Staycations don’t come much closer than Home House, a private member’s club in the heart of Marylebone.
To fully appreciate this spot, you’ll need a bit of background. Home House was originally commissioned by Lady Home, aka the “Queen of Hell”, who was known for “enjoying” herself. She wanted a place to entertain her many male friends, drink gin, and host mega parties. If only we’d known her way back when…
Set across three Georgian townhouses, the main building is Grade I listed, meaning it has been painstakingly restored in keeping with its original features. As you can imagine, this shrine to good times is an astonishingly beautiful place, complete with spiral staircases, ornate wallpaper, chandeliers and plush sofas.
Anyone can stay over (non-member rates start from £322 per night for a Club Room), however only members can enjoy the restaurants and bars. There’s also a nightclub, The Vaults, which can be hired for private events such as fashion shows, the Winter Garden Lounge, a cigar lounge, a boardroom and a gym.
It’s quite a rabbit warren of rooms, and on the night we visited, was pleasingly busy. We were checking out the more informal drawing room where they serve the likes of sushi and truffle fries. In addition, Home House has recently just launched their own gin, made in collaboration with Scottish distillery Oro with global botanicals inspired by the countess’s background. There’s Spanish saffron, English rose and even rare Lignum Vitae, the national flower of Jamaica. The bottle itself is inspired by the art deco period, made with beautiful fluted glass, which is reflected in the glassware our G&T was served in at the bar. The suggested serve is with plenty of ice and tonic, mango bitters with a garnish of dried mango.
Membership at Home House starts from £1,100 a year and the Home House gin can be purchased by members via the website, or in person for £37.50.
