to me!

Actually after a quick look on daft it seems we don't even need to lease the place, we coud buy it.

I think this could be the ideal location for the club, we wouldn't even need to change it much:

http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=624901

Convenient location, luxurious. We could probably get it for 850k. So if we had 300 members paying 2k, we could put a downpayment of 600k on it and then take out a loan for the remainder, which we would pay off the next year. Then the place would be ours forever!

Or we could go for this place at 425k and not even need to take out a loan:

http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=666826

It might need a bit of renovation but not much.

Let me know who is interested and I'll start a facebook page and get the ball rolling to sign up members. It'll be the best 2k you'll ever spend!

retroactive

Steven's Greens Gentlemen's club.

Kildare Street Gentlemen's club.

The upstairs of the Stevens Green club is exactly as you describe, library, oak, folded newspapers and everything is handled through tab. Unfortunately, I believe they only work on a referral basis.

anncoates

delad wrote: »

Yellowblackbird wrote: »

Many reckless, high-stakes wagers will be made in this club I'll warrant.
Ambitious men will launch on wild adventures from these august rooms.
Kings will be made and broken. And empires fall.

Sounds good to me!

Actually after a quick look on daft it seems we don't even need to lease the place, we coud buy it.

I think this could be the ideal location for the club, we wouldn't even need to change it much:

http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=624901

Convenient location, luxurious. We could probably get it for 850k. So if we had 300 members paying 2k, we could put a downpayment of 600k on it and then take out a loan for the remainder, which we would pay off the next year. Then the place would be ours forever!

Or we could go for this place at 425k and not even need to take out a loan:

http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=666826

It might need a bit of renovation but not much.

Let me know who is interested and I'll start a facebook page and get the ball rolling to sign up members. It'll be the best 2k you'll ever spend!

Yeah I could certainly see no problems with 300 people owning the property.

delad

anncoates wrote: »

Yeah I could certainly see no problems with 300 people owning the property.

Its no different to how most other private clubs are owned. The members share in the benefits of the club and as mentioned could stay in the bedrooms a certain amount of times per year. But its not like 300 people will be turning up with all their belongings and expecting to live in the place.

The owners of the club could at some stage decide to let in some new members (who would not own the club) and their fee's could pay for the upkeep of the property and staff and any money left over would be a profit for the owners.

MadsL

delad wrote: »

The odessa looks good too but I don't think thats a private club, theres no mention of membership on the website.

It used to be - looks like they have dropped the membership. Go if you get a chance to Kaleidoscope night absolutely awesome chamber music meets nightclub concept. Sells out like crazy though, book a month ahead. Call the club for details.

If you would be prepared to up your initial investment to $30k with $600 monthly dues you could try this small place in Vegas.

http://www.presidentialclub.com/

Cienciano

delad wrote: »

Charging a few grand for membership keeps the dross out.

I'm tempted to start a movement to open a new private members club. If I could get 300 people willing to pay 2 grand a year, that would get us a very decent city centre location to lease and would enable us to hire a bar man and cleaners. We could have a snooker room, a poker room and then a nice bar room. We could also probably have a few bedrooms if people need a room the odd time (but there would have to be rules on the max number of times a year you could stay in a room).

And you think finding 300 people to shell out 2k a year before they had a drink will be easier than sending an email to the hibernian club?

Miguel_Sanchez

delad wrote: »

Charging a few grand for membership keeps the dross out.

Depends on how you define 'dross' really. :pac:

I thought Residence closed down a few years ago - maybe it just went into examinership though.

Ben D Bus

delad wrote: »

Charging a few grand for membership keeps the dross out.

Not a chance. Using cash as the only filter would fill the place with all the rich dross who weren't admitted to the nice clubs

And if there's one thing worse than dross, it's rich dross. Celebrities, sports people, drug dealers, lotto winners - the list goes on!

Tabnabs

I know a few members of the Hibernian Club and many members of the private Yacht Clubs in Dun Laoghaire (many of whom do not own boats). You could view 2k as loose change and they'd still politely but stiffly refuse your application.

These are places where occupation and lineage are more important than bank balance. The Royal Irish YC in the boom years only accepted one in every seven applications for example. Even in the depths of recessions, these clubs are still ticking over quietly and comfortably.

I suggest you go have a chat with the http://www.sghc.ie/ and see what kind of people frequent these clubs before you reinventing the wheel.

Cienciano

Tabnabs wrote: »

I know a few members of the Hibernian Club and many members of the private Yacht Clubs in Dun Laoghaire (many of whom do not own boats). You could view 2k as loose change and they'd still politely but stiffly refuse your application.

These are places where occupation and lineage are more important than bank balance. The Royal Irish YC in the boom years only accepted one in every seven applications for example. Even in the depths of recessions, these clubs are still ticking over quietly and comfortably.

I suggest you go have a chat with the http://www.sghc.ie/ and see what kind of people frequent these clubs before you reinventing the wheel.

Yeah, I know a member (hibernian club) and he's loaded. Lives in georgian townhouse in D4 which cost about €5m, and is from a wealthy family. I doubt they allow plebs like OP in. No offence op, I mean it's rich folk only.

OldGoat

"I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member." - Groucho Marx

The above logic cannot be faulted. I would be the ruination of any club. I'd have my unshod feet upon the tables, drink whisky in wine glasses and drink wine by the neck. I will eat venison out of season and never pay out on lost bets. I will whore and fart by necessity with no qualms as to my peers senseabilities. I will cheat at cards and at dice. I will keep company with dubious and unsavoury characters. My tailor has disowned me.

I find I have more need for a Rogues Den then a Gentlemans Club

delad

Cienciano wrote: »

And you think finding 300 people to shell out 2k a year before they had a drink will be easier than sending an email to the hibernian club?

It wasn't "send an email to join", it was send an email to us so we can tell you the list of steps needed to join.

Miguel_Sanchez

OldGoat wrote: »

"I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member." - Groucho Marx

The above logic cannot be faulted. I would be the ruination of any club. I'd have my unshod feet upon the tables, drink whisky in wine glasses and drink wine by the neck. I will eat venison out of season and never pay out on lost bets. I will whore and fart by necessity with no qualms as to my peers senseabilities. I will cheat at cards and at dice. I will keep company with dubious and unsavoury characters. My tailor has disowned me.

I find I have more need for a Rogues Den then a Gentlemans Club

I want to join your club Sir.

BOHtox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5tZMDBXTRQ

WoollyRedHat

Start a new gentlemans club. Call it the Boyos and their cigars. Smoke cigars and laugh as you sit in your dressing gown while latino women bathe and sing to you.

[Jackass]

I've been (a guest) in the Stephens Green club a few times. I don't know what the membership fees are like, but membership is based on a few factors, you must get a referal firstly, but I think you also must go for an informal meeting with them. They don't want anybody who has more money than sense, the point of these clubs is that it's a rich business mans club, so unless you bring something to the table like being amongst the best in your profession or being a serial business investor or a specialist of some kind, they don't want to know you really. It's about networking and an escape from Joe Public to dine and drink with similar people.

Not my cup of tea, but if you wanted to join, it's not easy. Mail them if you like, but unless you know someone, I'm afraid you're going to have to continue to sip your sherry in the pub beside me, whilst I drunkingly rant, whilst inadvertently spit whilst I talk, about the banking scum and how I would be a brilliant Taoseach. Cheers, it's your round.

Hibernian club may not be around for much longer...

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0229/1224312516884.html

looks like the good fellows have decided to sell up.

Cienciano

delad wrote: »

It wasn't "send an email to join", it was send an email to us so we can tell you the list of steps needed to join.

Unless you have no problem with skangers in there, that's expected. Remember that picture of skangers going around with walking sticks? Probably loads of scummers like that who would join.

[Jackass] wrote: »

I've been (a guest) in the Stephens Green club a few times. I don't know what the membership fees are like, but membership is based on a few factors, you must get a referal firstly, but I think you also must go for an informal meeting with them. They don't want anybody who has more money than sense, the point of these clubs is that it's a rich business mans club, so unless you bring something to the table like being amongst the best in your profession or being a serial business investor or a specialist of some kind, they don't want to know you really. It's about networking and an escape from Joe Public to dine and drink with similar people.

Not my cup of tea, but if you wanted to join, it's not easy. Mail them if you like, but unless you know someone, I'm afraid you're going to have to continue to sip your sherry in the pub beside me, whilst I drunkingly rant, whilst inadvertently spit whilst I talk, about the banking scum and how I would be a brilliant Taoseach. Cheers, it's your round.

Or in my mates case, having a rich dad that gave you a top job in his business.

Tabnabs

glasso wrote: »

Hibernian club may not be around for much longer...

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0229/1224312516884.html

looks like the good fellows have decided to sell up.

From their website

2004 saw the closure of the Hibernian United Services Club at No 8 St Stephens Green and the subsequent amalgamation with The Stephen’s Green Club to form The Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club. With a continually growing membership, it is now the largest of the private members clubs on St Stephen’s Green. In 2005 a refurbishment programme commenced at the Club. This is the largest scale upgrade that the Club has seen in the last fifty years. The programme includes the refurbishment of the twelve bedrooms, the installation of a lift, the development of a second snooker room and the redecoration of the public areas.

juan.kerr

glasso wrote: »

this sort of place is more what you're after.... http://www.sghc.ie/

I'm glad they don't mention the cost as that would be too common.

Easy Rod

Think i've found what you're looking for.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1136

Miguel_Sanchez

juan.kerr wrote: »

I'm glad they don't mention the cost as that would be too common.

If one has to ask the price then one simply can't afford it.

*adjusts monocle*

delad

Cienciano wrote: »

Unless you have no problem with skangers in there, that's expected. Remember that picture of skangers going around with walking sticks? Probably loads of scummers like that who would join.

Somehow I doubt there are many skangers out there willing to fork out 2k per year for membership of a bar which has men sitting in armchairs drinking whiskey and reading the financial times.

The very nature of the place also dissuades a lot of other undesirable clientele from joining, such as celebs, models and wannabes because none of that crowd would want to go to a quiet sophisticated establishment. All of them would much rather go to the likes of residence/kyrstle/odessa etc

Piliger

Cienciano wrote: »

Yeah, I know a member (hibernian club) and he's loaded. Lives in georgian townhouse in D4 which cost about €5m, and is from a wealthy family. I doubt they allow plebs like OP in. No offence op, I mean it's rich folk only.

I have been a guest to both of the main places mentioned here on a few dozen occasions over the last 25 years. It's mainly self made well off business people and there is a huge amount of cross pollination of business and contacts and referrals. I made some of the best business contacts ever there, and won contracts through these clubs. The image among the reverse snobs couldn't be further from the truth. I was on a waiting list at one stage for about 7 years but changed career and went another direction.

Miguel_Sanchez

Piliger wrote: »

The image among the reverse snobs couldn't be further from the truth. I was on a waiting list at one stage for about 7 years but changed career and went another direction.

The only image I have of them is you have to have money and they're picky about who they let in. Seems pretty accurate from your description.

Piliger

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

The only image I have of them is you have to have money and they're picky about who they let in. Seems pretty accurate from your description.

You're abs right. But among the members there is very little evidence of a class thing. I found working class guys and ladies there, who had built businesses from scratch, as well as people who came from family money and continued success. All kinds.

donaghs

delad wrote: »

Sounds good to me!

Actually after a quick look on daft it seems we don't even need to lease the place, we coud buy it.

I think this could be the ideal location for the club, we wouldn't even need to change it much:

http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=624901

Convenient location, luxurious. We could probably get it for 850k. So if we had 300 members paying 2k, we could put a downpayment of 600k on it and then take out a loan for the remainder, which we would pay off the next year. Then the place would be ours forever!

If I'm not mistaken, that building is an old stable/coach house. Very fitting!

Tabnabs

Piliger wrote: »

You're abs right. But among the members there is very little evidence of a class thing. I found working class guys and ladies there, who had built businesses from scratch, as well as people who came from family money and continued success. All kinds.

Go on, you can tell us, it was Bill Cullen wasn't it

Piliger

Tabnabs wrote: »

Go on, you can tell us, it was Bill Cullen wasn't it

Actually ... seeing as how you mention it ........ ¢§#¢§ ¢§ˆ ¡€#¢§ˆ #¢§ˆ¶¨ §ˆ¶ §ˆ¶¨ª

Dublinate

I just wanted to make some clarity here and, as I'm an insider on this subject, I feel I can clear the fog:

There are several private members clubs in and around Dublin and throughout Ireland, these include golf course clubs like The K Club, the Royal Irish Automobile Club, casinos etc.

In Dublin city centre there are only two exclusive private members clubs in the old gentleman's club style: The SGHC and The Kildare Street Club (The KSC).

Residence, although a beautiful bijou club, is not strictly a exclusive private members club, as anyone can go in to some of the areas with a prior reservation; their 7 day liquor licence prevents them from being exclusive and it has a major disadvantage in having no bedrooms.

A little background: The SGHC and The KSC have long histories and were founded around the start of the 19th Century. 100 years ago there were some 35 private members clubs in Dublin, over the years these have closed and amalgamated into the two main ones that survive today. These clubs were set up so gentlemen of means, education and standards could socialise in peace and without scandal.

The SGHC is viewed as the club for business men, ex-military and the Irish establishment and is generally considered to have republican leanings although a very pale version of republicanism.

The KSC is the club for the professional class, old money and the aristocracy and is considered to have unionist leanings.

Both clubs operate a strict dress code of jacket and tie for gents and similar suitable formal wear for ladies, this is sometimes relaxed at the weekends and during warm weather; jeans are a major no no, be warned!

Of the two The KSC is the most like the 'Phillias Fog' vision of an old time gentlemen's club with walls adorned with old oil paintings of former members, but both Dublin clubs are smaller than many overseas clubs.

The SGHC is the most recent amalgamation, this between the Hibernian United Services Club and The Stephen's Green Club; an amalgamation with more to say than you'd think; the founding members included The Duke of Wellington for the HUSC and Daniel O'Connell for The SGC.

The exclusive nature of these clubs means that not just anyone can be a member; but in these more restrained times membership standards have been relaxed and widened, even ladies can be members! :-p

Money is not the mark by which you are judged fit to be a member.

These clubs draw their membership from many different backgrounds including from the banking industry (when it was held in good hands and high regard) and the legal profession; so if you are applying and you have any kind of dodgy background, they will find out.

The SGHC counts many civil servants as members (both retired and still serving) as well as politicians, diplomats and ex-presidents of Ireland.

The KSC is the city home of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy.

As for celebrity; most celebs crave attention and they don't get that in a private club where everyone is treated equally, so many of the "names" quoted are never seen, and high profile politicians would rather not be members, it don't look good to the voters. Instead these clubs attract the powers behind the thrones, the ones you don't see coming, the ones that don't appear on the Sunday Times rich list...but should be in the top 100.

The advantages of club membership are not restricted to the networking possibilities or finding people with common interests and good conversation (sometimes) or a game of snooker at 3 in the morning (gambling is not allowed in most clubs). Reciprocal rights give you the opportunity to stay in other exclusive clubs around the world like the Algonquin Club in Boston or The Reform Club in London.

From the description of the two Dublin clubs you can readily gauge that each and every club has its own unique character; some are welcoming and engaging, others are more reserved and cool, others still are more family orientated, some, like the Groucho club draw their membership from particular backgrounds and industries.

It is true that membership of these clubs brings a shared ownership, but it is an ownership held in trust and so cannot be readily liquidated for obvious reasons. Membership cannot be bought or sold and some of the most exclusive clubs are found in The US. I know of one club that limits its membership to only 450 people, sons and daughters are lined up and can only join when the parent dies, the annual fee is in excess of 450K, yet its a relaxed laid back beach front property with no dress code full of surf bums...go figure, but that's California for you.

The OP seems to think that throwing money around is the way to ensure exclusivity, it is not. He would be better off spending his money in hotel bars where prices tend to keep out the poor hoi polloi...(but not the rich hoi polloi).

Private members clubs are not for everyone's taste; but that's why they exist and why they are exclusive; the membership process should be seen as saying not that they don't want you as a member, but more as "you won't like us and you wont fit in so please don't waste your money".

frag420

Dublinate wrote: »

I know of one club that limits its membership to only 450 people, sons and daughters are lined up and can only join when the parent dies, the annual fee is in excess of 450K, yet its a relaxed laid back beach front property with no dress code full of surf bums...go figure, but that's California for you.

Must start saving...................sounds ideal!!

Happyman42

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

I want to join your club Sir.

So do I....tell me kind sir, will there be kerfuffling?

frag420

Also will there be space to stable Archibald my polo stallion?

él statutorio

Dublinate wrote: »

I know of one club that limits its membership to only 450 people, sons and daughters are lined up and can only join when the parent dies, the annual fee is in excess of 450K, yet its a relaxed laid back beach front property with no dress code full of surf bums...go figure, but that's California for you.

I'm very curious as to where in California this particular club is, would you be will to tell us the city in which it's located?