Soho House gets it in the neck for telling members to remove ties

Soho House was facing a growing backlash from the City today over its "no ties" rule - as one of London's best-dressed men revealed he had been turned away.

The club chain was accused of inverted snobbery after sending out warnings to members to be "cool not school". It follows the barring of lobbyist Peter Dingle this week from Soho House and its sister outlets, including Shoreditch House, for "disregarding" its casual dress code.

Insiders said the move was aimed at maintaining the club's atmosphere as a place for "young, expressive" types, instead of "post-Thatcherites".

Today Mansel Fletcher, features editor of style website Mr Porter, revealed that he had been asked to remove his tie on the day he met tie-maker Michael Drake.

He said: "The idea that there is something inherently cool and counter-cultural about not wearing a tie is a bit dated." He said lots of young men liked to dress smartly because they have "pretty scruffy fathers". He also described how he had dined wearing a tie at Shoreditch House, where waiting staff wear hoodies, with Mr Drake, then owner of tie brand Drakes.

He wrote: "On my arrival the receptionist asked with some awkwardness that I removed it. This he said was in the interest of 'comfort'. I assured the receptionist that my tie was not compromising my comfort and that given my lunch companion, my bill would be paid by a man who wears ties. But to no avail."

City boss Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at brokers BGC Partners, claimed that it was reverse snobbery to keep City suits out of the club.

"This says a lot about our society - it's very disappointing. I believe in setting standards of dress. It tells you a lot about an individual. It is important to seek to maintain standards and even improve them. I believe respectable dress, a suit, shirt and tie should be worn where appropriate."

But members at the club, where regulars include singer Ellie Goulding and Davina McCall, defended the ban. Nick Booth, 39, the managing director of a manufacturing firm, said: "I can see how you don't want City types in there, but a suit like I'm wearing is not a City-type suit.

"I can see that if you were a City type with a tie you would be persona non grata."

When the Evening Standard visited Soho House yesterday evening about a dozen men could be seen wearing suits and ties.

Our reporter was able to walk up to the roof deck and terrace as well as the Circle and Club Bars wearing a suit and tie without being challenged. Soho House did not return calls for comment.

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