Royal Air Force Club
/ About
The Royal Air Force Club has occupied 128 Piccadilly since 1922, when the Duke of York opened its doors to officers of the newly formed service. The building itself is older: raised in 1888 as a pair of Piccadilly mansions, its Portland stone front was remodelled for the Club between 1919 and 1921, largely funded by the first Viscount Cowdray. A century on, the Club still admits officers of the RAF and allied air forces as members, and opens its principal rooms to private hire for those outside the membership.
At the top of the house, the Sovereigns' Room — the former ballroom — holds a sky-painted ceiling, mirrored panelling and a run of tall windows, and takes a seated dinner for 140 or a reception for up to 250. Smaller rooms carry the same sense of occasion at a domestic scale: the Presidents' Room under its own vaulted ceiling, the 601 Squadron Room behind an arched window and a stained-glass panel marking the RAF centenary, and the panelled Library beyond the Churchill Bar, its shelves holding close to 3,500 volumes of aviation history.
Portraits of Marshals of the Royal Air Force look down on most of the ground floor, and the aviation art scattered through the Battle of Britain Suite and the Lancaster Room gives every space a settled, collected character rather than a hired one. Private events do not require membership, and run through a dedicated events team rather than a public rate card.
/ Rooms Available
The Sovereigns' Room
PrivateThe Club's former ballroom, its ceiling painted with clouds and sky and its walls lined in mirrored panelling. The largest room in the house, and the one behind the Club's civil wedding licence.
The Battle of Britain Suite
PrivateA lower-ground-floor room combining the former Spitfire and Hurricane rooms, its walls given over to a run of aviation paintings. Reconfigures for a presentation, a dinner or a dance floor.
The Churchill Bar
PrivateThe Club's ground-floor bar, named for its patron and hung with portraits of RAF officers either side of the back bar. Connects through to the Library.
The Presidents' Room
PrivateA first-floor room under its own vaulted ceiling, hung with portraits of the Club's Presidents and opening onto tall arched windows. Licensed for wedding ceremonies, and sized for a formal dinner rather than a reception crowd.
The 601 Squadron Room
PrivateFormerly the Victoria Bar, renamed for 601 Squadron and marked by a stained-glass window commemorating the RAF's centenary. A domestic-scaled lounge with an arched window and an open fireplace.
The Hodges Room
PrivateNamed for Air Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Hodges, off the Squadron Badge Corridor and hung with a run of aviation watercolours. Sized for a private dinner or a small meeting.
The Lancaster Room
PrivateA panelled meeting room off the Squadron Badge Corridor, with its own fireplace and a framed Lancaster bomber over the mantel.
The Library
PrivateThe Club's library beyond the Churchill Bar, holding close to 3,500 volumes of aviation literature built from a founding donation by the aviation artist Frank Wootton. Used for exclusive evening events rather than daytime meetings.
The Boardroom
PrivateAn intimate room off the Dining Room, seating up to eight around the table — the Club's smallest and most private space.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
AV Equipment
- – Projector
Catering
- – In-House Luxury Dining
- – Bespoke Menus
Licensing
- – Full Alcohol Licence
Venue Specs
- – Dedicated Events Team
/ Getting Here
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