The founding meeting of the Savage Club took place on 12 October 1857, at the Crown Tavern, Vinegar Yard, Drury Lane, after a letter by pro tempore honorary secretary George Augustus Sala was sent to prospective members.

[2] The letter advised it would be 'a meeting of gentlemen connected with literature and the fine arts, and warmly interested in the promotion of Christian knowledge, and the sale of exciseable liquors' with a view to 'forming a social society or club'.

One said the "Addison", another the "Johnson", a third the "Goldsmith", and so forth; and at last, after we had run the whole gamut of famous literary names of the modern period, a modest member in the corner suggested "The Shakespeare".

This was too much for the gravity of one of the company (the late Mr Robert Brough) whose keen sense of humour enabled him, in the midst of our enthusiasm, to perceive that we were bent on making ourselves ridiculous.

The club has hosted a variety of guests over the years including American writer and humorist Mark Twain,[7] and the Australian cricket team during its 1934 English tour.

[8] In the aftermath of World War II, Oswald Mosley, founder of the British Union of Fascists, arrived as a guest of Henry Williamson, author of Tarka the Otter, but was asked to leave.

In 2020 it was issued with a year's notice by the General Committee of the National Liberal Club as part of a negotiation around its future occupancy.

Members are classified into one of six categories which best describes their main interest: art, drama, law, literature, music or science.

2190 received its Warrant of Constitution on 18 December 1886,[33] and was consecrated on 18 January 1887,[34] with war correspondent Sir John Richard Sommers Vine as the first Master.

[34] Lodge membership is not restricted to Savage Club members; however, most who join still have a professional life in literature, art, drama, music, science or law.