Membership of the men-only Garrick Club has become questionable for some at the top of the British Establishment. Getty
Membership of the men-only Garrick Club has become questionable for some at the top of the British Establishment. Getty
Membership of the men-only Garrick Club has become questionable for some at the top of the British Establishment. Getty
Membership of the men-only Garrick Club has become questionable for some at the top of the British Establishment. Getty


How the City's freezing out of women runs deeper than Garrick Club feud


  • English
  • Arabic

March 26, 2024

In the West End of London, clubland is in turmoil. Fear and loathing stalks the denizens of St James’s, Mayfair and Covent Garden.

In the east, in the Square Mile and Canary Wharf, the bankers, City lawyers, accountants and Lloyd’s insurers are smiling to themselves.

Usually, they’re the ones who are accused of sexism and elitism. Not this time. The membership list of the illustrious Garrick Club has fallen into the hands of The Guardian, which has taken great delight in highlighting some of the more prominent members of that all-male preserve – while conveniently ignoring the fact that its esteemed former editor, Alan Rusbridger, was for many years a member.

High-profile resignations from the club have followed, including the head of MI6, Sir Richard Moore, civil service chief Simon Case and chairman of the UK Statistics Authority Sir Robert Chote. Four senior judges have followed suit. There will be more.

It was no secret among the higher reaches of the media, Westminster, Whitehall and the judiciary that these and other folk were entitled to wear the Garrick’s famous salmon and cucumber tie. Now, everyone knows.

Senior politicians, journalists, barristers, actors, civil servants – they all clamoured to join the exclusive Covent Garden establishment.

They were aware, of course, that the membership was men-only. For some that was the appeal; for others there was the belief that it was only a matter of when before the barrier came down.

More recently, the pressure for change had increased, fuelled by growing discomfort against a backdrop of woke and anger from women campaigners. Still, the last occasion it voted, the Garrick chose to stick with its time-honoured rule.

Clubs like Savile's profess to be private but can be far too visible for the business crowd. Wikimedia Commons
Clubs like Savile's profess to be private but can be far too visible for the business crowd. Wikimedia Commons

It’s not the only one. White’s, Travellers, Brooks's, Boodles, Pratt’s, Beefsteak, Savile – they all bar female members. Now the worry is that what began with the Garrick will spread, that other clubs will be targeted – either for being single-sex or for their lack of diversity, or both.

What’s noticeable, though, is the lack of heavyweight City involvement. The rainmakers tend not to be members of such clubs. Some are, but by and large they stay away.

There are clubs in the City but they’re not major draws. Likewise, the livery societies are well-populated but there are few heavy-hitters on their rolls. Same with the Freemasons – they are for others.

Among the leading banks, City law firms, accountants and insurers, membership of clubs and societies, especially the single-sex variety, is largely frowned upon. HR departments, equality campaigners and, more to the point, female colleagues won’t stand for it.

Richard Moore, the head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, has resigned his Garrick membership. AP
Richard Moore, the head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, has resigned his Garrick membership. AP

Clubs, even though they profess to be private, can be far too visible. The City’s male bosses prefer to mix and network invisibly, well away from prying protesters and newspapers.

Their club equivalents are closer, tightly drawn, informal, less structured. They’re invitation-only shooting parties, fly-fishing trips to the salmon rivers of Scotland and Iceland, golf weeks in Spain and Ireland, sailing off the Isle of Wight, ski-ing weekends, cricket and rugby tours.

They used to pack boxes at Lord’s, Twickenham and Wembley, but these days receipt of this sort of hospitality has to be registered. Guest lists comprising just men are frowned upon and may even lead to complaints from female staff.

Better to keep it to a narrow circle and well away from nosy folk. After all, it’s just friends meeting up and where is the harm in that?

If the company is mixed then Wimbledon can be a prized option. PA
If the company is mixed then Wimbledon can be a prized option. PA

If the company must be mixed, then the Chelsea Flower Show Gala Night, Wimbledon and Queen’s, Royal Ascot and Glyndebourne are favourites.

Those are the to-die-for invites, the ones that say they’ve made it or that the young City buck is rising up the career ladder.

While attention is rightly focused on the Garrick, it would be foolish to ignore what is less obvious. In many ways, the latter form of bonding can be even more insidious.

Women are shut out, it’s “boys having fun”. As girls, they were never taught or encouraged to shoot, fish, play golf, cricket, rugby or football. Today, such opportunities do exist but they’re still activities that are dominated by men.

As Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case is at the heart of the Establishment but he has had to resign from the Garrick. PA
As Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case is at the heart of the Establishment but he has had to resign from the Garrick. PA

It occurs subliminally. One City firm sponsored an army veterans’ charity. The dinners and sponsor get-togethers were invariably all male affairs.

The women in the office complained that they were frozen out, unable to socialise with their men chiefs. The latter realised the error of their ways and booked tables for the women at a fund-raising lunch for another charity in London’s Park Lane.

It has echoes of the Presidents Club, the all-male, black tie dinner attended by hostesses for property industry titans – and exposed by the Financial Times. That caused profound angst across the sector and, as with the Garrick backlash, prompted hasty resignations from the dining society and convoluted denials of involvement.

It would be wrong to suppose attitudes have altered. Lessons were learnt all right, which were to drive the blokes deeper underground.

By all means, harangue and picket the Garrick Club. But equally, challenge the men in charge (and it is, even now, mostly men) as to where they’re going, who they’re asking.

They may scream it’s an invasion of their privacy. However, that’s precisely the issue: it’s private and merits laying bare. Without it, nothing will change.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Babumoshai Bandookbaaz

Director: Kushan Nandy

Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami

Three stars

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Spider-Man%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Insomniac%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%20Sony%20Interactive%20Entertainment%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPlayStation%205%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
LA LIGA FIXTURES

Saturday  (UAE kick-off times)

Leganes v Getafe (12am)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Levante v Alaves (4pm)

Real Madrid v Sevilla (7pm)

Osasuna v Valladolid (9.30pm)

Sunday

Eibar v Atletico Madrid (12am)

Mallorca v Valencia (3pm)

Real Betis v Real Sociedad (5pm)

Villarreal v Espanyol (7pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)

Monday

Barcelona v Granada (12am)

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh289,000

Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL CARD

6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m

7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m

8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m

8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m

9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m

 

The National selections

6.30pm: Gifts Of Gold

7.05pm Final Song

7.40pm Equilateral

8.15pm Dark Of Night

8.50pm Mythical Magic

9.25pm Franz Kafka

Updated: March 27, 2024, 12:05 PM