London’s gentlemen’s clubs were established for the English upper class in the 18th century. Members had generally attended college, served in the military, and/or were professionals. Entertainment was not a feature. Rather, the clubs were second homes for the men to eat, drink, and play parlor games such as cards and billiards. The fanciest ones, boasting posh interiors, were designed by the same prominent architects who built country houses for the wealthy. Some provided for overnight stays, and young men who had recently graduated and moved to London might live at their clubs for two or three years before renting a house or flat. Some clubs centered on shared interests, such as the arts, literature, or politics. The exclusive — and exclusionary — membership of Boodles, one of the oldest (founded in 1762) was aristocratic Tories. Read more about old London in A Brain. A Heart. The Nerve. (see NOVELS).
