Comparison · 13 material differences
The Battery vs The Clubhouse
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
Verified September 2026 The Battery
The club says it exists "to play host to bright minds with big ideas"; its own copy describes a clubhouse for the curious rather than a professional or income band
Private club
The Clubhouse
The company describes itself as "the smarter alternative to a London office for fast growing SMEs and global organisations" and says it was "created by business leaders for…
What the records say
- Maximum age at joining — The Battery: Under 30 membership is "available to applicants under 30 years old"; The Clubhouse: No published maximum age at joining.
- Geographic restriction — The Battery: Out of Town membership is "available to members who don't have a home within a 100 mile drive of the club"; The Clubhouse: No published geographic restriction.
- Annual dues — The Battery: Not publicly disclosed. Separate rates exist for Member, Partner, Out of Town and Under 30, and the Battery Alliance upgrade is charged in addition, but no amounts are published.; The Clubhouse: Prices are published per month and exclude VAT; annual cost depends on the tier and contract length chosen..
Side by side
| The Battery | The Clubhouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | 2013 (Founded by Michael and Xochi Birch, the founders of the social network Bebo, in a converted building at 717 Battery Street in San Francisco.) | 2012 (Founded in 2012 by Amanda Hamilton, with the first site at 8 St James's Square. The company's own pages do not state a founding year.) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States | London, United Kingdom |
| Geographic footprint | A single clubhouse in San Francisco, with reciprocal access to more than 70 private clubs in 23 countries through the optional Battery Alliance | Three London locations: St James's (8 St James's Square), Mayfair (50 Grosvenor Hill) and Holborn Circus (20 St Andrew Street). Members also get access to IWG portfolio locations worldwide. |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed. The Evening Standard reported more than 800 individual members and 250 corporate clients in March 2016; that figure predates the 2019 administration and change of ownership. |
| Chapters | 1 | 3 |
| Primary audience | The club says it exists "to play host to bright minds with big ideas"; its own copy describes a clubhouse for the curious rather than a professional or income band | The company describes itself as "the smarter alternative to a London office for fast growing SMEs and global organisations" and says it was "created by business leaders for business leaders" |
| Typical member | The club publishes no occupational or wealth criteria. Its own materials emphasise conversation, cultural programming and collective giving through Battery Powered rather than industry or seniority. | Business owners, executives and professionals who need a central London base for meetings and work between them, plus corporate accounts. The company names Deloitte, Amazon, Sky, Samsung, Santander and Tesla among its members. |
| Qualification | ||
| Maximum age at joining | Under 30 membership is "available to applicants under 30 years old"verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published maximum age at joining |
| Geographic restriction | Out of Town membership is "available to members who don't have a home within a 100 mile drive of the club"Distance is expressed as a driving distance from the clubhouse.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published geographic restriction |
| Invitation required | No | No |
| Sponsor required | Yes | No |
| Application process | The club sets out four steps: complete the online application form; obtain a nomination; attend an open house, described as "an afternoon at the club and a chance to meet both members and our team"; and then, on approval, receive a membership kit. The club states that "Membership is by introduction, and it begins with a conversation." Applicants choose between Member, Partner, Out of Town and Under 30 types, with The Battery Alliance available as an upgrade. | Prospective members choose a tier and contract length and enquire through a web form or by telephone. There is no published application form, committee stage, sponsor requirement or interview. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed. The club publishes no acceptance rate, waitlist size or member count. | Not publicly disclosed; no vetting process is described |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | Not publicly disclosed. Separate rates exist for Member, Partner, Out of Town and Under 30, and the Battery Alliance upgrade is charged in addition, but no amounts are published.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Prices are published per month and exclude VAT; annual cost depends on the tier and contract length chosen. |
| Monthly dues | Not publicly disclosed. The Battery publishes membership classes and rules in detail but no prices. | £190–225 a monthExecutive Member (a London base five days per month): £190 plus VAT on a 24-month term, £200 plus VAT on 12 months, £225 plus VAT month-to-monthverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | Not publicly disclosed. The club's apply page lists membership types without prices and no figure appears in its Charter.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No joining fee is stated on the memberships pageverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | The Charter contains sections on Membership Duration and Membership Renewal; specific terms are not published, and Lifetime Membership classes exist alongside renewable membership | Month-to-month, 12-month or 24-month contracts, priced differently |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | The clubhouse operates daily, with a member events calendar covering talks, tastings, music and social nights | Daily access according to tier; the company runs a news and events programme for members |
| Peer forums | Not documented | Not documented |
| Confidentiality | House rules ask members not to take, post or tag people in photos, and to put phones and laptops away in public areas during social hours | Not publicly disclosed |
| Time commitment | Not documented | Tiers are defined by usage: five days a month (Executive), ten days a month (Club) or unlimited (House) |
| Organized as | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused | Clubhouse premises |
| Confidential peer forums | No | No |
| Local chapters | No | Yes |
| Virtual membership | No | Yes |
| Online community | Not documented | Not documented |
| Member directory | Not documented | Not documented |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Yes | No |
| Leadership development | No | No |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | Yes | Partial |
| Family programming | Partial | No |
| Spouse and partner programming | Yes | No |
| Next-generation programming | No | No |
| Investment discussions | Not documented | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Yes | No |
| Networking emphasis | Medium | Medium |
| Social emphasis | High | Low |
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Last verified: not yet reviewed
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: The Battery · The Clubhouse