Pub in London SW1
Royal Automobile Club
89-91 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5HSClosest station: Piccadilly Circus, about 8 min walk4.7out of 5 on Google, from 1,163 ratings
Details last checked October 2024. Things may have changed since.
About Royal Automobile Club
The Royal Automobile Club was founded in 1897 for the "Protection, Encouragement and Development of Automobilism". The present flamboyant French-facade building is on the site of the old War Office and was completed in 1911 by the architects of the Ritz, Mewes and Davis; a small army of French craftsmen were employed in its construction. The royal accolade was awarded by Edward VII, a keen early motorist and of course the prime mover in the Entente Cordiale with France.
Clubhouse facilities include Turkish baths renovated in 2003/4, a spectacular Byzantine-style indoor swimming pool, various lounges, bars, restaurants and function rooms as well as numerous bedrooms. Whilst the Cocktail Bar on the ground floor specialises in gins, the Long Bar in the basement offers an extensive range of whiskeys along with four cask ales and a lunch counter. The various other dining rooms provide waiter-served meals to a high standard of food and service.
The traitors Burgess and Maclean chose this as the venue for their last lunch together before defecting to Moscow! Nowadays, the club has a wide membership of many thousands. It should not be confused with the RAC automotive services company it formerly owned.
Description from WhatPub, CAMRA’s pub guide.
Features
- Outdoor Seating
- Family Friendly
- Quiet
- Serves Lunch
- Serves Dinner
- Restaurant
- Real Ale
- Function Room
- Disabled Access
- Accommodation
- Separate Bar
- Accepts NFC
Opening times
- Monday
- Open 24 hours
- Tuesday
- Open 24 hours
- Wednesday
- Open 24 hours
- Thursday
- Open 24 hours
- Friday
- Open 24 hours
- Saturday
- Open 24 hours
- Sunday
- Open 24 hours
As listed in October 2024. Hours change, and bank holidays differ: check with the pub.
Good to know
- Operator
- Royal Automobile Club
- Phone
- 020 7930 2345
Photos
Photos from Google Maps contributors, stored when the pub was last checked.
Google rating and reviews
4.7out of 5 on Google, from 1,163 ratings
5 out of 5Cherylon Google, July 2024
Had afternoon tea here. The atmosphere is amazing. The service great. Classy and comfortable. Won't say it is the best afternoon tea ever but one of the best places for members and guests to have a great afternoon.
5 out of 5Steve Slateron Google, May 2024
Invited for a wedding reception. Lovely huge spiralling building full of character and echos of so much history in the walls. Can't wait to go back another day :-)
5 out of 5Jan Mennekenon Google, January 2024
I think this is the most impressive club on Pall mall. Beautiful building and decor. Well maintained. Good atmosphere. There is always a classic car on display at the entrance that changes every 2 weeks. The club has a strict dress code. Jacket and smart shirt for men. No tie required any more. However, no sneakers allowed and they seem to class shoes like Allbirds as sneakers which I find a bit excessive.
4 out of 5Food_views and_reviewson Google, July 2024
Beautiful surroundings Great location Good venue l
5 out of 5Ammar Alion Google, February 2024
A fine establishment on Pall Mall. Perfect for hosting formal events and evenings for fine dining. This club won’t disappoint.
Rating and reviews are from Google Maps, as they stood in October 2024. See the latest on Google Maps.