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And Jones, who would later step down as CEO after a cancer diagnosis and recovery, was pitching Soho House as an investment similar to Peloton, a then-sexy company with fabulously recurring revenue from its subscription business. In 2008, Jones sold 80% of the club to British restaurateur Richard Caring, who in 2012 sold off majority control to Ron Burkle, the billionaire private-equity investor who made his fortune buying up regional supermarket chains such as Food 4 Less and Ralphs. In subsequent years, Soho House flirted with an IPO, and set its sights on global domination. So it’s probably a good thing that he spends his free time running ultramarathons and training for similar endurance challenges. Look around; there’s Subodh Gupta’s installation of stainless-steel utensils, My Stars (2015), and Bharti Kher’s bindi-onboard Algorithm For Living Well (2016), among works by other artists such as Princess Pea, Asim Waqif and Raqib Shaw. The local signature pervades the menu too, where kheema pao, tandoor-style mix grills, kathi rolls, dal makhani and butter chicken sit alongside Soho House’s signature dishes, like the mac and cheese or the meatballs.
Room service
Set in an 11-storey building in Juhu, Soho House Mumbai has 38 bedrooms, a floor of members’ space, a gym, a rooftop pool, a 32-seat screening room and an open-to-public restaurant called Cecconi’s on the ground floor. An inviting rooftop pool and a bar with unparalleled views of the Arabian Sea add to the offerings. “I love how thoughtfully the space has been done up. The Rooftop is one of my favourite spots—it helps me take a step back from the extremely fast-paced life that we live and just focus on the beautiful view of the sea,” says pastry chef and Le15 Patisserie owner Pooja Dhingra who became a member earlier this year. “Beyond the beautiful interiors and infrastructure that the House provides so effortlessly, I love the community aspect of it,” says Vedant Lamba, founder of the sneaker platform Mainstreet, who became a member upon turning 21 a couple of years ago.
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At breakfast on the roof, by the pool, the following morning, I had the Arabian Sea on one side and the great honking endless tangle of the city on the other. Though always popular with locals, Juhu Beach has changed beyond recognition in recent years, thanks to a concerted and effective clean-up programme. Mumbai has had a thriving club culture for centuries; just not this kind of club. It will be extremely interesting to see what the uptake on membership is like.
Hotel bar
The Soho House in Mumbai is a 11-floor building, located in Juhu and it overlooks the Arabian Sea. This “club” houses everything you could dream of - be it a library, a movie theatre, a gym, a pool and a lot more. For those of you wondering, getting a membership at only the Mumbai branch of Soho House will cost you ₹1,13,300 per year. Just west of downtown and in Juhu, Soho House Mumbai has the sandy shores of the namesake beach on its doorstep. Join in with a cricket match, taste local delicacies from the vendors or catch a play at Prithvi Theatre. The calendar at the House is likely to feature pop-up markets, art and food workshops, jazz sets by local musicians and gigs by a Mumbai band.
Now, it rolls out across India for those in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Goa, Jaipur and Delhi, till Soho House Delhi comes up. And if all these amenities weren’t enough, the club also has an in-house library. Painted in olive, this space is perfect for members who want to just enjoy reading a book in peace and comfort. But besides these amenities, the Soho House also has The Club, a space where members can gather around, enjoy some food and drinks and look at the sprawling views of the city on one side and the ocean on the other. The same perfect balance of local and international continues throughout the members’ areas in the House. It’s all woods and teals and groovy lamps, Rajasthani fabrics and patterned upholstery – everything is cushioned and comfy and lounging-friendly.
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And its strict no-photos policy means it’s also a celebrity hotspot — Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh have already dropped by and (ironically) taken photos. George Clooney and Elizabeth Hurley are regulars at the club’s Shoreditch House branch, one of its seven houses in London. David Beckham has a country estate around the corner from Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, and pops around every now and then with the fam. It pays an ode to India’s first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
If you’re feeling greedy, book the Playroom, which has double the balconies. Soho House events span food, fashion, art, travel and more. Members can expect pop-up dinners with local chefs, talks and panel discussions, wellness retreats and weekend getaways, and programming around key cultural events, like a party at the City Palace to celebrate Jaipur Polo Season, or events tied in to India Art Fair in Delhi. Upcoming global events include a Milan Fashion Week party and an Arco Art Party in Lisbon. Each of Soho House’s properties draws from the city it’s in; not only in terms of its cultural programming and events, but right from its architecture and design. The interior of the 10-storey building in Juhu is an ode to Indian craftsmanship and design, all while keeping Soho House’s sleek global signature in mind.
Hotels nearby
The Soho House frenzy explained - Finshots
The Soho House frenzy explained.
Posted: Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Cities without Houses programme allows people who don’t currently have a Soho House in their city to access Houses around the world when they travel, be a part of global Soho House events and also gives them access to a vibrant local creative community in their own city. Essentially, all the perks of a regular Soho House membership. CWH has been around for eight years, in 80 cities including Hanoi, Madrid, Zurich, Dubai, Dakar and more.
The city-showcasing rooftop pool is open from 8am until 11pm, with children (and their ensuing inflatables) allowed between 9am and 11am. The place is full of nooks and crannies in which you will be not merely allowed but actively encouraged to stuff your mush. Some, like Cecconi's on the ground floor, are open to the public; others, such as the luscious upstairs bits, are for members only. Cecconi's was not yet open for business during our visit, so absurd quantities of insanely moreish Indian food were consumed instead.
On the top-most floor sits a huge pool paired with a rooftop bar. It’s complete with a gorgeous tile flooring and matching cabanas. The blue setting is especially complimented by never-ending views of the Arabian Sea on the west.
With 2030 goals set to enhance and standardise recycling programmes and responsible food-waste management at every outpost of the member’s club globally. They also work with local suppliers selected for their like-minded responsibility. In the kitchen, there’s scrutiny around how Soho House sources coffee, cocoa and palm oil, as well as sustainable seafood and responsibly reared meat. Expect greater choice of meat-free dishes and seasonal ingredients whenever practical. Measures to assess Soho House’s carbon footprint and reduce emissions are ongoing. Make the most of Soho House Mumbai’s shoreside setting by booking a sea-facing room (preferably one with a balcony, so you can drink your minibar dry out on the white patio furniture, overlooking the water).
By all means go down and mingle there with the local families and the cricket stars of tomorrow. South Bombay has always had, and always will have, its denizens and devotees who would rather put pins in their eyes than spend two hours in traffic to get up to Juhu for a drink. But that is changing, and Soho House is likely to accelerate the process. It’s conveniently close to the airport, by Mumbai standards, but an hour or so from the more familiar, more photogenic and historic precincts to the south. “Each time I’ve visited Soho House Mumbai, I’ve felt like I had a fruitful day,” says artist, activist and Drag King/Queen Durga Gawde. Gawde was chosen to be part of the first under-27 committee of Soho House Mumbai when it opened in 2018, and in 2022, they were chosen to be the House’s first fellowship recipient in Asia.
Membership for Soho House Mumbai currently starts at Rs1,70,000 per year for a Local House membership. Every House memberships and CWH memberships cost Rs3,10,000 annually. If you're under 27, you get a discounted membership at Rs1,56,000. Networking is a natural by-product when you have a bunch of creatives hanging out together, and Soho House Mumbai has been instrumental in sparking off many connections for its members.
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