A shiny new members club, filled with artworks by Damian Hurst? Yep, you heard it here first and guess what? The Wellington Club is absolutely stunning! Boutique members clubs are popping up all across the capital right now and most of the newest are not just luxurious havens, but are more casual in their approach and less restrictive – meaning costs/waiting lists are not quite what they used to be. Established in 1832, the original Wellington members’ club was in Knightsbridge and has a storied history as one of London’s most alluring venues. Now, it’s back and in its new home on Jermyn Street in fashionable St James’s.
Looking after the kitchen here is Brett Duarte, formerly executive chef of the Gaucho Group and you can tell because the food here is fantastic. Especially dishes coming off the grill. Inside its stunning, blending rock ‘n’ roll and art by Damien Hirst with historical elements of the notorious members’ club. Drink at the bar, eat in the restaurant or party in the nightclub downstairs. You really don’t need to leave this venue, because all the makings for a successful night out are here.
We started at the utterly gorgeous bar, complete with rotating skull head disco ball and tucked into a couple of cocktails which I must say were excellent, especially the Wellington’s old-fashioned. I’m not entirely sure who is creating and making the cocktails here, but whoever it is clearly knows their way around the bar as ours were so well-balanced and went down an absolute treat before sitting down for dinner.
Choosing a dish from the menu is a rather hard task as it all sounds so good, but we settled on a good old classic and one of the restaurants signature – The Wellington steak tartare. Price wise it’s a little on the high side (even for St. James’s), but I think I’d happily pay the £18 it cost given just how good it was. Nicely chopped, the beef they use here was incredibly tender and the flavours were just right. A drop of tabasco wouldn’t have gone a miss going forward (we asked for some), but otherwise we had no complaints. I should probably apologies for my photos at this point too, but the gorgeous red lights and disco balls didn’t like my camera as much as I liked them.
One of the most unexpectedly good dishes here was the whole Cornish Dover sole meunière. I’ve had sole countless times over the years and prepared in the same way, but quite honestly I think this was the best example I have ever eaten and my dining companion agreed. It truly was a beautifully cooked piece of fish and of the highest quality with nothing but a touch of butter and seasoning. If sole was always this good, I’d never eat anything else again.
Steak is I think my biggest guilty pleasure and so we couldn’t resist ordering the Scotch Black Angus sirloin. A very generous 300g of it seemed to have doubled in size when it arrived at the table. I thought the meat was absolutely beautiful. Rich in flavour, well aged and with a lovely streak of smokiness running through it from the grill. Cooked perfectly to my medium-rare specification, this is steak you won’t want to rush and I thought it was excellent value given just how good it was.
Pair the main courses with as many sides as you can because all of them were stunning. The triple cooked chips was the stuff of dreams. Garlic French beans were absolute heaven and the tender stem broccoli with chilli and soy was so good we almost ordered a second helping.
To finish our evening we tucked into a rich and decadent sticky toffee pudding and paired it with an expertly prepared espresso martini. This is my cocktail of choice (well one of many), pre/post dinner and they really have perfected it here. Beautifully balanced, punchy and with a very good creamy top to it.
For me personally, I wouldn’t join a members club because of the sad fact I’d never have enough spare time to enjoy it, but if you’re looking for one – I highly recommend The Wellington Club. If joining isn’t quite your thing, then like us, you’ll be glad to know you can still dine here without a membership and you should. With cocktails as good as this and the best Dover sole you’ll ever eat, there are so many reasons to love The Wellington Club and why I’ll definitely return in the future.
Oh this looks fabulous! The tartare especially sounds divine!