Garrick Club makes historic decision to admit women as members

The historic Garrick Club in London has made a monumental decision to allow women to join for the first time in its nearly 200-year history. The exclusive private gentlemen’s club, which counts actors, lawyers, politicians, and senior journalists among its members, saw a 60% to 40% vote in favor of admitting women.

The vote, held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Holborn, was prompted by high-profile members threatening to resign if the policy was not reversed. Figures such as Richard Moore, head of MI6, and Civil Service head Simon Case had already stepped down due to questions raised about their membership in an organization that did not champion equality.

While some members expressed support for the decision, others remained skeptical, believing that the vote was flawed and that division among existing members would persist. The club had suspended its usual requirement for a two-thirds majority for rule changes, leading to further controversy.

Despite the outcome of the vote, the process for nominating and approving female members could take several years. Some members joked about potential nominees, including Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and Stormy Daniels, the former porn actor testifying in the trial of Donald Trump.

Overall, the atmosphere following the vote was described as gentlemanly, with members looking forward to coming together for a drink at the club. However, there were contrasting opinions among members, with some criticizing the media for creating the issue and others highlighting the lack of attention on all-women clubs or women-only colleges.