Steps from the White House, Ned's Club opened in 1/2025 and quickly became a hotspot for Washington D.C.'s elite. One of its most important unspoken rules: no screens lighting up the space, whether from laptops or smartphones.
Ned's Club's managing director, Gareth Banner, estimates that 90% of members are C-suite executives, founders, and entrepreneurs. The membership list is confidential, but the club reportedly hosts billionaire Mark Cuban and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
"It doesn't matter what you do, but you have to be the best at it," Banner said about the membership criteria.
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Inside the exclusive club for America's 1%. Photo: Frank Frances |
Inside the exclusive club for America's 1%. Photo: Frank Frances
Standard members pay a 5,000 USD joining fee and the same amount annually. Founding members (by invitation only) pay a 125,000 USD initiation fee and 25,000 USD each year.
According to Banner, the club has a more modern and open mindset than traditional establishments, prioritizing common courtesy over strict regulations. Members must adhere to a no-photo policy. Small stickers are provided to cover phone cameras, mainly to remind guests.
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Guests are asked to cover their phone cameras before entering, protecting privacy. Photo: Talia Lakritz/Business Insider |
Guests are asked to cover their phone cameras before entering, protecting privacy. Photo: Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
While there's no dress code, dressing well is encouraged.
"We're not WeWork. If you plan to camp out here all day with your laptop, someone will explain that's not how we operate," Banner said.
Some members might take a quick meeting or answer a few emails, but most come to relax and connect. Making phone calls in the restaurant is unacceptable. Banner emphasizes that privacy is key: "The moment a club no longer feels private, you're out of business."
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A view of the bar inside the exclusive club. Photo: Frank Frances |
A view of the bar inside the exclusive club. Photo: Frank Frances
Part of the Soho House group, Ned's Club started in London in 2017, later expanding to New York, Doha, and Washington D.C. The club currently has 1,300 members and a growing waiting list.
For Banner, the club's greatest luxury isn't the gourmet food or elegant decor, but the sense of community—a "third place" that's neither home nor office.
"I believe everyone wants to belong somewhere," he said.
Minh Phuong (Insider)
