Two more men-only clubs set to consider letting women join

Two more of London's oldest remaining gentlemen's clubs have invited members this month to give an opinion on whether they think it is time to allow women to join.

- Amelia Gentleman

A poll of members of the 140-yearold Flyfishers' Club will begin today, with a decision expected on 4 October. The Savile Club, established in 1868 as a club for writers and artists, is due to hold informal discussions on 26 September.

The binding vote at Flyfishers' Club follows complaints about its discriminatory membership policy from two of Britain's most high-profile female anglers. Amie Battams, a campaigner against sexism and elitism in fishing, wrote to the club, whose patron is the king, in May to express her sadness that the "club has not evolved to include women".

Marina Gibson, who runs a fishing school in North Yorkshire, also drew attention to the club's rules during an interview to promote her memoir Catch Catch Release, which details her struggles to be accepted into the male-dominated world of fishing.