Soho House membership: a guide
Debating whether or not to get a Soho House membership in 2023? In this guide, I share my own experiences as a Soho House member, as well as some top tips to consider for your application. By the end, you should be clearer on whether or not a Soho House membership is for you!
We’ve all seen the photos on social media of people sat on the iconic striped poolside loungers in the London sun at Shoreditch House, or enjoying Sunday lunch at 76 Dean Street and thought with envy: ‘how do I get a Soho House membership?’ In this guide, I’ll share how to go about becoming a member, discuss whether or not it’s worth it based on my own experiences as a member, and give application tips on how to tackle the waiting list. I’ll also cover the cost of a Soho House membership, share the global locations, and the types of membership available. All in one comprehensive guide. So, let’s get started…
What is Soho House?
Soho House considers itself a ‘place for its diverse members to connect grow, have fun, and make an impact’. Dating back 25 years, Nick Jones opened the very first house and members’ club on Greek Street in London and was literally just that – a Georgian house in London’s Soho. It was designed as a private members’ club for creatives who lived locally, often frequenting the restaurant, Cafe Boheme, below. The Soho House empire quickly developed, with the exciting opening of country retreat for Londoners, Babington House in Somerset, and the launch of the Cowshed spa and products. Since then, Soho House has quickly expanded to offer some of the most glorious properties worldwide.
Where is Soho House located?
Soho House is quite literally all over the world, although I’m most familiar with its locations in the UK.
UK
- Soho House, Soho
- Babington House, Somerset
- Electric House, Notting Hill
- Chiswick House, Chiswick
- Shoreditch House, Shoreditch
- Little House Mayfair
- Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire
- 76 Dean Street, Soho
- White City House, White City
- Kettner’s, Soho
- 180 House, The Strand
- Brighton Beach House
- Little House, Balham
- Soho House Manchester – opening spring 2024!
- Soho House Glasgow – opening 2024!
North America
- Soho House, New York
- Soho House, West Hollywood
- Beach House, Miami
- Soho House, Chicago
- Ludlow House, New York
- Little Beach House Malibu, LA
- DUMBO House, Brooklyn
- Soho Warehouse, LA
- Soho House, Austin
- Soho House, Nashville
- Holloway House, West Hollywood
- Soho House, Toronto
- Soho Beach House Canouan, St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Soho House Mexico City, Mexico – just opened!
- Miami Pool House – opening soon!
- Soho House, Portland – opening December 2023!
- Soho House Charleston – opening 2024!
- Grasmere House, Rhinebeck, New York – coming soon!
South America
- Soho House São Paulo – coming soon!
Europe
- Soho House Berlin, Germany
- Soho House Barcelona, Spain
- Soho House Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Little Beach House Barcelona, Spain
- Soho Roc House Mykonos, Greece
- Soho House Paris, France
- Soho House Rome, Italy
- Soho House Copenhagen, Denmark
- Soho House Stockholm, Sweden
Middle East & Asia
- Soho House Istanbul, Turkey
- Soho House Mumbai, India
- Soho House Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Soho House Tel Aviv, Israel
- Soho House Bangkok, Thailand – just opened!
Australasia
- Soho House Sydney – coming soon!
Today, they also have over fifteen Cecconi restaurants, offering indulgent Italian food across the globe. If you’ve not yet dined at a Cecconi, you have to – their food is delicious! They also have Soho Works in London, New York, and LA – deluxe office spaces for creatives to work and hold meetings alongside likeminded individuals. I love popping into the Soho Works whenever I’m in London – it’s chic and super convenient for catching up on admin in a social space. Then there is Soho Home – chic interiors stores where you can buy the furniture, artwork, and interiors you see inside the Soho Houses.
Do you need a Soho House membership to visit?
If you know a member who you can go with, then no, you don’t need a membership! If, however, you want to go alone or bring your own guests, then yes you will need your own membership. It is important to note that if you are a guest, there are some restrictions around what you can and can’t do. For instance, in some houses, you will be restricted from using some of their facilities. A membership offers you full access to houses around the globe. This was my main reason for becoming a member as I love to travel.
Which types of Soho House membership are there?
Firstly, there are four types:
- Soho House Membership (the original)
- Cities Without Houses Membership
- Soho Friends Membership
- Under 27 Soho House Membership
Here’s a little more information about each of the types of Soho House Membership available:
Soho House Membership
The original membership, the Soho House Membership offers full access to everything, including Houses across the world. Benefits of a becoming a member include:
- Access to all Houses and Studios
- Bring up to three guests with you
- Connect with other Soho House members
- Daily events in Houses and Studios
- The best rates on Soho House rooms
- Access to gyms and spas
- 15% off at Soho Home
- Member rates at Soho House restaurants
Cities Without Houses
The Cities Without Houses membership is designed for those without a local Soho House. Instead, you can join a local creative community in your city, and gain access to Houses, rooms, and studios when you travel. Benefits of a Cities Without Houses membership include:
- Access to Houses when you travel
- Bring up to three guests with you
- Connect with other Soho House members
- Regular events in your local city
- The best rates on Soho House rooms
- Access to gyms and spas
- 15% off at Soho Home
- Member rates at Soho House restaurants
Cities Without Houses communities are available in the following locations:
Europe
- Athens
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Brussels
- Budapest
- Dublin
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Lisbon
- Madrid
- Manchester
- Milan
- Munich
- Oslo
- Porto
- Tbilisi
- Vienna
- Warsaw
- Zurich
North America
- Aspen
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Charleston
- Charlotte
- Denver
- Detroit
- Havana
- Houston
- Las Vegas
- Memphis
- Montreal
- New Orleans
- Oaxaca
- Panama City
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Portland
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- San Juan
- Santa Barbara
- Seattle
- Vancouver
- Washington DC
South America
- Bogota
- Buenos Aires
- Lima
- Medellin
- Montevideo
- Rio de Janeiro
- Santiago
- Sao Paolo
Africa
- Cairo
- Cape Town
- Dakar
- Johannesburg
- Lagos
- Marrakech
- Nairobi
Middle East & Asia
- Accra
- Bali
- Beijing
- Beirut
- Dubai
- Hanoi
- Jakarta
- Jeddah
- Kuala Lumpur
- Manila
- Osaka
- Seoul
- Shanghai
- Singapore
- Taipei
- Tokyo
Australasia
- Melbourne
- Sydney
Soho Friends
The Soho Friends membership offers an intro into the world of Soho House. You can gain access to members-only rooms, studios, and benefits at restaurants and retail brands, including Soho Home. Benefits of a Soho Friends Membership include:
- Access to Studios
- Bring up to three guests with you
- 25% off at Cowshed and Soho Skin
- Weekly events in Studios
- Book members-only rooms
- Members rates on spa treatments
- 15% off at Soho Home
- 20% off at some Soho House restaurants
Under 27 Soho House Membership
If you’re under 27, you can benefit from the Under 27 Soho House Membership. The benefits are consistent across all Soho Houses across the globe. I so wish I’d made the most of one of these when I was younger! Benefits include:
- Pay half price membership until your 30th birthday
- 50% off food and drink on all day on Mondays; on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10pm until close; and on Sundays after 4pm until close
- 50% off Soho House rooms when staying on a Monday
- 50% off Cowshed spa treatments every Monday
What are the differences between the types of Soho House memberships?
In the table below, I’ve tried to summarise the key differences between the different types of Soho House memberships so you can understand which may be best suited to you.
| Soho House | Cities Without Houses | Soho Friends | |
| Access to Houses and Studios | All Houses and Studios | All Houses and Studios | Studios only |
| Bring up to 3 guests at a time | YES | YES | YES |
| Book members-only rooms | YES | YES | YES |
| Access gyms and spas at Houses | YES | YES | NO |
| Regular events in Houses and Studios | YES | YES | Studios only |
| Member rates at restaurants and retail brands | YES | YES | YES |
| Connect with Soho House members globally through the app | YES | YES | NO |
How hard is it to get a Soho House membership?
Generally speaking, it is not hard to become a member – it can just take a while to be accepted from the waiting list. The most important thing to remember is Soho House’s origins as a creative networking space. For this reason, you need to work in the creative industry to become a member.
How do you apply for a Soho House membership?
You apply via the Soho House application form. Be prepared with the following information for your application:
- Your nearest Soho House
- Payment (for your House, plus a House introduction fee which can be used to spend on food and drinks) – this can be paid monthly or annually
- A headshot
- Information on your work and industry
- Your work email
- Information about yourself, including your creative interests, how you spend your free time, and how you would use your membership
- Your online profiles, including social media links
- Connections who may be able to refer you – you are allowed up to 2 references
- Confirmation that you abide by house rules
The application itself is quite straightforward and won’t take you long to complete!
How long is the waiting list for a Soho House membership?
According to Soho House, the membership committee meets quarterly. For this reason, the waiting list should be around 3 months, although some applications are accepted much more quickly than this.
How much does a Soho House membership cost?
As you’d imagine, there is a different cost associated with each of the types of Soho House membership:
Soho House Membership cost
- All Houses: approx. £230 per month
- One House: approx. £100 per month
Cities Without Houses Membership cost
- Approx. £2,200 per year
Soho Friends Membership cost
- £100 per year
Under 27s cost
- All Houses: approx. £100 per month
- One House: approx. £50 per month
You can use their pricing calculator for a more accurate fee based on the type of member you’d like to become.
Do you have to pay an upfront fee for a Soho House membership?
Yes – do note that if you apply for a Soho House Membership, you will need to pay a £550 One Off Introduction Fee in addition to your monthly or annual member fee. You can, however, split this introductory payment across three months. You can also actually use the fee to spend on food, drinks, and room stays, which I was sure to take advantage of.
How many guests can you bring to Soho House?
If you’re a member, you can bring up to 3 guests with you. There are a couple of conditions here – you’ll need to stay with your guests at all times. They can’t simply wander off to use the facilities at their leisure, for example. And you certainly can’t drop them off and come back later. Your guests will also have some restrictions as to what they can do – they won’t be able to use all of the facilities at all houses, for instance.
Top tips for having your Soho House membership application approved
Of course, Soho House’s roots as a private members’ club and network for creatives remain today. For this reason, it’s important to showcase your creativity as part of your application. You must also work in the creative industry, although this covers a broad spectrum of roles. Where once it only covered those in acting, advertising, or journalism, today it encompasses a breadth of roles including directorships, account managers, and marketing specialists. Include any relevant powerful social media profiles, blogs, or websites you may have, too. Finally, as a club and network, any relevant references you have will help you – particularly if they are already members.
Is it worth getting a Soho House membership?
There’s no denying that becoming a member is an investment – however, if used appropriately, it can be incredibly worth it. You really need to consider a few things before you begin your application:
- How often would you visit? Do you live or work near a Soho House?
- Do you travel often?
- Do you eat out often?
- Are you keen to network with likeminded individuals?
- Do you work in the creative space?
Thinking through these questions will help you to determine how often you’d use the spaces, and therefore if making the application is the right thing for you. Ultimately, if you enjoy travel, enjoy networking, good food, and beautiful interiors, it’s well worth the money.
That’s my guide to getting a Soho House membership! Are you a member? Let me know if you have any further questions about the application process or anything travel-related.