Garrick club votes to let women join for first time in 193-year history
7 May 2024, 20:18 | Updated: 7 May 2024, 23:26
The Garrick club has voted to allow women to join as members after 193 years of only-men access.
During a private meeting at The Garrick club, a two-hour debate was held over whether should be permitted to join the nearly 200-year-old club.
The vote was passed 59.98% in favour of allowing women to join.
Only members were permitted to attend the meeting on Tuesday, which saw hundreds gather in the club’s pink and green striped tie in the Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden on Tuesday.
Prominent members include King Charles and Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, as well as former England football manager Roy Hodgson and actors Stephen Fry and Brian Cox.
Sir Richard Moore, the head of MI6, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and several judges previously resigned from the club.
It came amid controversy over the release of a list with about 60 names of the club’s most influential members.
Women were previously only allowed to enter the club by invitation and if accompanied by a man.
Stephen Fry, James Naughtie, Jonathan Sumption and Nigel Havers were among those who voted in favour of the change on Tuesday, The Telegraph reports.
David Pannick KC, who spearheaded the Brexit Article 50 case against the government, conducted a review of the Garrick’s rulebook after the controversy earlier this year.
His team concluded on Tuesday: “In our view, the language of the rules is clear. There is no prohibition on the admission of female members.”