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