In 1995, Soho House opened its first location in London as a progressive members-only club for film, music, and other creatives. Its membership pool clearly sets it apart from other traditional member clubs targeting men of certain titles or net worth. Founder Nick Jones sought to create a “home from home” where likeminded people could socialize all day over food and drinks—an idea that later became the core brand concept. Today, there are 27 houses in Europe, America, and Asia, alongside a comprehensive spa, home collection, and restaurant brand portfolio that collectively suggest a Soho House lifestyle.
Welcome to the 81st issue of B.
For quite a long time in history, individual life was judged in relation to the groups they belonged to— family, school, company, and so forth. Those groups evolved into social classes. In the past, rites of passage were extremely important because the group or class an individual belonged to exerted greater power than the individual alone. A sense of belonging or class consciousness still exists to this day, but they manifest in different forms. As the power has been transferred from elite groups to more people, individual power trumps that of the group. With various social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, individuals have formed their own communities. Countless online and offline communities revolving around personal interests, tastes, and social causes are popping up everywhere now in response to this shift. For the past few years, a number of creative, community-based activities even started to prove profitable. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the business of communities is literally booming.
Soho House, featured in this issue, is closely linked to the spirit of community as the brand started as a private membership house. Founded in 1995 in London, Soho House has been expanding its community, constructing physical establishments called “houses” in metropolitan cities across the world. The club has garnered attention for targeting the “creative class” for members, breaking the existing class order or rigorism that had been strictly observed by other social clubs. In Soho House, the symbols of the upper class—wealth, dynastic family names, fancy suits, and super cars—are not welcome so much. As a matter of fact, when founder Nick Jones opened the house, he refused to give membership to anyone in finance or real estate, and he introduced the infamous no-tie rule to make certain the atmosphere would feel free and casual. All these novel approaches were designed to attract creatives, who prove their worth with edgy thinking and work, and create a venue where they can gather, eat, and drink.
Soho House remains undiminished despite the rise of local community-based lifestyle hotels and coworking office spaces largely thanks to its unique culture, which has been established through rules and standards that are enforced around the clock. Laptops are only allowed in designated areas, and taking video and posting content about the house on social media is prohibited. In Soho House, free communication is encouraged, but at the same time, privacy is taken extremely seriously. In such an atmosphere, members gain a genuine sense of belonging, feeling protected and safe within the premise walls. The interior design follows this philosophy strictly, too. Rather than being filled with stimulating colors and shapes, the houses are furnished with familiar items and objects to make members feel comfortable so that everyone can settle in easily. It’s also proven by a staff member’s remark that “being cool” is what they avoid. They pursue a timeless ambience that is immune to trends.
Making people feel protected and safe is key across all affairs in the hospitality industry. We’ll be always intrigued by new cafés or restaurants, but at the end of the day, only a few places will make us feel like we belong. In that sense, places where we feel sure that we won’t encounter unpleasant situations or regret visiting and ones where we can expect the same quality service at any given time are at a great advantage. Soho House has retained tens of thousands of members—an achievement that has to everything to do with trust, and nothing to do with publicity. The expertise that Soho House has honed over the past 20 years while earning trust from its members is being used today to refine its business into even more highquality services. It seems possible that, someday, Soho House brand restaurants, hotels, resorts, and spas may break out from behind the wall of exclusivity and dominate the hospitality world.
Eunsung Park
Content & Editorial Director
INTRO
EDITOR’S LETTER
STREETS IN SOHO
Passers-by in Soho shed light on unique facets of the Soho district
OUR OWN HOUSE
Soho House as a social club for creatives that breaks the convention of clubhouses for wealthy, powerful men
INTERVIEW: NICK JONES
Founder Nick Jones talks about the spirit and role of Soho House
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Soho House’s unique ambiance built on a code of conduct that promotes freedom and creativity
SPIRIT
Traces of the founder’s beliefs found in staff and member spaces
HOSPITALITY
Amenities and sub-brands inspired by the storied Soho House philosophy on hospitality
OPINION: GEMMA BONER
Gemma Boner, UK membership director, talks about how members communicate with each other
SOHO IN THE CITY
Soho House as a community hub for creatives in London, Berlin, Barcelona, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong
CREATIVE HUB
Professionals across various industries talk about the meaning of “being creative”
VENUE
Seven cities selected by Soho House and the creative businesses there
OPINION: PETER CHIPCHASE
Peter Chipchase, chief of communications and strategy, discusses what differentiates the brand
IMPACT
Introducing knowledge-sharing platform Soho Works and local community collaboration facilitating program Soho Impact
IN CHIPPING NORTON
Welcome to Soho Farmhouse, a healthy haven that looks like a picturesque periurban farm
WAVE
Media coverage of Soho House’s influence and industry outlook
VALUE
Celebrities mad about Soho House and their stories
TOPIC
The story of the car born out of a socioeconomic crisis to present a new solution for mobility
DIGEST
Soho House membership programs and related information
REFERENCES
Publications, websites, and spaces featuring Soho House and the creative life
DIGEST
Montblanc’s brand positioning and the writing instruments market
Outro
PUBLICATION RIGHT
- Publisher Suyong Joh
- Executive Director Myungsoo Kim
- Content & Editorial Director Eunsung Park
- Managing Editor Sojeong Jeong
- Lead Editor Jaewoo Seo
- Editors Chanyong Park, Narae Kim, Jean Kim, Hyun Son, Sol Lyu
- Assistant Editor Heewon Shin
- Photographer Miyeon Yoon
- Art Direction & Design Yuwon Choi
- Marketing Hyunjoo Kim, Yeubin Kim
- Sales & Distribution Suyeon Kim, Kiran Kim
- Managing & Editing (English Edition) Jean Kim
- Translation (English Edition) Rancy Kim, Bongah Shin, Hyejoo Lee, Seongae Yang, Soonok Hwang
- Copy Editing (English Edition) Sarah Kessler-Jang
- Correspondents Mihye Nam (Tokyo), Lena Shin (LA), Alex Seo (London), Sanghyeok Lee (Berlin), Hyeseon Jeong (Paris), Mark Carter (Bangkok)
- Publishing JOH
REFERENCES
- Eat Drink Nap & Morning Noon Night
- Soho & Theatreland Through Time
- Steal Like an Artist; 10 Things Nobody Told You about Being Creative
- Creative Quest
- A Frame for Life: The Design of Studioilse
- House Notes
- Soho Home