White’s is the oldest gentleman’s club in London having been founded in 1693; women are still not admitted today. It was established by an Italian immigrant called Francesco Bianco who sold hot chocolate as well as tickets to productions at King’s Theatre and Drury Lane Theatre.
It became an exclusive club in the 18th century and gained renown as a gambling house. It moved to its current location at St James’s Street from Chesterfield Street in Mayfair in 1778. From 1783 it was the unofficial headquarters of the Tory party.
A Grade I listed building it was built in 1674 and rebuilt in 1787 with the front remodelled in 1852.
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