Comments on: At The Reform Club

By: D. Wilder

D. Wilder — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 07:04:00 +0000

What lovely photos (and bios) of Gladstonian Pall Mall. In the 90s a much stricter dress code reigned. One felt underdressed in anything less than a suit. The Library was deadly quiet, the only noise from the dignified tea waiter who had a pronounced limp.

By: Jan Toms

Jan Toms — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 08:22:32 +0000

Such an intriguing insight into running this club. I wouldn’t have expected job vacancies to be advertised in the Evening Standard! Clearly, by the length of service, it is a great place to work. I was, however, itching to know whose portraits were hanging on the walls. I thought I recognised Canning?

I do hope that somebody will invite me to lunch there, one day but I won’t hold my breath!

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 13:00:32 +0000

Wonderful to read an account of a private members club from the point of view of the amazing people that work in it.
Thank you GA

By: Adele

Adele — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 12:51:18 +0000

Did a double-take when I saw this GA! About ten years ago I was ‘traced’ by a branch of my family totally unknown to me. Turns out on of my long-lost cousin from the East End of London had risen in the ranks of the business world and become a ‘Sir’. On a quick trip to London he invited me and his biographer to ‘dine with him at his Club. As I walked up those stately steps I wondered what on earth a Stepney girl had in store for her. Well, all I can say is ‘what an experience’. The security was stricter than getting past a London Airport immigration officer ! I’m wondering if guests are still not allowed to give their order directly to the waiter? My host was given a little note pad where he took our orders and handed the pad to the waiter. You could count the women there on one hand, I can’t say I felt particularly comfortable in such a bastion of British snobbery, but it was quite the adventure.And now I have some pictures for my Genealogical scrapbook! Thanks GA!

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 11:50:33 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, thanks for the informative piece on the Reform Club and its loyal staff. Obviously the club maintains its upscale traditions while bending a bit to modern tastes. I particularly enjoy reading about the Victorian period when these institutions flourished including White’s, Brooks, and Boodles, all more of less around St. James.

Great pics too…

By: Caroline Murray

Caroline Murray — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:35:42 +0000

Thanks for this! I had the pleasure of dining in these sumptuous surrounding last year – a memorable experience! I’m sure you know that the great Alexis Soyer was chef at the Club: this biography of him is interesting – https://bit.ly/2JOch6A – and his own writings, reissued in the same imprint, are hugely entertaining.

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:04:27 +0000

Quite unique . That is how I would describe this Gentle Author . An insight across the spectrum of British Society from the humblest to the grandest that open their doors and let the Author in to have a look around. Tell me , where else can we get this birds eye view.?

By: Amanda, Norfolk

Amanda, Norfolk — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:58:26 +0000

This brings back so many memories for me. My friends and I used to go to balls at the Reform Club in the early eighties. It still looks as beautiful as it did then.

Amanda, Norfolk

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 05:10:16 +0000

Good to get a glimpse of all the wonderful people who work so hard to keep the wheels turning. Valerie