The Groucho Club heads to Yorkshire for first regional site

London's famous Groucho Club is to open its first private members' club outside the capital in Yorkshire in 2026.

The Groucho Bretton will be housed in Bretton Hall, the former home to Bretton Hall College, which historically trained artists to become teachers through courses in music, visual and performance art.

Alumni of the college included the playwright John Godber, the theatre director Michael Fentiman, the actor and director Mark Gatiss, and the comedian Mark Thomas.

In 2001, the college merged with Leeds University and the former site of the school was subsequently acquired by Wakefield Council.

The development of Groucho Bretton comes after hospitality group Artfarm bought the original Groucho in London’s Soho in 2022. The club has acted as a hub for the arts, literature and media community for almost 40 years.

Groucho Bretton will be situated within 500 acres of Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) in Wakefield and is set to have 40 bedrooms which will be open to non-members, who will have access to members' benefits during their stay.

The project will be led by Groucho's first female chief executive Elli Jafari, who will join from London's Standard hotel next month.

Ewan Venters, chief executive of Artfarm, said: “This is possibly the most exciting venture in the 39-year history of the Groucho. We have done pop-ups at literary and music festivals in the past, but this will be the first time we have set up a permanent home outside of London’s Soho.

"Groucho Bretton will have a life of its own, separate from the original Groucho, but equally with a uniquely eclectic style and personality rooted in both people and place.”

“The heritage of Bretton Hall is one of the factors that originally attracted us to this site, and our plans will be respectful of these traditions while reinventing its appeal by creating modern spaces for our members, new and old, locals or visitors, to work, to play, to meet, to take part in events and to help us turn Groucho Bretton into a place where everyone feels at home.

"We want people to feel they are part of a family and a community, not just a members’ club.”

Artfarm’s growing hospitality portfolio includes the Fife Arms in Braemer, Roth Bar and Grill in Somerset, Manuela in Los Angeles and the recently launched Audley Public House and Mount St Restaurant and Rooms in London’s Mayfair.

Artfarm, Yorkshire real estate investor Rushbond Group and Wakefield Council have agreed to develop the Bretton Hall site with support from YSP.