FAMOUS LONDON CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1938, Page 7

FAMOUS LONDON CLUB

EMBASSY UP FOR SALE. The Embassy Club, Bond Street, London, discreet, luxurious rendezvous of kings, princes and millionaires, is for sale (writes Phyllis Davies in the "Daily Mail”). The present fashion for bottle parties, free from the taxes and licensing costs which legitimate restaurants and clubs have to pay, hit the Embassy hard. A receiver was appointed, and ne will shortly decide whether the club is to be sold privately or publicly. The present director is Andrea Gualdi, one of the most famous restaurant directors in London since the war.

"Yes, bottle parties and the competition of the big hotels, with their elaborate cabarets and expensive dance bands, made the going difficult for us,” Major J. S. Rutile, chairman of the Embassy Wine and Club Co., the owners, stated. "Competition in West End entertaining has become too fierce in these last few years. “Now the board feels losses shoulc be cut and'the place offered for sale." The Embassy’s fortunes advanced between 1921 and 1929 under the direction of the great Luigi. Luigi Naintre bought it in 1920 lor a third of the £lB,OOO which it cost to found it in 1919. He borrowed the capital from a millionaire Greek ship owner. and repaid him in full within six months. "Luigi's sudden death in 1930 coincided with the great financial slump, and the Embassy was hard hit.” Major Ruttie added. "Mayfair lost its spending power." Mayfair remembers many stories about Luigi. The most picturesque is of the late Maharajah of Cooch Behar. who dined there in the days when a balcony ran around the room. The maharajah sent for Luigi and said: "I do not like your balcony." Luigi bowed and walked away. A little later the maharajah again sent for Luigi. "I have enjoyed your cuisine, but I still do not like your balcony," • and laid a £101)0 bank-note on the table.

“That is towards the cost of doing away with the balcony." he added. Many times at luncheon and dinner, royalty was to be seen there. Once, at separate tables, were the King of Spain, the King of Greece, the Duke of Windsor (then Prince of Wales), with his three brothers, the present King, tne Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.