The original rules from 1819 excluded from membership anyone "who has not travelled out of the British islands to a distance of at least five hundred miles from London in a direct line".

[3] Novelist Anthony Powell was a member, and the club is featured in various guises in the work of Graham Greene, Jules Verne, William Makepeace Thackeray and John le Carré.

[5] Its membership remains exclusive, although there are a number of reciprocal arrangements with other clubs throughout the world whose members may use its premises occasionally.

However, it quickly outgrew this building and in 1826 the members decided to spend £25,000 on the construction of a purpose built club house on the present site at 106 Pall Mall, backing onto Carlton gardens.

The Times on 10 January 2004 noted "the wonderful dining, heavy on fish and game (partridges to potted shrimps) with echoes of public school food (bread pudding) and a superb wine cellar".