Shh! The elite members' clubs politicians love

In these exclusive establishments, MPs can network away from prying eyes and flashing cameras. Here Ethan Croft and Claudia Cockerell reveal the power networking hotspots and the A-list they'll bump into

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AWAY from the glare of TV cameras and prying journalists, politicians can truly relax in the many private members’ clubs that London has to offer. Some are political, like the Tory Carlton and the National Liberal Club, others not: but all draw politicians with the promise of privacy, luxury and the chance to network with the rich and powerful. In recent years, the antics at London’s clubs have made headlines and even brought down governments (the Chris Pincher affair at the Carlton toppled Boris Johnson’s teetering premiership in July 2022). So who frequents which clubs, and what does each say about its members?

Pratt's

Very old and very aristocratic, Pratt's is often referred to as Britain's poshest club. Though it has no explicit political affiliation, its membership has a Tory bent. Prominent members include Foreign Secretary and former prime minister Lord Cameron, ex-premier Sir John Major, former deputy PM Lord Heseltine and former party leader Lord Howard. The place is old-fashioned. It doesn't have a website, women were admitted as members for the first time last year and all the male staff are referred to as "George" (female staff are called "Georgina").

5 Hertford Street