Comparison · 17 material differences
Pacific-Union Club vs The Groucho 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.
Verified September 2026 Private club
Bobak Ha'Eri · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Pacific-Union Club
Not publicly disclosed. The club publishes no statement of who it admits.
Private club
The Groucho Club
Not stated in the club's own words on its public pages. Wikipedia records that the club favours applicants from creative media and the arts, the constituency it was founded to…
What the records say
- Maximum age at joining: Pacific-Union Club: Not publicly disclosed; The Groucho Club: Under 35 rate band, described as "Age 35 and Under".
- Geographic restriction: Pacific-Union Club: Not publicly disclosed; The Groucho Club: Country and Overseas rates require the member to live outside London.
- Industry restriction: Pacific-Union Club: Not publicly disclosed; The Groucho Club: Applicants from creative media and the arts are favoured.
- Annual dues: Pacific-Union Club: Not publicly disclosed; The Groucho Club: £1,500 a year.
Side by side
| Pacific-Union Club | The Groucho Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | 1889 (Formed in 1889 by the merger of the Pacific Club, founded 1852, and the Union Club, founded 1854.) | 1985 (Opened on 5 May 1985 at 45 Dean Street, Soho; named after Groucho Marx's remark about not wanting to belong to a club that would have him as a member) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States | London, United Kingdom |
| Geographic footprint | Single clubhouse in the James C. Flood Mansion at 1000 California Street, Nob Hill, San Francisco | One clubhouse at 45 Dean Street, Soho, London; a second site at Bretton Hall in Yorkshire was announced in March 2024 |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
| Chapters | Single clubhouse; no chapters | 1 |
| Primary audience | Not publicly disclosed. The club publishes no statement of who it admits. | Not stated in the club's own words on its public pages. Wikipedia records that the club favours applicants from creative media and the arts, the constituency it was founded to serve. |
| Typical member | Not publicly disclosed. Secondary accounts list historical and contemporary members drawn from San Francisco business and public life, including founders of major companies, but the club releases no membership information. | Historically writers, publishers, broadcasters, musicians and artists. The club publishes no occupational test on its public pages. |
| Qualification | ||
| Maximum age at joining | Not publicly disclosed | Under 35 rate band, described as "Age 35 and Under"Members aged 36 and over pay the London rateverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Geographic restriction | Not publicly disclosed | Country and Overseas rates require the member to live outside LondonThe portal labels the band "COUNTRY | OVERSEAS (Must live outside of London)"verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Industry restriction | Not publicly disclosed | Applicants from creative media and the arts are favouredRecorded by Wikipedia; not stated by the club on its public pagesverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Invitation required | Not documented | No |
| Sponsor required | Not documented | Yes |
| Application process | Not publicly disclosed. No application route, contact point or membership enquiry channel is published. | The club's homepage offers "Apply for Membership" and "Register Interest" routes; the application portal at apply.thegrouchoclub.com asks the applicant to select one of four rate bands and proceed. Wikipedia records a requirement for two existing members to propose an applicant. The club publishes no committee, interview or timescale detail. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 | £1,500 a yearLondon membership (age 36 and over): "Annual Rate: £1,500", or £125 per monthverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Monthly dues | Not publicly disclosed. The club has no public website and no published fee information. | £73–125 a monthMonthly payment option across the four bands, from £73.33 (Under 35 and Overseas) to £125 (London)verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 | Not publicly disclosed; no joining fee appears on the club's application portalverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Not documented | Annual, with a monthly payment option |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | Not documented | Clubhouse open daily; member events and private event hire |
| Peer forums | Not documented | Not documented |
| Confidentiality | The club maintains no public web presence and publishes no membership information | Under conditions agreed with the Metropolitan Police in December 2024 the club tightened procedures on the admission of members and guests and the recording of who is on the premises |
| Time commitment | Not documented | Not documented |
| Organized as | Clubhouse premises | 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 | Not documented | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Not documented | No |
| Leadership development | No | No |
| Retreats | Not documented | No |
| Travel | Not documented | No |
| Family programming | Not documented | No |
| Spouse and partner programming | Not documented | No |
| Next-generation programming | Not documented | No |
| Investment discussions | Not documented | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Not documented | Not documented |
| Networking emphasis | Not documented | Medium |
| Social emphasis | Not documented | High |
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: Pacific-Union Club · The Groucho Club