The Arts Club

The Arts Club on Dover Street boasts a long history as a private members club having been founded in 1863 by, amongst others, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and Lord Leighton. There's still an air of exclusivity about the place today with celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney having a hand in the design and membership costing a cool ?1,000 a year. Co-owner restaurateur Arjun Waney (responsible for Zuma, Roka, and La Petite Maison) has appointed Sir Peter Blake as president of the Club Nouveau basement club where Mark Ronson is director of music - surely the coolest of creative pairings. Chief executive Brian Clivaz, co-founder of Home House and all round host with the most, will be at the helm to meet, greet and sweep guests from dinner in the restaurant or at the oyster bar to cigars in the garden or upstairs to the main bar, library and drawing room. While it may be tricky to get in without stumping up for membership, mere mortals can visit The Arts Club on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings if they book in advance. Once there, don't just gawp at the celebs, look out for contemporary art by the likes of George Condo, Tomas Saraceno and Matthew Darbyshire.