Royal Automobile Club

RyleParker

Edwardian splendour... 15th October 2008

3 found this helpful

Set in the heart of St James's, the Pall Mall clubhouse is magnificent with high ceilings, rich carpets, and ornate plasterwork - as well as a fine collection of art. These help create the luxurious and comfortable atmosphere of a traditional club.

The facilities are simply too numerous to mention - 84 bedrooms, gymnasium, swimming pool, squash courts, billiards room; the club even has its own Post Office (one of the three private Post Offices in Great Britain; the others are at Buckingham Palace and the Chelsea Pensioners' Hospital).

RAC's Post Office mainly caters for members who use the well equiped Business Centre - briefcases/files are not opened in the club area!

In addition, there are many bars, lounges and restaurants; the jewel in the crown is The Great Gallery restaurant which is one of the finest in London. The Long Bar - in the club's basement, with its leather sofas/chairs and open fire - typifies the St James's environment.

Newspapers and magazines abound and The Library, with its helpful research staff, is one of the gems of SW1.

Food quality and service are excellent throughout the club and its very likely you'll see a famous face (or three) in The Great Gallery or Long Bar.

But there's more!




Just 16 miles away - Woodcote Park - a 350 acre estate set in the Epsom Downs. Built in 1679, the mansion retains the style and atmosphere of a great country house and is the perfect place for members looking to escape urban life.

Once again, the facilities are more than ample - and first class.

Two 18 hole golf courses (the '19th' is one of the finest in Surrey), gymnasium, tennis courts, croquet lawn, swimming pool, squash courts, 23 bedrooms - to name but a few.

Bars and restaurants appear all over and The Boston Grill comes into its own at the famous Derby Day lunch; members and their guests watch the race from the club's secluded grounds, overlooking the world renowned racecourse on the Downs.




A friendly atmosphere permeates in these diverse venues and both offer a wide variety of entertainment. Outings - sporting, gourmet, and cultural - are regularly arranged.

If there is a better club in the UK offering this variety and quality of facilities/services, I have not seen it.

But there's even more.....




The RAC (which has nothing to do with the car breakdown entity) has reciprocal arrangements with similar clubs throughout the world - where members can stay and use the facilities/services.

Over 60 reciprocal clubs are in 20 countries - in Europe, North & South America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Far East etc.

My personal favourite is the New York Athletic Club which also boasts two amazing clubhouses - town and country; the former is in a prime position on Central Park South.

chasobrien at 17/10/08

This Club seems exceptional with Pall Mall and Surrey locations etc. Are they taking new members ? COB

Wheely at 05/11/08

I'm convinced, we will make a point of visiting this bastion of our history.

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