Garrick Club faces legal challenge from female entrepreneur over 'gentlemen-only' membership policy

Equality: Lawyers for lingerie tycoon Emily Bendell said the club treated women as 'second-class citizens'

A female entrepreneur is challenging the Garrick Club over its “gentlemen-only” membership policy by claiming women are being treated as second class citizens.

The exclusive West End club — which counts Sir Laurence Olivier and Charles Dickens among its illustrious roster of former members — has continued to be “open to gentlemen members only” throughout its 189-year history.

Women can attend but only as guests of men. They are barred from paying their own way and cannot attend members-only events.

Emily Bendell, the founder of lingerie brand Bluebella, is now threatening legal action against the Garrick, demanding that it throw open membership to women for the first time.

“Only men are able to become members of the Garrick Club and make full use of the services that it provides,” said barrister Jennifer Danvers, acting for Ms Bendell with Leigh Day solicitors.

“The Garrick Club advertises on its website that it is ‘open to gentleman members only’. Male members are allowed to bring female guests into the club, but women are not able to pay for themselves when they attend, become members themselves, book the facilities that men can book, access certain parts of the club at all or access exclusive member events.

“In essence, women are only able to access the club’s services as second-class citizens on the whim of a man who has to both invite and pay for them.”

This is not the first time the Garrick — a bastion of the British establishment with politicians, actors, judges and diplomats in its ranks — has faced calls to ditch its men-only policy.

A 2015 ballot failed to reach the required two-thirds majority for a rule change, despite members including Stephen Fry, Damian Lewis, and Hugh Bonneville expressing support for letting in women.

Baroness Hale, the former president of the Supreme Court, has been among the critics, expressing shock that “so many of my colleagues belong to the Garrick”.

The club, founded in 1831 and one of the oldest in the world, was originally formed as a meeting place for men working in drama. Notable former members include Sir Richard Attenborough and PG Wodehouse. Winnie the Pooh author AA Milne left some of his celebrated works to the Garrick, and actor Benedict Cumberbatch has praised the “oasis of quiet” in the club’s library.

Ms Bendell, a keen patron of the arts, asked for membership in March and was turned down, so engaged lawyers to mount a legal challenge under the 2010 Equality Act.

They say the club is “bound” by the equalities law as a venue providing services to the public, including dining, overnight accommodation, a bar, lounge and computer room.

“By stating that use of the Garrick Club is restricted to ‘gentlemen members only’, only allowing men to become members and use all of the services it offers, and treating women who attend the club differently to men — for example, by not allowing them to pay for themselves — the Garrick Club treats women less favourably than it treats men,” Ms Danvers wrote. “By advertising that it is for ‘gentlemen only’ and only allowing men to become members, the club has treated Ms Bendell, who wishes to become a member, less favourably than it has treated or would treat a man who wished to do the same.”

The legal letter has been sent to Ann Robbie, the secretary of the Garrick, with a request for a reply by October 5.

“We look forward to receiving confirmation that the Garrick Club intends to change its policy in relation to admission of female members in its response to this letter,” added Ms Danvers.

The Garrick has been contacted for comment.