Kensington & Chelsea (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Roof Gardens, a celebrity-frequented private members club in Kensington, has unveiled plans to extend its historic venue with a new development proposal.
According to Kensington High Street’s Roof Gardens, the new area would have two member lounges and a library.
A well-known club in west London that is frequented by many A-list celebrities has applied to move into office space and increase its hours of operation.
In an application submitted to Kensington and Chelsea Council reveals, the Roof Gardens on Kensington High Street stated that the new space will house “general member programming and events” and feature a library, workspace, and two member lounges.
Known for its lavish parties that featured Kate Moss, Madonna, and Freddie Mercury, the grade-II listed former nightclub closed its doors in 2018.
The millionaire entrepreneur of Ovo Energy, Stephen Fitzpatrick, purchased it in 2020 and converted it into a private members’ club.
David and Victoria Beckham were among the many well-known guests that attended the British model Rosemary Ferguson’s 50th birthday celebration in January.
Two months prior, the location hosted the GQ London Men of the Year Awards, which drew Hollywood celebrities including Jude Law and Nicole Kidman.
In addition to installing a new Italian garden kitchen, bar, and sushi counter on other floors, the venue has now requested to take up residence on the fifth floor of its 99 Kensington High Street property. At the moment, the club takes up the rooftop and sixth floor.
In order to permanently remain open until 3 a.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays, it has also requested that the Kensington and Chelsea Council’s Licensing Committee remove the restriction that makes that hour a temporary one.
It has committed to maintaining its 600-person capacity. The application has drawn opposition from locals who claim it is unclear and could result in customers gazing into their windows.
They claimed that because the venue had only been open for a year and had already received noise complaints, it was “premature” to lift the restriction on closing times and because the fifth level immediately overlooked residential residences.
They also grumbled about having to wake up every morning to the sound of breaking glass.
A report by the council read:
“There is an issue with noise bleed, particularly bass noise causing both audible noise and vibrating windows in residents’ homes late in the evening. This becomes an increasing problem as one moves to higher floors in the house where most residential bedrooms are located.”
The application also received 15 letters of support. One supporter wrote:
“The Roof Gardens is run with great care, professionalism, and discretion.
It has no negative impact on crime or public nuisance — quite the opposite. It brings positive energy to the community and supports local employment, all while maintaining a calm and respectful presence in the neighbourhood.”
Another said he has been a member since it opened last year, and he is continually impressed by the measures the club takes to ensure residents are not disturbed by noise from the parking (even though he have resident parking, members are not allowed to park in Kensington Square or the surrounding roads which is why I always come and leave by taxi).
Security personnel hired by the club constantly patrol visitors’ behaviour, be it parking, noise level or disturbances. For this reason, he has no hesitation walking the surrounding streets if he is on his own. It feels incredibly safe.
The application will be reviewed by Kensington & Chelsea Council on Thursday, May 29.
Constructed in 1938, the Roof Gardens operated under a license for over 20 years. The club shut down in 2018 when Virgin, the previous operator, left the space after using it since 1981.
After purchasing the property in 2020, Stephen Fitzpatrick reopened it as a private members’ club in July 2024.
How will the extension impact the overall membership experience in Kensington?
Members will have more flexible spaces for rest, socializing, and working thanks to the addition of new areas like a library, designated workspaces, and two member lounges.
These new spaces will enhance daily member involvement by facilitating a greater variety of activities, from social gatherings and casual meetings to quiet reading or remote work.
Talks, seminars, and cultural events are among the “general member programming and events” that the extension is intended to support.
Members will have frequent opportunities to interact, learn, and be inspired by carefully planned activities and special guests, creating a lively sense of community.
The club’s comfort will be enhanced by the renovation, which will combine contemporary luxury finishes with the historic charm of the original grounds.
Members can anticipate a more elegant environment that goes well with the club.