ONE of the capital’s best known private club chains has got the all clear to “double” its numbers, a few months after opening up a new venue.

Councillors approved the expansion at Soho House’s latest venture in Lancashire Court, Mayfair, at a meeting on Tuesday.

The firm – known for its swanky clubs around the world – had returned to the city council asking to increase the limit on guests from 170 to 326.

Objecting, The Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum said: “This is a substantial increase in numbers which is likely to cause significant disturbance to residents nearby…”

The objection said the opening times approved in February by Westminster’s licensing committee, 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and 12.30am on Mondays to Thursdays, were already “contrary to the core hours” agreed for the conservation area.

But all the councillors on the planning committee backed the application after hearing arguments from Soho House.

Kate Matthews, speaking on behalf of the company’s agents First Plan, said Soho House said the initial estimate on guests was too low. They also wanted the option of holding events across all floors of the venue at the same time.

Ms Matthews said: “This is to allow flexibility to accommodate panel events, including talks, exhibitions and private hire by members on the second floor. It allows for additional seats in the bar areas. The original consent did not allow for the flexible use of the space.”

She said the members’ club has been fitted out to a high specification and the licence had a noise management plan to ensure guests left gradually and had planned their journeys home.

Daniel Smith, a regional director at Soho House UK, said: “We are looking to move capacity in line with our licence. We would like to have all floors operational at the same time, allowing us to open up to members in the right way.”

Operators of Soho House, which launched in London’s Greek Street in 1995, said it was “closing the door to new members” last year as it tried to improve service levels and prevent overcrowding at more than 20 associated venues across London and the United States. The original Soho House club was aimed at “creatives”, but after the membership grew there was criticism of a lack of exclusivity.
Prince Harry took Meghan Markle on a first date to the chain’s venue Dean Street, in July 2016.

At the planning meeting, West End ward Labour councillor Patrick Lilley (inset) said: “It’s a bit surprising to come back so soon after the original permission was granted, and effectively double it.

“While I have every confidence in Soho House to manage its members, they won’t be able to manage the crime and anti-social behaviour, caused by the pedicabs and the rest of it. I am concerned about the doubling of capacity. Is it normal to pitch in for 170, and then literally, a couple of months later, double it?”

He said that it was rare for an application to find more residents in favour of an increased capacity application, and added: “Westminster is open for business and I’m leaning in to the idea of probably saying yes.”

Committee chair Cllr Paul Fisher agreed, but suggested the council’s licensing and planning departments could be “out of kilter”. The committee unanimous approved the application on the condition that there is a review after a year.