Debating whether or not to get a Soho House membership in 2024? In this guide, I share my own experiences as a Soho House member for several years, as well as some top tips to consider for your application. By the end, you should be clearer on whether or not a Soho House membership is for you! This article has been refreshed to reflect new prices and information for 2024, so you can rest assured it’s fully up to date.
We’ve all seen the photos on social media of people sat on the iconic striped poolside loungers in the London sun at Shoreditch House, or enjoying Sunday lunch at 76 Dean Street and thought with envy: ‘how do I get a Soho House membership?’ In this guide, I’ll share how to go about becoming a member, discuss whether or not it’s worth it based on my own experiences as a member, and give application tips on how to tackle the waiting list. I’ll also cover the cost of a Soho House membership, share the global locations, and the types of membership available. All in one comprehensive guide. So, let’s get started…
Fancy bringing a bit of Soho House home with you? Grab the Soho House book, Eat Drink Nap, for your coffee table or for a loved one.
Table of Contents
Soho House considers itself a ‘place for its diverse members to connect grow, have fun, and make an impact’. Dating back 25 years, Nick Jones opened the very first house and members’ club on Greek Street in London and was literally just that – a Georgian house in London’s Soho. It was designed as a private members’ club for creatives who lived locally, often frequenting the restaurant, Cafe Boheme, below. The Soho House empire quickly developed, with the exciting opening of country retreat for Londoners, Babington House in Somerset, and the launch of the Cowshed spa and products. Since then, Soho House has quickly expanded to offer some of the most glorious properties worldwide.
Soho House is quite literally all over the world, although I’m most familiar with its locations in the UK.
Today, they also have twelve Cecconi restaurants, offering indulgent Italian food across the globe. If you’ve not yet dined at a Cecconi, you have to – their food is delicious! They also have Soho Works in London, New York, and LA – deluxe office spaces for creatives to work and hold meetings alongside likeminded individuals. I love popping into the Soho Works whenever I’m in London – it’s chic and super convenient for catching up on admin in a social space. Then there is Soho Home – chic interiors stores where you can buy the furniture, artwork, and interiors you see inside the Soho Houses.
If you know a member who you can go with, then no, you don’t need a membership! If, however, you want to go alone or bring your own guests, then yes you will need your own membership. It is important to note that if you are a guest, there are some restrictions around what you can and can’t do. For instance, in some houses, you will be restricted from using some of their facilities. A membership offers you full access to houses around the globe. This was my main reason for becoming a member as I love to travel.
Firstly, there are four types:
Here’s a little more information about each of the types of Soho House Membership available:
The original membership, the Soho House Membership offers full access to everything, including Houses across the world. Benefits of a becoming a member include:
The Cities Without Houses membership is designed for those without a local Soho House. Instead, you can join a local creative community in your city, and gain access to Houses, rooms, and studios when you travel. Benefits of a Cities Without Houses membership include:
Cities Without Houses communities are available in the following locations:
The Soho Friends membership offers an intro into the world of Soho House. You can gain access to members-only rooms, studios, and benefits at restaurants and retail brands, including Soho Home. Benefits of a Soho Friends Membership include:
If you’re under 27, you can benefit from the Under 27 Soho House Membership. The benefits are consistent across all Soho Houses across the globe. I so wish I’d made the most of one of these when I was younger! Benefits include:
In the table below, I’ve tried to summarise the key differences between the different types of Soho House memberships so you can understand which may be best suited to you.
| Soho House | Cities Without Houses | Soho Friends | |
| Access to Houses and Studios | All Houses and Studios | All Houses and Studios | Studios only |
| Bring up to 3 guests at a time | YES | YES | YES |
| Book members-only rooms | YES | YES | YES |
| Access gyms and spas at Houses | YES | YES | NO |
| Regular events in Houses and Studios | YES | YES | Studios only |
| Member rates at restaurants and retail brands | YES | YES | YES |
| Connect with Soho House members globally through the app | YES | YES | NO |
Generally speaking, it is not hard to become a member – it can just take a while to be accepted from the waiting list. The most important thing to remember is Soho House’s origins as a creative networking space. For this reason, you need to work in the creative industry to become a member.
You apply via the Soho House application form. Be prepared with the following information for your application:
The application itself is quite straightforward and won’t take you long to complete!
According to Soho House, the membership committee meets quarterly. For this reason, the waiting list should be around 3 months, although some applications are accepted much more quickly than this.
As you’d imagine, there is a different cost associated with each of the types of Soho House membership:
One thing I love is that the joining fee can actually now be used to spend on food and drink, so it doesn’t feel quite as painful as paying a membership fee that you’ll never see again.
Soho Works memberships range from £200 to £4,500 per month. This varies based on whether or not you’d like to hot desk, or if you require meeting rooms for your team.
You can use the Soho House pricing calculator for a more accurate fee based on the type of member you’d like to become.
Yes – do note that if you apply for a Soho House Membership, you will need to pay a £550 One Off Introduction Fee in addition to your monthly or annual member fee. You can, however, split this introductory payment across three months. You can also actually use the fee to spend on food, drinks, and room stays, which I was sure to take advantage of.
If you’re a member, you can bring up to 3 guests with you. There are a couple of conditions here – you’ll need to stay with your guests at all times. They can’t simply wander off to use the facilities at their leisure, for example. And you certainly can’t drop them off and come back later. Your guests will also have some restrictions as to what they can do – they won’t be able to use all of the facilities at all houses, for instance.
Of course, Soho House’s roots as a private members’ club and network for creatives remain today. For this reason, it’s important to showcase your creativity as part of your application. You must also work in the creative industry, although this covers a broad spectrum of roles. Where once it only covered those in acting, advertising, or journalism, today it encompasses a breadth of roles including directorships, account managers, and marketing specialists. Include any relevant powerful social media profiles, blogs, or websites you may have, too. Finally, as a club and network, any relevant references you have will help you – particularly if they are already members.
Take a look at my guide on the Soho House application and how to get yours approved.
There’s no denying that becoming a member is an investment – however, if used appropriately, it can be incredibly worth it. Personally, I feel I’ve gained a lot of really good connections, plus I have travelled to over 25 countries in the last year and being able to access different houses across the world has been invaluable. You really need to consider a few things before you begin your application:
Thinking through these questions will help you to determine how often you’d use the spaces, and therefore if making the application is the right thing for you. Ultimately, if you enjoy travel, enjoy networking, good food, and beautiful interiors, it’s well worth the money.
That’s my guide to getting a Soho House membership! Are you a member? Let me know if you have any further questions about the application process or anything travel-related.
