Some Useful Links
The old Eccentric Club used to have reciprocal arrangements with numerous clubs, both in the UK and overseas. We plan to re-establish many of them, although the absence of our permanent clubhouse at the moment is a serious, albeit temporary, drawback to that process.
In the meantime, we would like to recommend you a selection of reputable and interesting organisations and websites worth visiting.
URGENT!
PLEASE JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE COLONY ROOM'S CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THEIR PREMISES IN DEAN STREET, SOHO, LONDON - VISIT: http://www.savethecolonyclub.com/
| Clubs & Organisations |
| The Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall - The Athenaeum Club stands proudly at 107 Pall Mall, London, at the corner of Waterloo Place, since 1827 (the Club itself was founded in 1824). It is noted for its large library, and for a bas-relief frieze decorating the club house exterior. It was long regarded as a clergymen's club and boasts bishops, Cabinet Members, and peers amongst its members. The club's facilities include a dining room, a smoking room and a suite of bedrooms. A notable feature of the Club's clock which hangs above the stairs is that it has two figure sevens and no figure eight, the reason for which is uncertain. The membership of the Athenæum was originally limited to one thousand, and the waiting list was always long. The cost of the magnificent premises had resulted in a deficit of some £20,000 and 200 supernumerary members were elected in 1832 to restore the finances.
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| Savile Club - The Savile Club, in the heart of Mayfair, is one of the most prestigious private clubs in Britain. Established in 1868 and occupying a very fine 18th Century house, its distinguished history has made it famous within Britain's literary, academic and artistic circles.
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| East India Club - The East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools' Club, usually known as the East India Club, is a gentlemen's club founded in 1849 and situated at 16 St. James's Square in London. Membership of the club is by selection and nomination.
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| The Oriental Club - Located in a quiet cul de sac in the heart of the West End, just off Oxford Street, the Oriental Club is a Private Gentlemen's Club founded in 1824 by and for the benefit of members of or retired from the East India Company. The general purpose of the Club set by the original founders, which included the Duke of Wellington and General Sir John Malcolm remains unchanged; to provide a meeting place for like minded people.
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| The Arts Club - 'Home to the Muse and the Amuse'. Founded in 1863 in London as a meeting place primarily for artists and writers. The Arts Club was a hub of the arts during the 19th century and, although a social venue, it was known to be a place where influence could be exerted and careers developed. It was seen as the power house behind the dealings of the Royal Academy. Its members and guests included Dickens, Millais, Whistler, Kipling, Monet, Rodin, Degas and Turgenev.
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| The Chelsea Arts Club - The Chelsea Arts Club was established in 1891 in Chelsea, as a rival to the older Arts Club in Mayfair, on the instigation of the artist James Abbot McNeill Whistler. It is a private members club and has a waiting list for new applicants, who have to be sponsored by current members. It has a membership of 2,400 including artists, poets and writers, photographers and filmmakers.
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| The Savage Club - The Savage Club was founded in 1857 and remains one of the leading Bohemian Gentleman's Clubs in London. Members are classified into one of the six Membership categories which best describes their main interest. This might identify with a Member's profession, but not necessarily so. There is many a Savage with more than a passing interest in one or more of the Membership categories, but who practises none professionally. This is not to imply that any gentleman can become a Savage: in this, as in other imprecise areas of life, personal qualities are decisive. It is sometimes an indication of suitability that a candidate has pursuits or attainments of a personal nature which would qualify him for Membership. A gentleman who would be equally comfortable in more than one category is at liberty to choose.
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| Association of London Clubs - The principal objectives of The Association of London Clubs are to provide a forum for the discussion of matters of common interest to the Clubs that are Members of The Association and, if and when necessary or desirable, to promote united action or take action on behalf of Member Clubs. Clubs shall be eligible for membership of The Association of London Clubs when the main Clubhouse is based within the Greater London area and have been continuously in existence for at least five years. Exceptionally, The Association may elect to membership a Club which has a postal address outside the Greater London area but which is situate within the M25 circumference. The Club shall have a minimum of 200 Members and the full annual subscription charge shall be at least twenty-five pounds and shall have printed Rules and Regulations. The Rules shall provide, inter alia, for the election of a Committee at a General Meeting of the Members and for the election to membership by a Committee or by a ballot of the Members.
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| The Groucho Club - The Groucho Club was opened in 1985 and is located on Dean Street in Soho, London. Open to men and women, its original membership was drawn from the publishing world, but has expanded over the years to include all creative fields of the media and arts.
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| The Ghost Club - Founded in 1862, the oldest organisation in the world associated with psychical research. Our prime interest is that of paranormal phenomena associated with ghosts and hauntings.
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| The Grand Order of Water Rats - Film Stars to Punch and Judy Men; Pop Stars to Sporting Heroes; Comics to Dramatic Actors; Musicians to Television Presenters; Magicians to Photographers; Radio Stars to Royalty. The Grand Order of Water Rats exists as a wonderful Fraternity and Charitable Organisation.
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| Pushkin House - Pushkin House has been established to serve as a home and dedicated showcase for Russian culture in London, a focus for Anglo-Russian cultural exchange, a provider of education and information on Russian language and culture, a resource and networking centre for individuals and institutions. In pursuit of these aims, Pushkin House has developed a lively and varied cultural programme on Russian literature, art, film, music, theatre and dance, as well as history, philosophy and politics. Events include lectures and talks, seminars, conferences, exhibitions, films, concerts and readings. The House also has its own reference library of Russian culture. The house is named after the much celebrated 19th century Russian poet of a mixed descent (including Ethiopian!) who was fairly eccentric in many ways.
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| The Sherlock Holmes Society of London - Founded in 1951, the Society is open to anyone with an interest in Sherlock Holmes, Dr John H. Watson and their world. It is a literary and social Society, publishing a scholarly Journal and occasional papers, and holding meetings, dinners and excursions.
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| The Veteran-Cycle Club - The Veteran-Cycle Club was originally formed in 1955 to promote the riding and conservation of old cycles in addition to the study and exchange of information about the history of cycles and cycling. Today the club has grown to over 2300 members from all over the world who enjoy many benefits and services through club membership. The club includes all cycles from tandems to tricycles - from solid-tyred machines through roadsters to classic lightweights and beyond - in fact anything collectable or of interest.
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| Campaign Against Political Correctness - The Campaign Against Political Correctness is a non-partisan organisation which was set up by John and Laura Midgley.
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| The Eccentric Club USA - The Gloversville Intelligencer of March 18, 1882 published a story that read "A new club called "The Eccentrics" has been organized with rooms on the third floor of the Cohen Building. There are now fifteen members. They have a billiard room and nicely furnished parlor containing a piano and other pleasing attractions." The name "The Eccentric Club" was suggested by an early member, Asa B. Peake, who said that his idea for this name came from the book "Around the World in Eighty Days" by Jules Verne. Due to quick growth the Club outgrew the third floor rooms and moved on building south on Main Street to the third floor of what was then called the
Apfelbaum Building. The Club has hosted many prominent men in it's day including, Theodore
Roosevelt, Joseph G. Cannon, Chauncey M. Depew and numerous others. The highest membership recorded reached 300.
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| The Lambs Club USA - The Lambs® is America's First Professional Theatrical Club, established in New York in 1874. The Lambs was named after a club by the same name in London, England, which flourished between 1869-1879. The club's name honors the essayist Charles Lamb, and his sister Mary, who - during the early 1800's - played host to actors and literati at their famed salon in London. The Lambs is a social gathering place for persons in the performing arts. Performers, directors, writers, artists and technicians of the entertainment industry gather to celebrate their commonality. The Club is a place where members come to enjoy each others' company, and to display and hone their crafts in an atmosphere of creativity and support. The Lambs used to have a reciprocal arrangement with the old Eccentric Club.
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| Notting Hill Arts Club - Predating by over 9 years the current bar/club revolution, the nottinghillartsclub is a specialist pioneering music and arts venue. Through conceptualising and cultivating niche, underground and genre defining club nights (such as Radio4, Beachclub, Brazilian Love Affair, Lazy Dog, One World Live, Inspiration Information, RoTa, Futuro Flamenco to name but a few), the nottinghillartsclub has set the musical map of London.
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| The Colony Room Club - Artistic members only drinking club in Soho, London
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| 1901 Arts Club - Located in the heart of London at the Southbank, the 1901 Arts Club is a unique venue committed to connecting musicians, artists and persons who share an appreciation and interest for the arts, with regards to its role within society. Inspired by Europe's Salon Culture, the Club seeks to foster conversation, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas.
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| The Handlebar Club - The club was founded in April 1947 in the dressing room of comedian Jimmy Edwards at The Windmill Theatre in London. There were 10 founder members, including Jimmy Edwards, Raymond Glendenning, and Frank Muir. The minutes of that first meeting are in the Club archives and it appears that although there was a goodly number of founder members they were outnumbered by chorus girls! The object of the Club was, and still is, to bring together moustache wearers (beards being strictly prohibited) socially for sport and general conviviality. The aim of the Club was to assist by all means at its disposal, any worthy charity or cause, particularly those devoted to ex-servicemen. This aim still remains today and we have helped particularly with children's charities.
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| Time Travel Club - A rather strange website...
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| The Last Tuesday Society - Society of witty and slightly old-fashioned creative decadents.
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| The London Lounge - The gentlemen members of the London Lounge agree to defend, preserve and perpetuate the cultural heritage embodied in the sartorial arts for future generations. Each member will use his energy, skill and education to render comprehensible the virtues of true elegance and good taste to those who seek advice and counsel. The parameters that define good taste are appreciated within these walls as liberating and not restrictive. Only the complete mastery of these fundamentals can lead to individual expressions of elegance.
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| The New Sheridan Club - We're an amiable bunch of coves, given to doffing our hats to ladies, twirling both canes and moustaches (sometimes simultaneously, if we haven't had too much to drink yet) and devoting at least half an hour each morning to perfecting our tie knots. Of course, if you're a lady yourself, you don't have to grow a moustache or doff to yourself in the mirror. In fact, ladies make up roughly half our membership, even though the origins of the club might seem rather gent-orientated.
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| The Musical & Amicable Society - A friendly gathering of professional instrumentalists and singers dedicated to performing music from the 17th and 18th centuries on period instruments.
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| The London Sketch Club - The London Sketch Club is an historic graphic artists' club located right in the heart of London's Chelsea. Although over 100 years old, it still remains one of city's best-kept secrets, forming a link with the artists, illustrators and writers of a century ago. With a membership drawn mainly from fine artists and designers, its social activities revolve around life drawing and painting, and during the winter months, around evenings of live entertainment hosted by some of its braver members.
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| The Lighthouse Club - The Lighthouse Club is known, recognized and regarded with respect and affection throughout every branch of the construction industry. The Club is now over 50 years old and its popularity is such that it has spread beyond the U.K. to the Netherlands, South Africa, Asia/Pacific, Dubai and now Abu Dhabi. There are nearly 8,000 members world wide all of whom will extend a welcome to their fellow members. In the past, all the members of the Lighthouse Club used to have associate membership with the Eccentric Club in Ryder Street.
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| Links worth visiting |
| Miller's Academy of Arts and Science - The Academy's aim is to create an inspiring, informative yet relaxed environment where lecturers, members and their guests can enjoy a learning and social experience around a series of lectures and courses drawn from all areas of the arts and science.
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| Beaulieu - Beaulieu, one of the South of England’s top day visitor attractions, is set in the heart of the New Forest, the UK’s newest National Park. Beaulieu is a guaranteed great family day out with lots for everyone to enjoy including the world famous National Motor Museum, Palace House, home of the Montagu family, and historic Beaulieu Abbey. It is located within easy reach of the popular tourist destinations of Bournemouth, Southampton and Winchester
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| Longleat - Longleat is an English country house, currently the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, adjacent to the village of Horningsham and near the towns of Warminster in Wiltshire and Frome in Somerset. It is noted for its Elizabethan country house, maze, landscaped parkland and safari park.
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| Henry Hemming - Website of Henry Hemming, the author of "In Search of the English Eccentric"
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| Arts Club Charitable Trust - Charitable Trust that puts FUN into the FUNdraising, based at the Arts Club premises in Dover Street, Mayfair.
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| Jean-François Dor Events - Bespoke organisation of exclusive events for individuals, companies and charities.
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| The Chap - The Chap takes a wry look at the modern world through the steamed-up monocle of a more refined age, occasionally getting its sock suspenders into a twist at the unspeakable vulgarity of the twenty-first century.
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| Arthur Lloyd - Commemorative site dedicated to Arthur Lloyd, The Music Hall and the Victorian/Edwardian Theatre.
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| The GIN Lady Magazine - Under the influence of Green, Independent and Natural Lifestyle Brands...
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| Lyndon Yorke's Machines - Lyndon Yorke of Marlow has built a reputation by producing one off weird and wacky mechanical devices (sometimes described as art!) whereby old mechanisms from Victorian and Edwardian times have been 'adapted/converted/re-utilized so to amuse via both river and terra firma bods.
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| Peter Golding - Greatest jeans, art and music from one amazingly creative individual!
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| Fitzrovia Radio - These sterling coves perform live readings from vintage radio scripts, with all the sound effects, advertisements and, are, of course, immaculately attired in vintage black tie
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| Manifesto Club - The Manifesto Club is a pro-human campaigning network. Our aim is to bring together individuals whose ideas don’t necessarily fit into the politics of left and right, but who believe in developing people’s creativity and knowledge. Ours is an agenda for a twenty-first century Enlightenment. We believe that humanity is capable of rising to the challenges it faces, however daunting they may seem. Through the use of reason we can begin to influence the course of history – and build a future where the human potential is developed to the fullest extent possible.
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| International Snooker League - The purpose of the ISL is to play amateur snooker throughout the world on an annual basis and each country in turn has the honour of hosting the tournament. The old Eccentric Club and its famous members - Joe Davis, Noel Miller-Cheevers and a few others - played an essential role in the establishment of the ISL.
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| Entertainment |
| Kiss & Tell - A witty jazz/operatic cabaret presenting a satirical look at London life, sex, smoking, celebrity culture, love & money!
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| Melinda Hughes - A truly fascinating lyric soprano
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| Diva Opera - Diva Opera, Britain’s foremost chamber opera company, was founded by Anne Marabini Young and Bryan Evans in 1996. During the past eleven years the company has produced more than forty different operas and has performed in Festivals, theatres and for charities throughout Great Britain, the Channel Islands, France, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Greece, Slovenia, Japan and Italy; including a performance of La Cenerentola at Teatro La Fenice in Venice in 2004.
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| Longborough Festival Opera - Presenting high-quality opera in the Cotswolds
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| Opera on the Run - We provide a variety of operatic acts which you can learn more about by following the links to the left. From Singing Waiters to The Singing Policemen our performers inflitrate your event during the course of the evening before revealing their cover by bursting into song. Opera on the Run also produces full length theatre shows, including The Perfect Picnic, Spaghetti Opera and the new production of Turning Heads which is touring in the Autumn of 2008. All shows are conceived and written by Opera on the Run.
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| Stanley Hall Opera - Stanley Hall Opera was started in 2001 with the aim of creating one entirely new production each year and staging it for one week in a midsummer season based around St. John’s Day. The company aims to give promising young singers and instrumentalists the opportunity to work together, and to benefit from working with experienced professionals, over an extended rehearsal period.
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| Garsington Opera - Garsington Opera runs for a month in the summer in the idyllic setting of Garsington Manor, made famous in the Bloomsbury era. The combination of music, gardens and the unusual repertoire has established it as a much loved event in the English music calendar.
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| Stowe Opera - The Stowe Opera Company has recently performed Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, Rusalka by Antonin Dvorak, Verdi's Don Carlos, Humperdinck's charming masterpiece opera "Hansel and Gretel", and last year we presented compelling performances of Bizet's 'Carmen'.
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| Jazz Age Garden Party - Held in a beautiful English Country House in the Cotswold hills, the Jazz Age Garden Party is a festival of interwar music, motoring and elegance.
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