Club Level

The Right Crowd and No Crowding - The Story of the Brooklands Clubhouse

From the outset in 1907 the Brooklands Clubhouse was designed to be the centre of the Brooklands circuit. The Club housed the track officials such as Clerk of the Course, Clerk of the Scales and the Stewards. It was originally where the cars and drivers were weighed prior to their races and contained changing rooms and a large open viewing stand for the Press.

The Club also housed a Dining Room and bar for the exclusive use of the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club. An additional luncheon room was added in 1913 with stairs leading direclty from the Paddock.  Motor racing was still very much the preserve of the wealthy amateur at this time and in 1930 the Clubhouse was extended to accommodate this growth of interest, with the Club races becoming an essential part of the social “season” along with Henley, Wimbledon and Ascot. Those improvements included a Ladies Reading Room, Billiard Room, Member's Lounge and Tea Room.

The circuit closed in 1939 with the advent of the Second World War and the clubhouse was altered to accomodate drawing offices and also included the office of Sir Barnes Wallis as part of the Vickers Armstrong Research and Development Department. Through the many years of aircraft manufacture at the site the club house fell into some disrepair and was largely used for storage.

In 1983 British Aerospace sold the northern end of the Brooklands site ,  including the clubhouse, to Gallahers and in 1984, following the leaseback of the 30 acre museum site, major restoration work began resulting in the building you see today persevered very much as it appeared in its 30’s heyday.

The Brooklands Museum Trust was formed in 1987 and the clubhouse underwent a programme of refitting to make it suitable to house exhibits as well as to host corporate functions.  Further renovation was required following the severe flooding of 2000 which damaged large sections of the ground floor. The members bar itself was last refurbished in 2001 to keep it’s familiar art deco styling and one of the museum's major benefactors, Ron Gerard, who was then patron of the Brooklands Club, pulled the ceremonial first pint on its reopening. You can still see his portrait hanging in the bar.

Today, as a Brooklands Trust Club Level member, you can enjoy the relaxing Edwardian atmosphere of the Art Deco BARC bar whilst enjoying refreshments and lunches either inside the clubhouse or out on the white painted balcony overlooking the paddock and Motoring Village.  The balcony is a great vantage point from which to view the bustle on busy event days or to simply soak up the unique Brooklands atmosphere.

As a Club Level Member your increased support for the Museum entitles you to all the benefits of the other Membership levels plus free entry to the Museum for the member, a second adult at the same address and three children aged 16yrs or under, plus two other guests. Members and guests will have exclusive access to the Members Bar and Lounge, when open. There are also additional parking priviliges available to Club Level members. For more details of Club level Membership and how to join click here.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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