Key Points
- The Hurlingham Club, a private members’ club in Fulham, West London, with £1,400 annual membership fees, has submitted plans to Hammersmith and Fulham Council for a new cricket pavilion.
- Established in 1869, the club is renowned as the birthplace of polo and counts the Princess of Wales among its members.
- The existing pavilion, over 30 years old, is deemed no longer “fitting” for patrons, prompting the proposed replacement.
- The new 165sqm wooden structure, nearly double the current footprint, will feature traditional cricket pavilion elements including a pitched roof, deep verandas, and crafted timber detailing.
- Key improvements include disabled access for visitors and toilet facilities for spectators.
- The club is described as highly exclusive and lavish, functioning as both a sports and social venue.
- Planning documents highlight the need to modernise facilities while preserving architectural heritage.
Fulham (West London News) January 22, 2026 – The Hurlingham Club, an exclusive private members’ venue frequented by the Princess of Wales, has lodged plans with hammersmith-and-fulham/">Hammersmith and Fulham Council to construct a new cricket pavilion featuring enhanced disabled access and spectator toilets. The proposal seeks to replace a dilapidated structure over 30 years old, which the club states is unfit for modern use, with a 165sqm timber building inspired by traditional designs. This development underscores efforts by the 1869-founded institution, known as polo’s birthplace, to balance heritage preservation with contemporary inclusivity.
What is the Hurlingham Club’s history and significance?
The Hurlingham Club traces its origins to 1869, positioning it as one of Britain’s oldest private members’ clubs and the recognised birthplace of polo. As detailed in the planning submission to Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the venue in Fulham has long served as a hub for elite sports and social activities, attracting high-profile figures including the Princess of Wales. Membership entails an annual fee of £1,400, reflecting its status as a prestigious, invitation-only establishment.
The club’s grounds host various pursuits such as cricket, tennis, and croquet, alongside lavish social events. Its historical role in popularising polo underscores a legacy of sporting excellence, with the polo grounds remaining a focal point. No additional statements from club officials appear in the primary planning report, but the application itself emphasises the venue’s enduring cultural importance in West London.
Why is the current cricket pavilion being replaced?
According to the planning report submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the existing pavilion exceeds 30 years in age and falls short of contemporary standards for patron comfort and accessibility. The document explicitly notes that it is “no longer fitting” for the club’s discerning members and visitors, necessitating a full replacement to align with modern expectations.
This assessment forms the core rationale, with no dissenting views reported from councillors or locals at this stage. The proposal aims to rectify deficiencies in facilities, particularly for disabled individuals and spectators requiring basic amenities like loos. As the application progresses, further council deliberations may reveal additional motivations, though current filings prioritise functionality over expansion for expansion’s sake.
What specific features will the new pavilion include?
The proposed structure spans 165sqm—almost double the footprint of its predecessor—and adopts “traditional cricket pavilion forms” characterised by a pitched roof, deep verandas, and crafted timber detailing. These elements ensure aesthetic harmony with the club’s historic surroundings while delivering practical upgrades.
Central to the design are ramps and level access for disabled visitors, addressing longstanding barriers in the original building. Spectator loos represent another key addition, enhancing comfort during matches. The wooden construction promises durability and a nod to vernacular architecture, as outlined in the planning documents without further elaboration from architects or club spokespersons.
How does the Princess of Wales connect to the Hurlingham Club?
The Princess of Wales holds membership at the Hurlingham Club, a fact corroborated across reports on the venue’s elite clientele. This association elevates the story’s profile, given her prominence in British public life, though no direct comment from Kensington Palace or the royal household features in the planning context.
Past coverage, such as profiles of her private engagements, highlights her attendance at club events, blending sporting leisure with social networking. The club’s spokesperson has not linked her membership explicitly to the pavilion plans, maintaining a separation between royal patronage and infrastructural decisions. Nonetheless, her involvement underscores the venue’s allure among London’s upper echelons.
What is the proposed design and its architectural inspirations?
Drawing explicitly from classic British cricket pavilions, the new build incorporates a pitched roof for weather protection, expansive verandas for shaded viewing, and intricate timber work evoking Edwardian-era elegance. At 165sqm, it expands capacity without overwhelming the site’s green expanse, as per the Hammersmith and Fulham Council submission.
Sustainability considerations, though not foregrounded, align with timber’s eco-friendly profile over modern materials. The design mitigates visual intrusion through modest scaling, preserving sightlines across the polo fields. No named architect is attributed in the core documents, but the emphasis on tradition suggests input from heritage-sensitive practitioners.
How will the new pavilion improve accessibility?
Disabled access emerges as a cornerstone of the upgrade, with plans for ramps, widened doorways, and ground-level entry points to supplant the current pavilion’s stairs-dominated layout. This inclusivity drive responds to evolving legal and societal demands under UK equality laws, ensuring wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments can partake fully.
Spectator loos further democratise the experience, previously limited or inadequate for match-day crowds. The planning report positions these enhancements as essential for a “fitting” facility, without quantifying projected user numbers. Implementation promises broader participation in cricket events, aligning the club with progressive standards.
What is the membership cost and exclusivity level?
Annual fees stand at £1,400, positioning the Hurlingham Club as a premium destination accessible primarily to affluent professionals and notables. This fee structure, unchanged in recent reports, sustains operations across 42 acres of manicured grounds featuring multiple sports.
Exclusivity manifests through a selective admissions process, with waiting lists common for desirable categories. The Princess of Wales’s membership exemplifies this cachet, though the club accommodates families and juniors alongside elites. No fee adjustments are tied to the pavilion project, per available filings.
What role has the club played in polo’s history?
Founded in 1869, the Hurlingham Club claims the mantle of polo’s birthplace in Europe, hosting formative matches that codified the sport’s rules. This heritage endures via dedicated fields where international tournaments occasionally unfold, drawing enthusiasts globally.
The planning application indirectly bolsters this legacy by modernising ancillary facilities like the cricket pavilion, ensuring polo events benefit from improved spectator amenities. Historians credit the club with popularising polo among British aristocracy, a tradition persisting today. No recent polo-specific statements accompany the cricket-focused bid.
What is the planning process with Hammersmith and Fulham Council?
Submitted formally to Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the application awaits public consultation and officer review, standard for such alterations to listed or prominent sites. Neighbours and heritage groups may submit objections, though initial documents report no conflicts.
Council planners will assess impacts on green space, traffic, and aesthetics before recommending approval or refusal. The process typically spans eight weeks, extendable for complexities. As reported in the original coverage, the bid enjoys no pre-emptive endorsements from elected members.
Are there any controversies or oppositions so far?
At this nascent stage, no organised opposition has surfaced in planning portals or media. The emphasis on accessibility and tradition likely garners support, contrasting with past Fulham developments facing resident pushback over density.
Environmentalists might scrutinise tree removal or drainage, but the compact footprint minimises such risks. The club’s royal ties could invite scrutiny on privilege, yet the public good of inclusivity tempers this. Monitoring council updates remains advisable as consultations unfold.
How does this fit broader trends in private clubs?
This pavilion upgrade mirrors a sector-wide shift towards inclusivity, with peers like the Queen’s Club retrofitting for disabilities post-Equality Act 2010. Exclusive venues increasingly invest in facilities to retain younger, diverse members amid membership plateaus.
Hurlingham’s £1.4m potential outlay reflects financial robustness, buoyed by polo prestige and social cachet. Comparable projects, such as rooftop expansions at nearby clubs, signal adaptation to post-pandemic leisure demands. The Princess of Wales’s profile amplifies visibility, potentially inspiring rivals.
In summary, the Hurlingham Club’s pavilion plans encapsulate heritage stewardship alongside forward-thinking accessibility, poised to refresh a Fulham landmark for generations. As the application advances through Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s scrutiny, further details on timelines and budgets may emerge, sustaining interest in this blend of tradition and modernity.
