Soho House (club)

Soho House
Formation 1995
Type Private members' club
Headquarters 72–74 Dean Street, London, England
Location
  • Worldwide
Membership
private persons
Leader Ron Burkle
Website www.sohohouse.com

Soho House is a hotel chain [1] and group of private members' clubs originally aimed at those in the arts and media, but more recently expanded to include those with a 'creative soul'.[2] The original location is at 40 Greek Street, Soho, London. The company now operates clubs, hotels and venues around the world, and in 2015 changed from SOHO House Group to Soho House & Co.[3] Membership is selective and members are drawn mainly from the media, arts and fashion industries.[4][5]

History & Ownership

Nick Jones (Soho House founder and previous managing director) sold 80% of the club to British high-street tycoon Richard Caring in 2008.[6] On 13 January 2012 the Financial Times announced that 60% of Soho House Group had been acquired by the US billionaire Ron Burkle, through his investment fund Yucaipa for approx. £250m, with founder Nick Jones retaining 10% and Richard Caring (Caprice Holdings) 30%, however, in September 2015 the company’s high leverage and limited free cashflow was under scrutiny by fixed income investors.[7][3][8] However, company profit potential has been affected by growth in new clubs.[9]

Clubs (Private)

Soho House in Toronto
The rooftop at Soho House in New York

In July 2018, Soho House held 23 clubs worldwide.

Country Clubs
 United Kingdom 9
 United States 8[10]
 Germany 1
 Spain 2
 Turkey 1
 Canada 1
 Netherlands 1
 India 1

Specific Club locations include: including Barcelona, Berlin, Chicago, Istanbul, West Hollywood, Malibu, Miami, Mumbai, Toronto, New York City and include Babington House and Electric Cinema, Notting Hill.[11]

Membership

Soho House membership policies focus on creativity "above net worth and job titles" with "studied resistance to ostentation...[and] cultivated status signifiers," and favour moral values over financial success ("several execs were banned because they were thought to be abusive to their assistants")[12] In June 2015, Soho House had over 50,000 members and a global waiting list of over 30,000.[8]

Founding members

Soho House New York was featured in season 6 of the TV Series Sex and the City in an episode titled "Boy Interrupted". In this episode, Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) pretends to be a member by using a stolen membership card.[13] On 16 August 2017, the film Tulip Fever (starring Alicia Vikander) was first screened at London's Soho House.[14]

Controversies

In 2009, more than 80 residents signed an appeal by a neighborhood association against allowing Soho House to move into the top two floors of Luckman Plaza in West Hollywood, near Los Angeles. The opening of the West Hollywood location also drew opposition from Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Krasne.[15] In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, an attempt to open a new club also meets fierce protests.[16] An Amsterdam House opened nonetheless in August 2018 , as well as a second house in Barcelona .

References

  1. ↑ d’Arcy, Susan (2018-04-22). "White City House: exclusive review of the new Soho House hotel at BBC Television Centre". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  2. ↑ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (30 October 2016). "Soho House struggles to maintain appeal for 'magic people'". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Nick Jones on the opening of Soho Farmhouse". The Caterer (Janet Harmer). 27 August 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Wong, Pamela (18 April 2017). "Members Only: Soho House Joins High-End Hotel, Condos In DUMBO – BKLYNER". BKLYNER. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  5. ↑ Baum, Gary. "L.A.'s Soho House Turns 5: Membership Rejections, Success Secrets Revealed in Oral History". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Addley, Esther (2012-01-13). "Soho House agrees £250m deal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
  7. ↑ "US billionaire Burkle buys UK's Soho House". Financial Times ft.com. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Finance returns the favour and snubs Soho House". Reuters (Robert Smith). 25 April 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "Membership Is Closer than You Think". Bloomberg (Lionel Laurent). 5 February 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  10. ↑ https://sf.eater.com/2018/2/6/16982342/sf-armory-soho-house-club-mission
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "L.A.'s Soho House Turns 5: Membership Rejections, Success Secrets Revealed in Oral History". 27March2015. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  13. ↑ Freydkin, Donna (7 August 2003). "NYC's Soho House: Celebrity members only". USA Today. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "Alicia Vikander goes glam in gothic gown as she leaves boyfriend Michael Fassbender at home to attend star-studded screening for Tulip Fever". The Daily Mail. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  15. ↑ Alexandra Zavis, West Hollywood residents object to plans for new club Los Angeles Times, 16 August 2009.
  16. ↑ Sterre van der Hee, Folia Civitatis, 23 juli 2017.
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