To many Fielders, Mayfair’s Savile Club will be familiar as the venue for the annual delight that is the Macnab Dinner. However, even those whose exploits with rod and gun have seen them elevated to the piscatorial peerage by grassing a salmon as part of the hat-trick may be unaware of the lodger upstairs. Tucked away above the sumptuous Savile is probably the best-kept secret in clubland. A venerable institution, tracing its origins back to 1884, the Flyfishers’ Club is thriving in its latest (and permanent) home on the aptly named Brook Street.
When I was invited there for dinner as the guest of flyfisher Charles Dring, I arrived a little early. Their attentive steward showed me in and brought me a welcome whisky and soda while I meandered, agog, among the sort of angling ephemera that not only charts the history of the sport but also forms the most exquisite display across several rooms. From the wondrous and vibrant cases of gut-eye salmon irons in the hallway through to a creel that reputedly belonged to Izaak Walton, this temple to trout and salmon is a living, breathing collective of disciples whose shared love for the sport has generated a country-house atmosphere in the heart of Mayfair, embellished with the fruits of their enquiring minds and restless pens.
The club boasts a library of around 3,000 angling titles, many of which were penned by past members and often dedicated to the club. All the greats are here – Halford, Skues, Kite, Falkus, to name a few – and all were members of this hallowed fraternity.
This story is from the October 2021 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2021 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The apple of your eye
With scores to choose from in the UK, there is a delicious apple variety for everyone - and now is the ideal time to start thinking about planting one
Art in the field
Being able to study her subjects as she races alongside them has informed Belinda Sillars work, as she explains to Janet Menzies
A silvered sword from the Saxon armoury
With weaponry from the electoral court, the more silver on show, the higher the rank of the owner
Nicole Moore
The Shooting Girl With An Afro blogger explains her passion for fieldsports and outlines the importance of sharing skills and knowledge with newcomers
'Probably the greatest detective in the world'
For 100 years, on page and screen, Hercule Poirot has captivated audiences around the globe with his supreme intellect and peculiar eccentricities
View from a Bridgerton
They were the 18th-century version of a drinks trolley and now hunt tables are popular once again, partly due to Regency-period television dramas
A brush with history
Britain is world renowned for its contribution to hair care and grooming, and, as its oldest firms will testify, heirlooms come in many forms
Practically perfect
From modest origins, the gilet has evolved into a sporting wardrobe staple, combining function and fashion to become a status symbol in its own right
Best laid plans
The ancient craft of hedgelaying is playing a central role in efforts to restore the balance of nature on our farms
Under the spell of spaniels
Our favourite working breed comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, all of which have successfully carved out their own special niche in British sport