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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Soho house members....

78 replies

LilaGrace · 27/08/2019 16:40

Not sure where to post this really, so posting here for traffic....
Are there any members of Soho House here, or friends of members - and if so, do you mind telling me what industry you work in? I know they favour creative industries and positively reject people working in finance, law, banking etc.
I understand you need a nomination from 2 current members, which i have, but not sure about the profession.

OP posts:
glueandstick · 27/08/2019 18:56

The local one is Chipping Norton and the members I know are housewives. I guess they count as well connected though.

PlausibleSuit · 27/08/2019 19:03

I'm a member (for now). I work in leisure and fitness. I got in because I knew a load of people who were already members.

I go to Greek Street mostly, followed by Dean Street and the Farmhouse in Oxfordshire. I cannot bear Shoreditch House, although I go sometimes. I'm also a member of a couple of other clubs that aren't Soho House Group (it's useful for work).

It does err towards creative people but it's not a hard-and-fast prerequisite. The whole 'creative spirit' thing covers a lot of bases. To be honest, they'll be more interested in how often you're likely to be using the Houses, and also good-looking you are (yes, seriously).

I also know plenty of people who work in the City who are members and use it for social purposes in the evenings and at weekends. Money greases the wheels. So I wouldn't worry about not being a 'creative'.

Be aware that all the Houses feel oversubscribed these days. I frequently struggle to find a space at Dean, Greek or Shoreditch, even during the day. Summers in particular are a total pain. It can be very awkward if I'm trying to collaborate on something, arrange for other people to come, and then there's nowhere to sit. The other club that I'm a member of doesn't have this problem. I also find the competence of the staff to be on the low side. I had two guests left stranded at reception for almost 40 minutes not long ago because the staff had 'lost' the sign-in details and couldn't be bothered to call/go up to check.

For these reasons, and one or two others, I'll be cancelling my membership at the end of this year. So do check that you'll actually be able to use the Houses you want to go, at the times you want to go there IYSWIM. For me, it's no longer worth the membership cost.

I will miss the Farmhouse, that is genuinely brilliant.

Applications... it varies, I think. My membership went through fast, I found out within about a fortnight I think. That was a good few years ago now though.

LilaGrace · 27/08/2019 19:24

Plausible- thanks, this is so helpful. I agree about the staff competency- they're not great. But I'm willing to overlook that because the atmosphere is so great in general. I would use the clubs at off peak times (weekday daytimes) and some evenings but not to arrange meetings so that wouldn't be so much of an issue.
How long have you been a member? And do you mind telling me why you can't bear Shoreditch? The pool there is obviously a big selling point!

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ComtesseDeSpair · 27/08/2019 19:45

I work in corporate finance, didn’t have a problem getting a membership at all. As previous posters have said, they’re looking for “added value” in their members rather than just people who want to turn up and drink somewhere glam. I take both friends and clients.

PlausibleSuit · 27/08/2019 20:02

Lila it's more a vibe at Shoreditch than anything else. I just find it a bit bling and clubby. Not what I go for, really. I prefer a good plough in the pool so I swim at the gym as a rule.

I've been a member since it was all fields! Grin About ten years.

Daytimes is when I use it too; do check, as when I say collaborate I don't mean a business meeting exactly, more two-or-three-people-sitting-around-throwing-a-metaphorical-tennis-ball-at-the-ceiling kind of chats.

I agree about the atmosphere though, generally very nice. Whoever does the interior design is very skilled; it's an extremely well-considered and coherent look.

Amanduh · 27/08/2019 20:04

I work in education and have a membership!

WhatWhyWhen · 27/08/2019 20:06

Yes but Barcelona, marketing, are you going to go to the sex parties? Grin

LilaGrace · 27/08/2019 20:14

Comtesse- great. What kind of examples did you give them of how you could add value- as I know it's something they ask on the application form. Also- is there an interview?

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Raynedance · 27/08/2019 20:16

I thought Dean Street town house was open to public? Wheres the members part?

Do people really talk to strangers in there and network!

LilaGrace · 27/08/2019 20:19

Rayne- Dean st townhouse isn't Soho house. There is a Soho house at 76 Dean street but they're 2 separate things.

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Raynedance · 27/08/2019 20:32

Oh, so Dean Street town house is not same group?

Raynedance · 27/08/2019 20:34

Just as an aside I was in electric once and door opened and these amazing blue eyes were looking at me and then switched to friend.
It was Ralph Fiennes. I didn't find him that attractive but to see his eyes in rl.

LilaGrace · 27/08/2019 20:43

Rayne- I think it's part of the same group, but as far as I know (and I go to dean street townhouse at least twice weekly!) anyone can go there, but you have to be a member to get into the actual house (which is next door). But I'm willing to be corrected....! If you look at photos of the dean street members club in the website, it's definitely not showing photos of dean st townhouse.

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LegoCardSwapper · 27/08/2019 21:11

Oh this thread has reminded me - how much is an every house membership? PM me if you don't want to say publicly. Such a long story but an acquaintance quoted me an astronomical figure for a years membership, tried to tell me it was worth it for her 5 visits a year, and then told me her shoes were from New Look as she was cash strapped at the moment (I wear NL shoes almost exclusively btw)

Raynedance · 27/08/2019 21:16

I've only been to public part Dean Street once, really liked it in there.
Must be very filmy that one, lots of film places in soho

howwudufeel · 27/08/2019 21:28

I know that the Writers’ Guild offer 50% discount for the Union Club. I think a lot of actors go there too.

LilaGrace · 27/08/2019 23:51

Lego- an Everyhouse membership is £1700....

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Watchingthyme · 28/08/2019 09:58

I agree it’s massively oversubscribed
I went on a Friday night recently to dean street and it was a busy as a shit pub in soho. Couldn’t get a seat. Waited ages for a drink. Not the reason to pay £££ to be a member

Ijumpedtheshark · 28/08/2019 10:06

I also know two corporate lawyers who were/are members of Shoreditch House. They were quite young and a bit trendy but not particularly creative. They seemed to get in easily enough.

howwudufeel · 28/08/2019 16:46

It seems pointless to join if you are looking to build up a creative network and other members are housewives and corporate lawyers?

LilaGrace · 28/08/2019 20:16

Can anyone who is a member themselves give an example of what they talked about on the application form regarding adding value to the house they've applied to? Obviously it's different for everyone but I'm wondering the kind of things they're looking for....

OP posts:
Bibijayne · 28/08/2019 20:17

My BIL is. He works in marketing.

justasking111 · 28/08/2019 21:32

If it gets that busy and costs that much the owners are getting greedy. Who does own it now? Just googled Ron Burkle

Actionhasmagic · 29/08/2019 18:00

I joined about ten years ago under the under 27s membership which was super cheap and 50% off food and booze on Monday nights. It was sooo good my friends and I used to order steak and champagne on Mondays. Back then you only needed one referral and the form was simple. When you turn 30 all of the discount stops and you pay full price. I have referred a few people since but it sounds like the membership takes a while now. If you want to swim in shoreditch house it’s better to go at quieter times otherwise loads of people are crowded around the people staring at you! So many people in my industry have a membership I usually bump into people there. There’s one called the wing opening soon which is women only but no pool.

Actionhasmagic · 29/08/2019 18:01

Babington house is my favourite of all

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