The London Lounge

Cross-post from AAAC:

Any current recommendations for a club to stay at in London for one night next month?

This is just an overnight-- evening arrival from East Coast, and morning flight out to the Continent the next day. Basically, my wife will ingest her sleep aid and work on her jet lag so a huge night out is not in the cards. So looking for a place that (a) operates on weekends, (b) offers, or is pretty close to some good dinner fare, and (c) has clean, quiet rooms. Breakfast a useful option, but we could always get that at Heathrow. Room service nice, but a cozy tea room or bar could eliminate that need.

I have a number of reciprocal choices, and was thinking about O&C, Travellers, etc. A hotel is always an option, of course, but I'd hoped to save a few pence and try something new.

I know the O&C well because a friend is on the committee. There is good company on the club table but the bar lacks atmosphere. For atmosphere, food and beer, the East India is great. The Carlton is very Tory and the food is nothing special. The RAC has a magnificent indoor pool.

Thanks. Any similar poop on the Sloane Club?

The National Liberal Club (on Whitehall Place, a stone's throw from Embankment station) might be an option. There is a hotel - the Royal Horseguards - attached, which is reasonably nice although now owned by one of the hotel chains. I can't vouch for the food or atmosphere but it is housed in a grand old building with a very nice terrace. Not sure how easy it is to get rooms at some of these other establishments if you are not a member.

One unusual possibility is the accommodation provided by the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln's Inn Fields. It is not that cheap but it's nicely situated and, as I say, unusual!
NJS

Concordia wrote:Thanks. Any similar poop on the Sloane Club?

Very cliquey, a snobbish Sloaney set.

sartorius wrote:The National Liberal Club (on Whitehall Place, a stone's throw from Embankment station) might be an option. There is a hotel - the Royal Horseguards - attached, which is reasonably nice although now owned by one of the hotel chains. I can't vouch for the food or atmosphere but it is housed in a grand old building with a very nice terrace. Not sure how easy it is to get rooms at some of these other establishments if you are not a member.

The Royal Horseguards is now part of the Thistle group. It's okay as a corporate hotel but it does not have the style of The Stafford, Brown's or even (despite Dr Tiplitz's criticism) the Connaught.