Harrods, the luxury department store in Knightsbridge, London, has launched its very first private members’ club in Shanghai, China. With a cap of only 250 members, the membership comes at a cost of 150,000 yuan, or $21,000 a year. The exclusive club offers a world-class dining experience from Gordon Ramsay, the celebrated British chef behind multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, whose first destination in Shanghai is now found inside the club, exclusive to members. The members can enjoy exclusive private dinners and masterclasses, besides a range of premium spirits.
The club is called the Residence, located inside Shanghai’s historic Cha House, where Harrods already operates a tea room and bar, open to the public. “The Residence is Harrods’ very first private members’ club and is being created to serve a curated community of discerning members. Membership is a unique proposition in Shanghai, offering not only world-class dining and spirits with a like-minded network, but also unlocking exclusive Harrods international lifestyle and concierge services to create unparalleled experiences for every member,” said Michael Ward, MD, Harrods, in a media statement. Even the club’s creative programming is designed to both entertain, including collecting rare bottles and art sourcing, as well as benefitting from access to Harrods’ extensive and unmatched concierge connections and luxury brand partners.
It’s true that billionaires around the world swear by luxury clubs for both leisure and business, experiencing a barrage of services and amenities like dining spaces, celebrity chefs, wellness spas, gyms, bars, pools, nightclubs, plush suites, high-tech board rooms and residences. To join the coveted and ultra-exclusive R360 Club in Miami, Florida, one must have a net worth of $100 million or more, and be able and willing to shell out $180,000 for a three-year membership. It’s members include Michael Cole, former CEO of Cresset Asset Management, and Charles Garcia, the founder of Sterling Financial Investment Group, and Richard Branson, who founded the Virgin Group. The club offers an array of investment opportunities, support groups and private getaways for over 100 members, each leading a family enterprise valued on average at $400 million.
Similarly, the Core in Manhattan, New York, now has two new outposts in Milan, Italy, and San Francisco, California. From the selection of staff working at the club which is very selective to its gym, a wine library, a speakeasy, and 6,000 sq ft of terrace space, the club had 1,500 members in early 2022, with an initiation fee of over $50,000 and $17,000 as annual fee. Another club, Palazzo Tornabuoni, Florence, Italy, is situated in a beautiful historical building that hosted the world’s first (documented) opera performance in 1598. An ideal gathering place for a relaxing drink, it has an elegant book-lined lounge with a well-stocked bar where members and their guests can dine al fresco. Members have access to the club lounge (which plays host to frequent talks and wine tastings), cigar room, fitness centre, sauna and steam room, personal storage, and ample wine storage space. But all this comes with a condition. Either purchase one of the 27 private residences or invest in the club membership, which provides access to the 10 club residences. A one-bedroom membership starts at €490,000, while a two-bedroom begins at €720,000.
The Yacht Club De Monaco (YCM) in Quai Louis II, Monaco, was founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier III. The membership needs one to have two sponsors, who will each write an introductory letter to the club, including motives for joining. The Yellowstone Club at Madison County, Montana counts Bill Gates, Eric Schmidt, Gisele Bundchen, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez among its members. Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum celebrated Easter with some skiing at Yellowstone this year. Nestled in the Yellowstone area in the spectacular Rocky Mountains in Montana countryside, the Yellowstone Club has a limit of 864 members who have to pay a whopping $400,000 as sign-up payment and annual fee of $41,500.
Other clubs include Silencio in Paris with €900 per year for a basic membership, €1680 for a superior membership, or €600 per year for under 30s and people with their main residency outside of France.
5 Hertford Street is located in London’s exclusive Mayfair district and never publicly announce their fees, but rumour has it that an annual membership starts at £1,800.
