Kit10Phish Explains It All: I. Soho House Origins (and Meghan Markle's connection)

Soho House

Nick Jones founded Soho House in 1995, with the mission of being “a home away from home for people working in the creative industries.”

As chief executive of the group he joked about coming up with the idea of setting up a more accessible rival to the decade old Groucho Club that turns down 8 of every 10 membership applications. And the OG Soho House is just a few streets away from the Groucho Club at 40 Greek Street in London.

Interestingly this area used to be the city’s red-light district, and has long been loved by those belonging to fringe subcultures. One police officer dubbed Greek Street the ‘worst street in the West End of London’; a place where ‘crowds of people gather nightly who are little else than a pest… some of the vilest reptiles in London live there or frequent it.’

The club's membership of creatives, inevitably dominated by people immersed in the film and media industry, caused the built-in problem of the London club emptying out for two weeks at a time for film festivals. Instead of losing business, Jones, 43, scouted France with the idea of holding a Soho House party on a Cannes yacht. And the risk paid off–at one point, the Soho House Cannes boat was the London industry hang-out popular with the top Hollywood decision-makers, and more importantly, investors.

The group now has seven venues in Britain, but has also grown in America as Britishness in Hollywood is gaining a "sexiness." The New York Post fondly called it a "posh Anglocentric club" when it first came to NYC, and American Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, used the venue to throw a party in honour of Victoria and David Beckham. But it was not until the Soho House's rooftop swimming pool featured in an episode of Sex and the City that its status in the city was confirmed. Since its inception in London more than a decade ago, the club has become a global brand, operating clubs, hotels and venues around the world.

While anyone can rent a room at a Soho House location, the club itself requires a $900 annual membership. Prospective members have to be nominated by an existing member, and a committee then reviews the application request and notifies you – in writing – if you have made the cut. The current international register boasts 14,000 members.

Meghan Markle likes SoHo House-

2010-

Soho House and their collection of private members’ clubs around the world have afforded Meghan Markle, the actress, a relaxed setting that feels like home.

2016-

The exclusive clubs have been part of her life for years, allowing HRH Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, a spot to relax in private.

And the Soho House brand is an intricate part of her and Harry’s love story.

We'll get into detail about Soho House connections:

(Markus Anderson, Ron Burkle, Harvey Weinstein, Johan Eliasch):

Sources:

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zezero.org/blog/darksideofmodeling

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