Comparison · 13 material differences
Annabel's vs The Arts Club
This comparison was generated on request from the records. It carries no editorial verdict and is not indexed. The published comparisons are listed on the compare page.
Read down each column for one organization, across a row for the difference. A bronze mark at the left of a cell means the organizations differ on that row. A dash or “not published” means the organization does not disclose the fact; it is not a zero.
What the records say
- Maximum age at joining: Annabel's: Reduced under-35 membership rate; The Arts Club: Young Member category is "open to applicants under 33 years of age".
- Minimum age: Annabel's: No published minimum age; The Arts Club: Full membership is "open to applicants 33 years of age or older".
- Geographic restriction: Annabel's: No published geographic restriction; The Arts Club: International applicants must apply to the club nearest their primary residential address.
- Annual dues: Annabel's: Full membership. Spear's reported £3,250 a year in May 2023; its January 2026 club guide gives £3,750. Annabel's does not publish rates.; The Arts Club: £3,200 a year.
Side by side
| Annabel's | The Arts Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | 1963 (Founded by Mark Birley and named for his wife, Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart) | 1863 (Founded in 1863; Wikipedia names Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope and Lord Leighton among the founders. The club's own site does not state a founding year on its public membership pages.) |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Geographic footprint | One clubhouse at 46 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London; part of the Birley Clubs group. A New York club has been announced but is not open. | One London clubhouse at 40 Dover Street, Mayfair, plus The Arts Club Dubai; reciprocal arrangements with clubs abroad |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed by the club. Wikipedia, drawing on press reporting, gives about 1,000 members with 14,000 on the waiting list as at 2018, and 9,000 members in 2005; none of these figures is current. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Chapters | 1 | 2 |
| Primary audience | Not publicly disclosed: the club publishes no eligibility criteria beyond routing applicants through an online application and a recommendation from an existing Birley club member | The club describes its membership as "a community of discerning thinkers and thought leaders, with a shared appreciation for the arts and culture" |
| Typical member | Reported as a socially prominent, international Mayfair membership. Wikipedia records that since the 2018 relocation membership has been allocated equally between men and women, and that 100 inheritable "Legacy" lifetime memberships exist, a quarter of them held by US residents. | Historically artists, writers and collectors; the current roll is reported to include figures from art, entertainment and business. The club publishes no occupational or wealth criteria. |
| Qualification | ||
| Maximum age at joining | Reduced under-35 membership rateSpear's reports an under-35 rate; Wikipedia records separate tiers for under 27, under 35 and over 35. The club does not publish the bands.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Young Member category is "open to applicants under 33 years of age"Young members receive full access and privileges at a reduced subscriptionverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Minimum age | No published minimum age | Full membership is "open to applicants 33 years of age or older"Applicants under 33 are directed to the Young Member categoryverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Geographic restriction | No published geographic restriction | International applicants must apply to the club nearest their primary residential addressStated on the membership page in relation to the London and Dubai clubsverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Invitation required | No | No |
| Sponsor required | Yes | Not documented |
| Application process | Applications are made through the Birley Clubs membership portal linked from the club's own site. Spear's reports that the online form is the only official route, that applicants provide a recent headshot and proof of age, and that a letter of recommendation from an existing Birley club member is required. The club publishes nothing about committee review or timescales. | Prospective members submit an enquiry through the "Enquire Now" form on the club's membership pages. International applicants are told to apply to the club closest to their primary residential address. The club publishes no description of committee review, interview or references. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed. Spear's cites 2018 Barron's reporting that 14,000 prospective members were then seeking admission; no current figure is published. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | Full membership. Spear's reported £3,250 a year in May 2023; its January 2026 club guide gives £3,750. Annabel's does not publish rates.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | £3,200 a yearFull Member (aged 33 or over): "Annual Subscription £3,200"verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | Joining fee for full membership. Spear's reported £1,750 in May 2023 and £1,850 in January 2026.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | £1,600 one-timeFull Member (aged 33 or over): "Member Assessment Fee £1,600", the club's term for a joining feeverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Annual subscription | Annual subscription |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | Clubhouse open daily into the early hours; parties and seasonal events | Clubhouse open daily; rotating exhibitions, live music and a cultural programme |
| Peer forums | Not documented | Not documented |
| Confidentiality | Not publicly disclosed | Club rules and a dress code apply to members and guests; the club does not publish a confidentiality policy |
| Time commitment | Not documented | Not documented |
| Organized as | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused |
| Confidential peer forums | No | No |
| Local chapters | No | No |
| Virtual membership | No | No |
| Online community | No | Not documented |
| Member directory | Not documented | Not documented |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | No | Partial |
| Leadership development | No | No |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | No | Partial |
| Family programming | No | Yes |
| Spouse and partner programming | Partial | Yes |
| Next-generation programming | No | Yes |
| Investment discussions | No | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Partial | Partial |
| Networking emphasis | Low | Medium |
| Social emphasis | High | High |
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Last verified: not yet reviewed
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: Annabel's · The Arts Club