The Wellesley Club: A Vintage Haven in Virtual London

Introduction

Once in a while, my travels take me beyond traditional hotels and resorts, towards other places that I think need to be seen and experienced.

In this post, I wanted to showcase the distinctive allure of The Wellesley Club, designed and owned by Riggs and Ree Rowley, which immerses us in the ambiance of immediate post-World War II London.

Having spent most of my life in real-world London, The Wellesley resonated with me. It really does an excellent job of capturing what the immediate post-war era must have been like through meticulous attention to decor and style.

Overall, it seamlessly blends fiction and reality. There's enough there that rings true to me, while also adding in the the right amount of fantasy elements.

Huge thanks to my friend Ophelia for collaborating with me on this project. If you are not following her on Flickr, you really need to.

Look and Feel: A Journey to 1945

Nestled at the heart of a London-themed street, The Wellesley Club introduces visitors to a bygone era, complete with a tube station, a restaurant, a suit tailor, and a massage parlour.

As this is meant to be 1945, theres's an overall shabby elegance to the surroundings, bearing witness to the enduring scars of bomb damage.

The Club: An Oasis of Timeless Sophistication

The Wellesley Club itself boasts several lounges and gathering spaces. The main bar, adorned with a stage, serves as the focal point, surrounded by side rooms featuring additional bars and intimate seating areas. At the far end of the club, a masonic temple adds another layer to the experience.

Having seen a lot of London private members clubs, the owners have to me got it right, having given the place an esoteric charm entwined with a deliberate shabby-chic aesthetic.

The club has an adult theme, something that becomes more and more apparently as you start exploring the different rooms.

While currently quite quiet, The Wellesley Club is an ideal date spot or a place to meet friends. The owners have hinted at an intensified focus in 2024, with the probability of more events happening there next year.