As you may know, the Union has an ever growing list of other clubs, national and international, with whom we enjoy a reciprocal arrangement. This arrangement means that you, our lovely members, can visit and make use of their clubs (generally up to twelve times per year) as if you had a membership yourself. The full list of clubs is on the membership page here – scroll down. If you’d like to visit one, please email Cat with your reservation dates and we will get in touch with the Club and request a booking for you.
If you visit one of our reciprocal clubs, we’d love to hear about your experience so that other members can get a sense of what to expect… and start adding some of these lovely locations to their travel bucket lists!
Words and photos by Mark Heywood (many of you will know him from The Writing Salon) who visited The Players Club in New York recently…
“I was disappointed to miss the 30th birthday celebrations last month. Everyone I’ve spoken to told me what a special night it was.
As disappointed as I was though, there are worse places to spend a weekend than New York. Hearing I was having to cancel my place for the Greek Street bash, Cat leapt into action and got me an invitation to our reciprocal club in Gramercy Park – The Players Club.
“I want my club to be a place where actors are away from the glamour of the theatre.”
The words of founder, Edwin Booth who bought the beautiful brownstone building at 16 Gramercy Park South in 1888. The site has been an oasis in the concrete jungle ever since.
On the night I visited, the night of The Union 30th birthday party, it happened to be the monthly Equity, Diversity and Inclusion gathering. I could not have wished for a nicer welcome. It started at the door…
…and continued into the bar where the EDI group toasted their Union Club friends from across the pond…
The lady in the white top is Jennifer Yadav. She’s a board member, and hearing I was a friend from London she took me on a tour of the building. The only way to describe it is to imagine you have transported The Union to Gramercy Park and sprinkled a dash of Hogwarts onto it.
The tour, which included a rare trip to Booth’s bedroom (preserved in late 19th century style and only recently reopened) didn’t end with the interior.
Gramercy Park itself is a private green sanctuary accessible only to local residents. I’ve always wanted to go in but have never been keen to channel my inner Hugh Grant and leap over the railways. Rumour has it the park is fiercely protected.
However, The Players has a key. And so, I was treated to a private tour of the park which contains this statue of the man himself – Edwin Booth.
If you look to the left of Booth, you can see the Chrysler Building bathed in the early evening sunshine.
It wasn’t 50 Greek Street, but it was the next best thing. Huge thanks to all in NYC for such a wonderful welcome, and to Cat for getting me an invitation.
If you visit New York do drop into The Players. A home away from home.
PS If you’re wondering how you know the name Edwin Booth you might know his younger brother John Wilkes Booth who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. But at least his big brother left a legacy to be proud of.
