LONDON CLUBS
The outdoor terrace at the Naval and Military Club
You do not have to be a member of the armed services to join the Naval and Military but it does help to subscribe to its ethos as portraits of generals and admirals are everywhere. Drink fashions have changed since it was the exclusive preserve of old soldiers and seamen, as Russell Newman, its much-loved bar manager tells me.“ They used to drink whisky, gin and tonic and beer. Now, it’ s wine and especially champagne. We never used to open a bottle of champagne to sell by the glass – there was never a call for it. Today, it’ s one of our bestsellers.” The club champagne is Pol Roger – the favourite fizz of Winston Churchill.
Finally, having wined and dined too well, if your reciprocal memberships stretch to it, I strongly recommend a short walk to the Travellers Club in Pall Mall. There you will find one of the best club libraries in the West End – and most importantly a well-designed chair that allow you to stretch out and take a snooze. Yet another great pleasure of London’ s traditional clubs … Q
Tim Newark is a historian, author and political commentator, contributing to the Daily Express and the Telegraph. He is the author of‘ The In & Out: A history of the Naval and Military Club’( Osprey, £ 40).
SAVILE ROW STYLE MAGAZINE 43