Ever wondered what secrets lie behind those imposing Princes Street doors? Welcome to The New Club. This isn’t just any club. It’s Scotland’s oldest. Founded in 1787 at a Caledonian Hunt Ball. Imagine the elegance the extravagance the whispered conversations.
The New Club started in a tavern. Bayle’s Tavern on Shakespeare Square to be exact. It was demolished in the early 1800s. A move to St Andrew Square followed in 1809. But its iconic Princes Street home dates to 1837. That’s when William Burn’s design took shape. Demolishing original New Town houses to create this magnificent clubhouse.
This wasn’t just any building project. It marked a turning point in Princes Street’s development. The New Club was the first new building on Princes Street. It required the demolition of existing structures. A bold move that forever changed the city’s landscape. The club further expanded in 1859 under David Bryce’s guidance. Its interior was continuously refined. The Coffee Room or Dining Room was notably reconstructed between 1908 and 1912. Sir Robert Lorimer’s design expanded the room. Adding new windows and oak paneling. Inset portraits complete the impressive upgrade.
Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh became patron in 1952. A large window was added in 2012 marking his sixtieth anniversary as patron and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The New and University Clubs amalgamated in 1953. A ladies’ annex was planned but never fully realized. Then came the 1960s. A complete rebuild by Alan Reiach Eric Hall and Partners. It incorporated a Ladies’ Side. A Ladies’ Bar Ladies’ Drawing Room and a Ladies’ Dining Room were all introduced. The cost was covered by an insurance company. They secured 125-year leases on the shops below. The New Club used the St Andrew’s Hotel temporarily during this massive renovation project. The original Lorimer panelling was carefully re-incorporated into the new Dining Room. The rebuilt clubhouse reopened on December 15 1969.
Ladies became Associate Members in 1970. Full membership came only in 2010. This marked a significant shift. A move away from its exclusively male origins towards a more inclusive membership. Today The New Club stands as a Category A listed building. A testament to its architectural significance. It’s a post-war building but a symbol of Edinburgh’s enduring spirit and evolution. A fine example of a Princes Street Panel building. Its plate glass and Rubislaw granite façade. Its distinctive cantilevered sections. Truly a marvel of careful composition. This elegant building stands as a symbol of tradition and change. A captivating blend of history and modernity. And that’s just a glimpse into The New Club’s rich story.