Among the most exclusive addresses in the world, the London borough of Mayfair does not have many equals in terms of prestige, location and of course price. Berkeley Square is located in the heart of Mayfair and number 44 is the home of The Clermont Club. Before you jump on a bus and head down there though, be aware that member ship to this establishment is by personal application only. In other words, if your names not down there, you’re not going in.
Founded in 1962 by John Aspinall, the original list of members verged on royalty. Dukes,
Clermont Club Exterior
Duchesses and Earls rubbed shoulders with business leaders of the day such as Kerry Packer and James Goldsmith. This group of characters have become known as the Clermont Set. Aspinall himself was a noted gambler and has been accused of having criminal links. It was these links that have led some to believe that Aspinall cheated many of his customers at the gaming tables. Ownership of the club passed to Playboy Enterprises in 1972 who then lost their gaming license in 1982. The club was acquired by Rank who, in 2006, sold it to a Malaysian organisation.
What about the gaming then? It’s short, exclusive list of wealthy members means that it doesn’t really require much in the way of tables. In fact six are all that’s on offer. The games themselves befit a club of the Clermont’s prestige – Roulette, Black Jack, Three Card Poker and Punto Banco – and the stakes are, of course, high. If your application is accepted, don’t forget your credit card.
Aside from the gaming, the Clermont features a restaurant and bar and a luxurious lounge to relax and enjoy your drink, as the casino says, “away from the hustle and bustle of city life.” Students of architecture will also appreciate the Clermont Club – it’s William Kent’s only remaining town house and a superb example of the genre. So if your application is not accepted, there’s always something to admire from the outside.
