Naval and Military Club

Naval and Military Club
Motto Nunquam Dimoveas
Formation March 1862 (1862-03)
Purpose Private Members Club, historically established for Army and Navy officers
Location
  • 4 St. James's Square, London
Key people
 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (President)
Vice Admiral John McAnally CB LVO (Chairman)
Website www.navalandmilitaryclub.co.uk
Entrance of the Naval and Military Club in St. James's Square, with "IN" and "OUT" in humorous reference to previous Cambridge House premises
Cambridge House, the Club's former premises on Piccadilly

The Naval and Military Club, also known as The In & Out, is a private members club located in St. James's Square, London for officers and gentlemen of the British Armed Forces. It has latterly admitted some female members. The Club was founded in 1862 because the three then existing military clubs in London – the United Service, the Junior United Service, and the Army and Navy – were all full.

Membership was long restricted to military officers, but this is no longer the case, and now includes those who have not served in the armed forces. Members are, however, expected to respect service traditions.

The club was formerly based at Cambridge House at 94 Piccadilly opposite Green Park and came to be known as "The In & Out" from the prominent signs on the building's separate vehicle entrance and exit gates. In 1996, the club purchased its current premises at 4 St. James's Square, the former London home of Waldorf and Nancy Astor from 1912 to 1942. After a programme of refurbishment the club took up occupancy on 1 February 1999. To perpetuate its traditional nickname, the words "In" and "Out" were painted on the two flanking columns of the portico of the house.

The club has dining, banqueting and bar facilities, and 52 bedrooms available to members. At the front entrance, in keeping with the traditions of "Clubland", a strict dress code is imposed (jacket and tie for gentlemen, and equivalent for ladies, although "military dress can, of course, also be worn"). The rear entrance in Babmaes Street, just off Jermyn Street, is less formal: it allows direct access to the business centre, gym, swimming pool and "The Goat" bar and brasserie.

The club co-operates closely with and shares its premises with the Norwegian association Den Norske Klub and the Latin American Canning Club. It also provides a home for the Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association and the International Wine and Food Society.

In 2009, the annual subscription was £895, with a reduction for country members. An additional joining fee is payable for the first year although this is waived for younger members and serving officers. The club no longer publicises its fees which are now only made available on receipt of an application form. Prospective members are normally required to have a proposer and seconder, both of whom must be members of two years standing, although in exceptional circumstances the Membership Committee may consider applicants without sponsors, following an interview with the Club Secretary. Serving officers in the armed forces are not required to provide sponsors but are asked to provide evidence of current service.

The club's President is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who has been a member since the 1940's.

Notable past members include Prince Louis of Battenberg, Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Field Marshall the Earl Roberts, T. E. Lawrence, and Robert Falcon Scott, who is commemorated on the Club's Roll of Honour.

In 2011 Cambridge House, in disrepair, was acquired by property tycoons David and Simon Reuben. They plan to convert the Grade I Listed Building into a 48-room private house with a value estimated at £214 million.[1][2]

References

  1. ↑ Watling, Lindsay (22 October 2012). "In and Out club set to become £214 million home with 48 rooms and 35,000 bottle wine cellar". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "Naval and Military Club  (Grade I) (1226748)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 November 2014.

Further reading

See also

Coordinates: 51°30′29″N 0°08′05″W / 51.5080°N 0.1348°W / 51.5080; -0.1348

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